There are four different engines available in the Durango: 3.6-liter V6, 5.7-liter HEMI V8, 392 HEMI V8, and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8. All engines are paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions though there are three different versions (one for the V6, one for the 5.7-liter and 392 V8 engines, and one for the 6.2-liter V8). Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) optional (and mandatory on certain models).
The V6 is standard in the Durango SXT, GT, and Citadel, where it makes 293 horsepower (single exhaust) or 295 horsepower (dual exhaust), as well as 260 pound-feet of torque.
The Durango R/T comes standard with the 5.7-liter V8 that makes 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. Buyers can choose the engine as an upgrade for their Durango Citadel.
Under the hood of the Durango SRT 392 is the 392 HEMI V8 that delivers 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque.
One big step up from the SRT 392 power plant is the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 that’s on-board the Durango SRT Hellcat. That engine produces 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. Though it sounds like a lot—and it is—the power is easily controlled. The SUV is as comfortable creeping through city traffic as it is with the pedal to the floor getting up to speed on the highway. Shifts are smooth and so is the acceleration, once you ask the vehicle for it.
Steering is also on-point, allowing the driver to feel connected to the car and inspiring confidence. The Durango's age begins to show through when it comes to the chassis, whether on the road or track. A drive along rural roads showed the suspension to be reactionary, allowing bumps to be passed on to the cabin with seat bouncing a common occurrence—even at moderate speed. On the track, despite the amount of technology installed on the SUV to make it attack corners with ease, the tech was fighting the vehicle’s architecture the entire time.
When it comes to stopping power, the Hellcat has plenty, even when on the track, and after repeated laps, the model’s black Brembo six-piston brakes were up to the task.
The Durango R/T is now available with a Tow N Go Package. Dodge made one of the so-equipped models available for a short test loop. On the back were a typical car trailer and one of Dodge’s kitted out dragsters that didn’t press the quoted towing capacity of 8,700 pounds too closely, but was by no means a small load.
The V8 in the Durango R/T didn’t struggle off the line with the trailer attached though its speed was modulated; getting to 55 mph was a slow grind that didn’t feel strained but also didn’t feel easy. The SUV and load felt stable when traveling thanks in no small part to the "Tow" drive mode’s 50/50 AWD torque distribution.
For track days, the Durango SRT models offer SRT Performance Pages (also standard on the R/T) that provide information on vehicle performance, including gauges for g-force, timers, and engine and dynamometer readouts. Here, the drive modes are more configurable and race options allow the driver to activate, deactivate, and adjust the rpm values for the launch control and shift lights.
