2023 DODGE DURANGO | OVERVIEW

The Dodge Durango meets most demands of a growing family and does so with a sense of beefiness that harkens back to the days of big V8 muscle cars. It’s available with a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8—a 3.6-liter V-6 is standard—and offers one of the most competitive towing capacities in its class along with three rows of seating and ample creature comforts. Monstrously powerful SRT variants are available for those who thirst for more than the Hemi’s 360 horsepower, starting with the 475-hp Durango SRT 392 and ending with the supercharged, 710-hp Durango SRT Hellcat, both of which are reviewed separately. If you need an SUV but aren’t keen on burly American muscle, then you may want to consider alternatives that we rank highly, including the Kia Telluride, Ford Bronco, and Hyundai Pallisade. Such competitors afford buyers most or all of the functionality of a Durango but offer better value. For instance, pricing for all three of those models starts at under $40,000, and the Korean competitors offer a slew of standard safety tech; the Dodge does neither.

What’s New for 2023?

The Durango gets a few minor updates for the 2023 model year, including four new exterior color options—Frostbite, Night Moves, Red Oxide, and Triple Nickel—which brings the total number of available hues up to eight. Heated front seats are now standard for the entire Durango lineup, and forward collision warning is now available on base SXT models. This year’s price increase means a new Durango can no longer be had for less than $40,000.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The Durango’s optional 360-hp V-8 provides a significant boost in towing capacity (up to 8700 pounds), while the 295-hp V-6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission are the more efficient pairing. The Durango’s fuel economy doesn’t beat that of its four-cylinder rivals, of course, but the trade-off for the more entertaining V-8 and its burly towing capacity might be worth it for some buyers. We tested both the V-6 and V-8 engines with the standard eight-speed automatic and optional all-wheel drive. The Durango with the V-6 managed a 7.4-second zero-to-60-mph run; the V-8 did it in 6.2 seconds. The Dodge’s suspension walks the fine line between sportiness and comfort, but the steering feel and braking performance remind you that you’re driving an SUV. Although it’s not overtly sporty, the Durango’s rear-wheel-drive platform lends an athletic feel to the Durango, and its muscle-car persona shines through in everyday use. It still manages to deliver a comfortable ride, making it a family-friendly SUV that’s both fun to drive and easy to live with.

Source: https://www.caranddriver.com/dodge/durango

Here at South 20 in Humboldt, we have the Dodge Durango in stock.