Overview
You won't find another mid-size three-row crossover quite like the 2021 Dodge Durango. Boasting a V-6 engine as standard and providing buyers with an upgrade to its burly Hemi V-8, it stands apart from its rivals who typically begin with four cylinders before offering a V-6 option. Whether your family is large or small, you can all fit in due to the optional third row of seats - not to mention the comfortable chairs for those up front plus an intuitive infotainment system!
The Durango is the ideal choice for its class in towing tasks, especially with the V-8 engine. Other SUVs may have more driver-assistance features available or a smoother ride quality, but when it comes down to brute power and strength, nothing can compare to the Durango.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Durango offers a 360-hp V-8 that provides an extraordinary towing capacity of up to 8700 pounds, and the 295-hp V-6 with eight-speed automatic transmission is more efficient. Its fuel economy isn't as great as some four cylinder rivals, but for those who need a burly engine and impressive power output, this might be worth it!
To assess the performance of both the V-6 and V-8 engines, we pitted them against an eight-speed automatic transmission with optional all-wheel drive. The result? While it took 7.4 seconds for the Durango's V-6 engine to reach 0 to 60 mph, its beefier counterpart accomplished this feat in a mere 6.2 seconds flat! With adroitly balanced sportiness and comfortability from its suspension system coupled with adept steering feel and braking power--you can be sure you're getting nothing less than a superb SUV experience when driving Dodge’s Durango
With its rear-wheel drive platform, the Durango is not a sporty SUV but it does possess an aspect of athleticism. Its muscle car vibe creates a fun and unique driving experience that remains comfortable for families. Despite being powerful and exciting to drive, the Durango also makes living with it easy as well - making it one of the best family SUVs out there!
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Crossovers with a four-cylinder under the hood are more fuel-efficient, but the Durango's V-6 is still competitive with other V-6–powered rivals. The EPA estimates the V-6 model will earn up to 19 mpg city and 26 highway. The V-8 version tops out at 14 mpg city and 22 highway. In our highway fuel-economy test, the 2020 V-8–powered Durango R/T surprised us by outperforming its EPA rating (and even its own V-6–powered variant) as well as the lighter and more modern GMC Acadia V-6. The V-8–powered Durango managed 23 mpg while the V-6 matched its EPA rating with a 22-mpg result.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The 2021 Durango hasn't been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and it was not named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Optional automated emergency braking adds an extra layer of protection and its standard backup camera helps with safely reversing the big beast.
Is Dodge Durango a reliable car?
Per RepairPal, the Dodge Durango scores a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, which ranks it third in full-size SUVs. As for the powertrain, complaints are fairly low in number. You see, the Hemi family is generally very dependable. Importantly though, it's the 5.7L Hemi that stands out as the most reliable.
Why is Dodge discontinuing the Durango?
Dodge offered a Durango SRT Hellcat for the 2021 model year but warned us at that time it was a one-model-year offer: emissions and fuel efficiency requirements meant the automaker would stop making the supercharged SUV after one year.
How long do Dodge Durangos last?
The Dodge Durango can last between 200,000 to 250,000 miles and possibly more, with proper maintenance. That's about 13-16 years of service if you drive 15,000 miles every year. For a mid-size SUV, those are pretty good numbers.