The restyled 2014 Dodge Durango SUV rolled into the New York auto show on Thursday, sporting some mild changes on the outside and a fuel-saving eight-speed automatic transmission under the hood.

But the Durango, which shares a platform with the two-row Jeep Grand Cherokee, won't get the 3.0-liter diesel V6 offered as an option on the 2014 Grand Cherokee.

The Dodge and Jeep SUVs will share the rest of the powertrain lineup, a 290-hp 3.6-liter V6 as standard equipment and a 360-hp 5.7-liter V8 as an option. The V8 is equipped with cylinder-cutoff technology to convert it to a four-cylinder during cruising. Standard eco mode on all Durangos adjusts shift points and shuts off fuel delivery during coasting to maximize fuel economy. A button on the console turns off eco mode. Dodge did not provide estimates of the Durango's fuel-economy ratings.

The Durango's new eight-speed automatic transmission adopts the rotary shifter that debuted on the 2013 Ram pickup. Dodge says the transmission, which replaces five-speed and six-speed automatics in the current Durango, will help boost fuel economy by up to 9 percent.

Exterior changes to the Durango include a restyled grille and the adoption of a LED taillights in the "racetrack" design used on Dodge cars. Also, the Durango gets a capless fuel port.

Inside, the instrument panel is redesigned to include a 7-inch reconfigurable screen in the gauge cluster and either 5-inch or 8.4-inch touchscreens with Chrysler's Uconnect infotainment center in the center stack.

Joining the options list is a Blu-Ray/DVD rear-seat entertainment unit with 9-inch high-definition screens mounted on the back of the front seats.

Are the changes enough to lift the Durango out of the shadow of the Grand Cherokee? Last year the Chrysler Group sold nearly four Grand Cherokees for every Durango -- 154,734 Grand Cherokees and 42,589 Durangos. The 2014 Dodge Durango goes on sale this fall.

So you know those Dodge Durango commercials starring Will Ferrell in character as Ron Burgundy from Anchorman? The ones he supposedly made 70 of? Yeah, those. According to AdAge, they are helping Dodge move a crapload of SUVs.

Sales of the re-engineered Durango climbed 59% in October to 5,120 units and are up 50% for the year. Edmunds.com analyst Michelle Krebs said shopping for the Durango “soared on Edmunds.com after the ads launched” on Oct. 5.

Dodge brand boss Tim Kuniskis said: “We’ve seen almost an 80 percent increase in Web traffic alone since the campaign launched.” [...]

Mr. Kuniskis said: “Durango sales have been very strong this year, and the Ron Burgundy Durango ads are absolutely building on that momentum.”

A muscle SUV for muscle car people with families, the Dodge Durango joins the Challenger and Charger in SRT Hellcat form as the most powerful SUV ever.

Powered by the proven supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® Hellcat V-8 engine delivering 710 horsepower and 645 lb.-ft. of torque, the Durango SRT Hellcat runs 0-60 miles per hour (mph) in 3.5 seconds, has a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) -certified quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.5, a top speed of 180 mph and runs 1.5 seconds faster than the SRT 392 on a 2.1-mile road course, equal to 9 car lengths after one lap.

"The Brotherhood of Muscle includes families of all sizes and the Durango delivers Dodge performance as the Charger of the three-row SUV segment," said Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Alfa Romeo and Head of Passenger Cars - Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA - North America. "And new for 2021, we have raised the bar even higher. The 710-horsepower Hellcat is the most powerful SUV ever. It's the last piece of the puzzle and, alongside the Charger and Challenger, completes the Dodge brand's performance lineup."

Dodge will build the Durango SRT Hellcat for the 2021 model year only.

Beyond the SRT Hellcat, the entire Durango lineup for 2021 features new aggressive exterior styling, a new interior with a Challenger-inspired, driver-centric cockpit, five-times-faster Uconnect 5 on the available, largest-in-class 10.1-inch touchscreen and more performance than ever with six distinct models - SXT, GT, Citadel, R/T, SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat.

No SUV in the world can tow more or carry more with a faster quarter-mile time than the Durango SRT Hellcat. The Durango continues its ability to out-haul every full-size, three-row SUV on the road with the SRT Hellcat, SRT 392 and R/T Tow N Go delivering best-in-class towing capability of 8,700 pounds.

Dealer orders open this summer and vehicles are scheduled to start arriving in Dodge//SRT dealerships this fall; Durango SRT Hellcat orders will open this fall and are scheduled to start arriving in dealerships early in 2021.

