2022 Dodge Durango

The existence of the Dodge Durango leads us to believe that this particular division of Stellantis doesn't have a team of engineers dedicated to research and development. Heck, its entire range is one big middle finger to the upcoming EV revolution, although we've now been promised an e-muscle car in a few years time. But that's still years away, and for now, the Durango is one of the oldest cars still on sale. Competing against other three-row midsize SUVs like the Kia Telluride and Honda Pilot, Dodge has refused to roll with the times, using an ancient platform that still has rear-wheel drive roots, although AWD is also available. Maybe that's not a bad thing, though, as it's a strong USP for the aging crossover that also helps with practical aspects like towing, where the Durango excels by towing up to 8,700 lbs. But the biggest selling point is that while others downsize their engines, you can still buy a lowly Durango with a 360-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V8 under the hood, or opt for the brand's familiar 3.6-liter V6. We've previously referred to this as the muscle car of midsize SUVs, but that trope's been around for years now, and it's getting tired. Maybe, then, the Durango is the middle-aged bodybuilder of SUVs - still strong, but behind the times.

Dodge may claim the Durango is a Charger on stilts, but the handling doesn't reflect that. On the plus side, the steering is direct and heavy. Given the weight, the amount of lean through the corners is also surprisingly minimal. That being said, it's not easy to make a 5,000-pound SUV handle like a performance car. It is possible, as BMW, Porsche, and Alfa Romeo have proved, but doing so requires all sorts of expensive kit like adjustable damping and traction management systems, air suspension, and torque vectoring which aren't viable on these run-of-the-mill models.

The Durango's handling is best described as soft and safe. You can push it hard, but it will eventually run wide. And while the brakes are powerful, they will ultimately fade following repeated abuse. The softer suspension setup is much better, considering the Durango will be used to transport families.

It doesn't have the best off-road-related figures, but it can do a little more than your average SUV. V6 models are equipped with a basic AWD system with a 50:50 torque split. The V8 with a tow package comes with a two-speed transfer case, including an option of locking the 50:50 split in place. A full-time active AWD system is optional.

The Durango is a stylish, comfortable, powerful, and affordable seven-seater crossover. It's one of a few left with a V8 option, with most competitors sticking with six-cylinder power or opting for small-capacity turbocharged engines. There are a few things that count in its favor. It's large, it has loads of space, the interior is better than before, and you can have it with racing stripes. It's also the undisputed towing king, making full use of a RWD platform and brawny engines. Other than that, the competition has it pretty much licked. It now has a decent complement of driver-assistance features too. But the engines are old and the performance from the V8 is mediocre, even if it is characterful. It lacks true stand-out virtues unless you count the above-average towing capacities. In short, the Durango has been around for far too long, and this recent facelift is not enough to save it. It requires a complete rethink from the ground up to be considered competitive again.

The Durango range starts with the SXT, which has an MSRP of $35,475. The GT retails for $38,475 and the GT Plus is the first model to breach the $40,000 barrier, retailing for $42,575. A V8 R/T has an MSRP of $47,625 while the R/T HEMI Orange adds $1,995 on top of that. The Citadel retails for $49,825. The R/T Plus is the most expensive trim at $53,500. Adding AWD costs $2,600 on all models. If you want the V8 engine on the Citadel, it will add $3,995 to the price of the Dodge Durango. These prices exclude the $1,595 destination charge in the US.

There are seven trims in the 2022 Dodge Durango lineup: SXT, GT, GT Plus, R/T, R/T HEMI Orange, R/T Plus, and Citadel. SSV and Pursuit models are also available as fleet-only options for law enforcement. All models use an eight-speed automatic transmission and offer a choice between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel driver. All are powered by a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, except for two models the R/T - which is only available with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 - and the Citadel - which offers the choice of V6 or V8.

SSV and Pursuit cars are available as fleet-only models and are equipped to aid law enforcement, and to this end, have fewer luxuries and comforts and more mechanical bolstering. While both engine options are available, the Special Service Vehicle (SSV) is RWD while the Pursuit is AWD. SSV trims get a heavy-duty engine cooler, trailer sway control, rear park assist, air conditioning, and a towing capacity of up to 7,400 lbs when correctly equipped. Pursuit cars get three-zone climate control, heavy-duty brakes, and unique seats that can accommodate police offers with a full service belt.

The base SXT has 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, bright roof rails, cloth upholstery, a seven-passenger seating layout with a third row, an electrically adjustable driver's seat, tri-zone climate control, keyless entry and push-button start, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, eight airbags, a backup camera, rear parking sensors, and an auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror. The infotainment system has an 8.4-inch touchscreen and supports Bluetooth streaming, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. It has a six-speaker audio system.

To these features the GT adds 20-inch alloy wheels, dual exhausts, a power liftgate, a heated, flat-bottomed steering wheel, heated front seats, and remote start. The GT Plus' Plus Group package adds leather and suede upholstery, heated second-row seats, memory settings for the driver's settings, rain-sensing wipers, bright scuff plates in the trunk, adaptive cruise control with stop, advanced brake assist, and lane-departure warning.

