Dodge's supercharged 6.2-liter V8 has been edging its burly and powerful way into many vehicles in the Dodge/Jeep/Ram family for quite some time now here at Landmark Dodge of Atlanta. Perhaps it was the three-row family hauler vibe that had kept this incredibly massive amount of sheer power out of the 2021 Durango but now, family road trips will most certainly never be the same!
On top of the V8's insane power and torque, this year's model has many other appealing upgrades. There are more powerful brakes, a completely reworked suspension, and styling that is less boxy and adds an aggressive and sporty touch. The Edmunds review team was excited to try out the Durango and see how all this power and assortment of new additives worked out on an actual track, and first noted that the engine is the Hellcat's prized possession. The Durango is one of only three Hellcat-powered vehicles that use all-wheel drive.
This is a great help with 710 horsepower all-wheel drive to the road with better results than rear-drive Hellcats. There are also brand-new Brembo brakes to aid with the braking distance on hand, and performance tires that drastically improve grippiness and stance. Adjustable drive modes have been one of the most noticeable improvements to cars of all types over the past few years, as suspension characteristics in vehicles like this great Durango can be changed for varying firmness and capability.
This SUV proved to be one of the quickest vehicles that the Edmunds team had ever driven, as they eagerly jetted around this impressively large Durango. They put the Launch Control to use in order to achieve the best possible start, and blasted from 0 - 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, also enjoying a champion run for the quarter-mile in 12.1 seconds at 113 mph. It is a sheer delight to many muscle car fans that loved items such as the Challenger, Super B, Dart, and Charger Daytona that the Launch Control function exists in such a family-friendly hauler: all you have to do is press the “Launch” button situated right on the center console, hold the brake down with your foot, and nail the gas before the brake's inevitable release.
The final thoughts offered up here from the Edmunds crew were that emissions and fuel economy standards may prove to lay down a few various hurdles when it comes to powerful and untamed beasts such as the Durango Hellcat. Until then, this is the fully-juiced up and brawny way to go, and while the electrified options begin to take form, a choice that holds on to “The glory days that fade in one blink of an eye”.