2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is the most powerful SUV ever

Designed and engineered to push the boundaries of what an SUV can be, the 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is powered by the proven supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine, which delivers a best-in-class 710 horsepower and 645 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a standard TorqueFlite 8HP95 eight-speed automatic transmission.

The performance improvements begin with the new front fascia design, a new chin splitter, updated engine oil cooler duct, air guide and snorkel for cold air induction. A new, unique rear spoiler creates an improved aerodynamic balance with the new front-end design, resulting in a massive increase in rear downforce of more than 400 percent (140 lbs. @ 180 mph).

SRT engineers upgraded the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat to improve handling, including several race-inspired technologies and Brembo brakes, resulting in performance numbers never before seen on a Durango.

Compared with the previous top performance Durango, the 2020 Durango SRT 392, the new 2021 Durango SRT Hellcat has an upgraded suspension that delivers:

• More comfort in Auto mode and better handling in Track mode:
  • Thanks to a tuned internal rebound spring coupled with a matched upper top mount, the dynamic tuning range is increased
  • Rear damper top mounts are 18 percent stiffer
• More responsiveness with 20 percent increase in total rebound control
• More grip with reduced understeer by 2.5 percent, allowing the driver to go into a corner faster and exit quicker
• More stability turning into corners with an improved roll gradient of 5 percent

The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT 392 adopts the rebound spring shocks and the upper rear top mounts from the SRT Hellcat suspension, which helps to deliver faster lap times and better handling compared to the outgoing model.

The Durango SRT Hellcat comes standard with electric power steering (EPS) with selectable steering tuning to better manage increased grip, both improving handling performance and delivering better steering feel and ease of turning efforts at parking lot speeds.

• With EPS and standard SRT drive modes accessed via the new 10.1-inch touchscreen, drivers can tailor their driving experience by controlling transmission shift speeds, steering, paddle shifters, traction, all-wheel drive (AWD) and suspension settings
• SRT Drive modes offer selectable settings for Street (Auto), Sport and Track, while the Custom setting allows the driver to select individual preferences

Race-inspired technologies that come standard for both 2021 Durango SRT models also bolster performance:

• Launch Control - easily accessed from a toggle switch in the cockpit, manages tire slip while launching the vehicle to allow the driver to achieve consistent straight-line acceleration
• Launch Assist - uses wheel speed sensors to watch for driveline-damaging wheel hop at launch and, in milliseconds, modifies the engine torque to regain full grip

The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat delivers excellent braking performance, requiring 116 feet to come to a full stop from 60 mph. The credit belongs to the massive standard Brembo high-performance six-piston, two-piece (front) and four-piston (rear) calipers, and vented rotors at all four corners measuring 15.75 inches (front) and 13.8 inches (rear).

Durango-specific tuning, weight distribution, wheelbase and reduced understeer equals more grip and improved cornering. SRT engineers took the most powerful SUV ever to the track to see what it can do.

The result: The 2021 Durango SRT Hellcat runs 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, covers the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds and has a top speed of 180 mph. It also delivers a road course lap time 1.5 seconds faster than the 2020 Durango SRT 392 on a 2.1-mile road course, equal to 9 car lengths after one lap.

Manifest Hellcat Destiny has brought us the latest inevitable supercharged V8 machine from Mopar, the 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. And to make it extra-special, this 710-horsepower monster is the most powerful SUV that Chrysler — or any other automaker — has ever built, thanks to a three-horsepower bump over its shorter cousin, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. It’s also a limited-production model, so it’ll be an instant collectible. And it offers the unique opportunity to share the Hellcat experience simultaneously with five other people while also towing up to 8,700 pounds. Oh, and enjoying the extra traction of all-wheel drive. But there are a couple drawbacks that make the Hellcat cars and the less potent Durangos smarter choices.

The powertrain is what this SUV is all about, and it’s as sweet as it is in other Hellcats. Power from the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 is amazing, shoving you back in your seat with authority. It’s especially effective since the all-wheel-drive system's extra traction is better able to put all 710 horses and 645 pound-feet of torque to the pavement. Burnout fans will prefer the rear-drive Hellcats, however.The engine sound for the most part is also superb, with a blend of mellow rumble and supercharger shriek. The transmission can also be smooth and gentle, or firm and fast, depending on the drive mode. It’s easy to see why people love this thing.


It’s not perfect, though. For one thing, as wonderful as the exhaust note is, it’s a shame Dodge hasn’t fitted a dual-mode exhaust. Cruising on the highway, there’s a constant, low grumble. You might not think about it on short trips, but it will wear on you as the miles accumulate. Also, if you’re just cruising around town, between 2,500 and 3,500 rpm, you can get some serious drone and resonance. Also, unsurprisingly, the Hellcat is the thirstiest Durango with a combined fuel economy rating of just 13 mpg.

