In the year 2024, there’s just one way left to get a MOPAR with a Hemi, and it’s the Dodge Durango. In 2023, Dodge showed the door to Hemi-powered Chargers and Challengers, pending their 2026 reboots. Down to just two new models for 2024, Dodge is in the midst of a sales slump, and Stellantis is pushing some amazing incentives to move unsold Durangos. You might be able to get an amazing price on this powerful SUV.
The third generation Durango actually dates back to 2011, making it one of the oldest running models on the market, revealing some of the holes in product planning at Stellantis, reliant on just two Dodges (Durango, Hornet) and two Chryslers (Pacifica, 300). The 3rd-gen Durango has received multiple facelifts since its debut, its most recent in 2021, and manages to look up-to-date and modern next to its MOPAR brethren Grand Cherokee and its much newer Dodge brother, the Alfa Romeo-based Hornet. It also has modern infotainment and touch screen systems that are amongst industry best.
Despite the small number of model options from Dodge, there are ample number of trim options for the Durango, so buckle up. The Durango is available with four different engines, three of them Hemis. The standard motor on the SXT and the GT is the 3.6L V6 Pentastar motor with an 8 speed automatic transmission. It has 295 horsepower and gets better gas mileage than the 5.7L 360 horsepower / 390 lb-ft of torque Hemi V-8 that comes in the Durango Citadel and R/T. There are also two performance Hemis, the 6.4L with 475 horsepower which goes in the SRT 392 and the 6.2L supercharged motor which comes in the special edition Hellcat. Each motor is paired with a Durango package, such as SXT/SXT Plus (V6), GT/GT Plus/GT Premium (V6), R/T, R/T Plus, R/T Premium (5.7L V-8), Citadel (V6 or 5.7L V8), SRT 392 / Plus / Premium, and SRT Hellcat / Plus / Premium.
The entry level SXT starts at $39,670 msrp before any discounts, and comes in rear wheel drive with the more than powerful Pentastar V6. 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque are able to pull max capacity of 6,200 pounds, slightly less than the 5.7L V8 (8,700 pounds). 18 inch silver aluminum wheels are standard, as is 8.4 inch touchscreen with Apple Carplay/Android Auto support, heated front seats and steering wheel, roof rails, LED headlamps and tailamps, and seats for seven. Plus trim, $41,265 msrp, adds a sunroof and adaptive cruise/blind spot monitoring. All wheel drive adds $2,000. The R/T, $41,420 msrp for RWD, adds a flat bottom steering wheel with paddle shifters, heated first row seats in the back, a power liftgate, remote engine start, and 20 inch wheels. GT Plus, $45,420 msrp, gets Nappa Leather seats, heated seats all around, a larger touch screen (10.1 inch), adaptive cruise, and a performance hood. Premium trim, msrp $49,420, adds hand wrapped instrument panel, carbon fiber interior accents, nine speaker Alpine stereo with subwoofer, a wireless charging pad, ann advanced safety and security system with brake assist, lane keep assist, and so forth.
Stepping up to the V8 trims, The Citadel, msrp $51,670, is the only Durango which can be ordered with either the 6 or the 8 cylinder; the V-8 is a $4,495 option. It has 20 inch satin carbon aluminum wheels and platinum chrome exterior accents, which are Citadel exclusives (think luxury Durango). It also gets Nappa leather trimmed seats and perforated inserts, as well as heating and ventilation, along with all options offered on lower Durangos. The R/T, msrp $51,270 adds performance steering and suspension. Plus and Premium R/T models add options like 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio, power seats with memory settings, and basically any other option you could dream up. SRT 392 starts at msrp $74,995. The Durango is the last available Hellcat on the market, with its 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds, Brembo brakes, 710 horsepower, and Bilstein performance suspension; it starts at $95,995 msrp.
Right now Dodge has a host of bonus cash offers on select trims of the Durango, sometimes paired with no monthly payments for a certain number of months. R/T and Citadel have bonus cash on many option-levels, while Durango Hellcat and Durango SRT 392 get lower amounts. Stellantis (owner of Dodge) sales have been slumping, with a large decline in revenue reported in quarter one of 2024 according to CNBC. You may find dealers more willing to budge than usual on MOPAR vehicles.
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