The R/T is the sporty-looking performance model and as such, it comes with the V8 engine only, performance-tuned steering, a sporty suspension setup, a functional hood scoop, a 10.1-inch infotainment screen, and a nine-speaker Alpine audio system. Standard equipment is similar to the GT Plus, but the Plus Group can be added, resulting in the R/T Plus that additionally receives a power sunroof, Nappa leather upholstery with perforated inserts and accent stitching, a premium-trimmed dashboard, a Dinamica headliner, a premium Harman Kardon audio system, and forward-collision warning with automatic braking. The R/T HEMI Orange adds a unique appearance package to the base R/T, featuring hood stripes in orange and Gunmetal, as well as model-specific 20-inch Black Noise wheels and orange contrast stitching throughout the cabin.

The luxury-orientated Citadel is the only model with the choice of a V6 or V8 engine and comes in a six-passenger layout with two heated second-row captain's chairs. It has ventilated front seats, full-speed forward-collision warning, and lane-keep assist.

The SXT has access to several packages, starting with the $1,195 Trailer-Tow Package. The stylish $1,595 Blacktop Package gets lots of gloss black exterior accents, the $995 Anodized Platinum Package gets lots of shiny exterior accents, and the $1,695 Popular Equipment Group. The latter includes heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power liftgate.

GT models can also be equipped with the Blacktop Package, which in this case, adds the vented hood as well, while the GT Plus gains access to more packages to ramp up the luxury. The $1,995 Rear DVD Entertainment Package does exactly what it says on the box but requires an upgrade to the larger Uconnect 5 interface up front. Additional premium packages add features such as the 10.1-inch infotainment system, a high-end sound system, a power sunroof, auto high beams, a cargo cover, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, and a wireless charging pad.

On the R/T AWD, the Tow N Go Package costs $4,995. This raises the top speed to 145 mph and also adds adaptive dampers, black Brembo brakes, a class IV receiver hitch, a trailer brake controller, and more, unlocking the maximum towing capacity available. Adding the Blacktop Package to the R/T adds the black-out treatment mentioned before, plus a vented bonnet and P265/50/R20 all-season performance tires. Also for the R/T HEMI Orange, the Orange Plus package retails for $4,500 and adds the power sunroof, 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and more advanced safety features. The Orange version of the Tow N Go Package costs $5,095 and equips 20-inch Lights Out wheels, orange Brembo brake calipers, Bilstein high-performance suspension, and more.

Citadel spec comes with its own Premium Entertainment Group, retailing for $2,995. It adds a 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, Blu-Ray compatible dual-screen video, and a rear-seat video system.

The first model with a decent luxury specification is the GT Plus, which retails for $40,670. It has three rows and a nice collection of features. We'd stretch the budget a little bit and go for the R/T model, though. If you're going to have a Charger on stilts, you might as well have it with a V8 engine. It also has nicer interior upholstery and an updated 10.1-inch infotainment system with a nine-speaker sound system. It has all the necessary luxury and safety features and still comes in below $48,000

Compared to the Durango, the Chevrolet Traverse looks dull. It has lights at the front and lights at the rear and a generic SUV body in the middle. The Durango is also better at towing, as the Traverse can only manage 5,000 lbs in the correct setup. From there, the scale tips in the Traverse's favor. It also has a naturally-aspirated 3.6-liter V6 engine, but it produces 310 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. The latter is available from 2,800 rpm, giving it a nice linear powerband. Its nine-speed gearbox is tuned for fuel efficiency and not sprint times, but it's easy to live with and easy on the pocket, too. There are still some cheap surfaces inside the Traverse, but it also boasts an eight-inch infotainment system with all the latest connectivity features.

The Traverse has two selling points. It easily beats the Durango when it comes to packing space, but the best thing about it is the price. The LT Leather model comes with a list of standard features that, by comparison, makes the Durango's interior look like a deep, dark void. Driver assistance systems are also standard. This particular model has an MSRP of $39,900, undercutting the equivalent Durango model. The Traverse also has a larger model selection, starting at $33,700. Unless you're buying for towing capacity or the sound of a V8, the Traverse makes more sense.

This battle is a bit one-sided. There's a very good reason the Explorer is America's best-selling midsize SUV ever. The Explorer has a much nicer interior and comes as standard with more comfort and convenience items. Crucially, the Explorer range comes standard with forward-collision warning with automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist, and lane departure warning with lane-keep assist. As these are essentially family vehicles, you can't ignore the Ford's Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. Ford's engine options are a generation ahead as well. The Dodge's V6 competes with the 300-hp 2.3-liter EcoBoost, while the R/T goes up against the 400 hp/415 lb-ft Explorer ST. Unlike the R/T, it has the show to match the go. You can tell the Explorer is a product of the modern world, while the Durango feels a generation behind. We'd spend our money on the Ford.