The SRT Hellcat also gets handling and stopping upgrades. It has adaptive shocks, 295-mm wide tires and ferocious Brembo brakes (six-piston up front and four-piston in the rear) for bringing this 5,710-pound SUV to a stop from Hellcat speeds. Handling is impressive considering the size and age of the Durango. Body roll is mild in the standard Street mode, and is mostly eradicated in the Sport and Track modes. The Durango feels heavy, but it is composed in corners in all modes and has loads of grip. The steering is disappointing, though, as it’s completely dead, albeit weighted nicely. When first turning into a corner, it’s a little disconcerting, but you quickly realize that you can trust the truck.

Ride quality suffers with some of these handling upgrades. The standard setting is a little too soft and crashes over large bumps, and the Track setting is too stiff, feeling jittery and bumpy over even small imperfections. That leaves the middleground Sport mode as oddly the most comfortable choice – it may still be a little stiff, but it has good body control.

The interior benefits from the same updates as all 2021 Durangos, with a new dashboard, revised door panels, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that runs the latest Uconnect 5 software. As expected, there is a little extra SRT flare, which takes the form of some stylish “forged” carbon fiber trim, stitched leather on the bolstered seats and the dash, along with a backlit SRT badge on the steering wheel. There’s lots of head and shoulder room up front, though the transmission tunnel intrudes a fair bit, so your leg rubs against it whenever you’re using the gas pedal. The second row is rather roomy, but the third row is tight.

So basically, if you’re looking for a Hellcat that lets you carry a bunch of stuff, share the fun with as many as five passengers, and tow a heavy trailer, the Durango Hellcat does all that without diluting the Hellcat experience much. On top of that, the Durango Hellcat is actually the cheapest Mopar SUV with the supercharged V8. It starts at a still-lofty $82,490, but that’s less than the two-row Grand Cherokee Trackhawk at $89,165 — this despite the Durango being larger and a one-year-only model.

If you’re being logical (or perhaps slightly less irrational), it might make more sense to buy a Challenger Hellcat that starts at just $60,490. It's lighter, woolier and would leave you money left over to buy a used Durango R/T for your practical needs. But if you need a monster all-in-one machine, there’s no cheaper or better way to get this much power and versatility than the Durango Hellcat. Or at least there was, until it sold out.

The current Dodge Durango generation, which received a minor facelift for 2021, is expected to be retired following the 2023 model year. Production of the Hellcat-powered variant will end in the coming few weeks. No 2022 model is planned. Before the completely redesigned fourth-generation arrives, however, Dodge isn't done with the current SUV.

According to Mopar Insiders, Dodge will soon reveal a new Durango trim for 2022 called the R/T Plus. This could be a very attractive package for many buyers as it'll reportedly come with a solid amount of standard features. But what's kind of surprising is that it could potentially lure away some Jeep Grand Cherokee L buyers. Yes, that'd be internal competition, something automakers try to avoid like the plague.

Some of the R/T Plus's standard equipment will include a blind-spot detection system, power sunroof, a 19-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system, Nappa leather seats, and the Premium Interior Group consisting of a premium instrument panel and Dinamica Suede headliner. Safety-conscious buyers will also appreciate forward-collision warning plus, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and advanced brake assist. Basically, the R/T Plus combines the sporty flavor of the R/T and some luxury and safety items normally reserved for the more luxurious Citadel trim.

Perhaps one of the new trim's strongest selling points is the ability to include the $4,995 Tow N' Go Package that packs in things like a 20-inch aluminum spare wheel, black Brembo brakes, a Class IV receiver-hitch, high-performance exhaust and suspension, improved steering, the Quadra-Trac on-demand 4WD system, and trailer brake controller. Best of all, there's the 8,700-pound maximum towing capacity.

The Rear DVD Entertainment System and Trailer-Tow Group IV, both $1,995 extra, are also available. Even dual Mopar stripes can be tacked on for another $1,195. Before any of those option packs, the R/T Plus will carry a starting price of $52,225 for RWD and $54,825 for AWD. Neither figure includes the $1,595 destination fee. Under the hood is the familiar 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic is the sole gearbox option.

To compare, the also three-row and similarly equipped Grand Cherokee L Overland and Summit trims can't be had for at least $54,000 and $58,060, respectively, and that's without the optional V8. The Durango R/T Plus could be the better choice for those who don't have their hearts set on driving a Jeep.