The 2020 Dodge Durango is out here. In its new model year, the mass-favorite family hauler remains prety much the same as the previous year mode. Yes, along with the significant replaced year badge, Dodge has made some changes to the 2020 Durango, that are mostly insignificant and can be better termed as reshuffling.
Dodge thinks that the fine-touch treatment that the 2020 Durango receives, would make its presence, more pronounced in its league which also has members like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda Pilot, GMC Acadia, Ford Explorer, Subaru Ascent, and the Toyota Highlander. However, the thoughtfulnes behind Dodge's thought, is something that we are still skeptical of.
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
The Dodge Durango has always been known for its rugged bad boy appearance and the overall package as an SUV which it offers. Proudly carrying the notorious Dodge badge at its nose, this heavy duty macine can be equipped with one of the available V8's, that scream performance.
However, apart from power and aggression, the Durango also has a lot more to offer. It can seat seven, tow upto 8700 lbs and also offers best in class cargo space. The Durango means hardcore SUV business.
For the 2020 model year, there is not much happening with the Durango, other than the minute cosmetic tweaks, and those too are concentrated in the higher trims. Although, it might lack the elegance of some of its rivals, it certainly is one of the most confident product among SUVs, and is still potent enough to bite its rivals.
8.0/10 Engine and Performance
8.4/10 Interior
2020 Dodge Durango Features
For the 2020 model year, trim line remains the same starting from the $30,195 base SXT to the $46,270 Citadel Anodized Platinum. Not to forget though, there are two V8 powered trims as well in the Durango line-up, the RT and the SRT. The RT is powered by a 5.7 liter V8, while Durango SRT features a 6.4 liter V8. Both these trims are completely different animals altogether, from the basic Durango.
Trim
SXT
SXT Plus
GT
GT Plus
Citadel
Citadel Anodized Platinum
MSRP
$30,195
$33,195
$34,645
$38,995
$42,995
$46,270
Engine
3.6 Liter V6
3.6 Liter V6
3.6 Liter V6
3.6 Liter V6
3.6 Liter V6 (5.7 Liter Hemi V8)
3.6 Liter V6 (5.7 Liter Hemi V8)
Key Features
Air Conditioning with 3-Zone Automatic Temp Control
Adds to SXT -
Adds to SXT Plus -
Adds to GT -
Adds to GT Plus -
Adds to R/T -
4-way manual front seats
8 -way power driver seat with power adjustable lumbar support
Leather Seats
Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats with Suede Inserts
Second -Row Fold/Tumble Captain Chairs
Luxury Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats
Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror
Power 8-Way Driver Seat and 4-way manual passenger Seat
Power 8-Way Driver Seat with memory and 6-way power passenger Seat
Heated Second Row seats
8-way power front seats
Ventilated Front Seats
Cargo Compartment Carpet
Cloth Trimmed Bucket Seats
Heated Front Row seats
20 inch wheels
Xenon high intensity discharge headlamp
Front and rear head airbags
Power Sunroof
Front, rear and third row head airbags
Turn signal mirrors
9- Speaker Alpine premium audio
18 inch wheels
Transmission, cruise and audio controls on steering wheel
Remote anti-theft alarm system
Front and rear parking sensors
Overhead Console
Uconnect 4C Navigation w/8.4" Display
Heated steering wheel
Post-collision safety system
Carbon Fiber Interior Accents
Cruise control
Three zone climate control
Electrochromatic inside rearview mirror with rear view camera
Emergency braking assist
We Recommend
We would recommend the Durango GT. This is not a luxury SUV from which you could expect premium fit and finish or elegance, rather this is a rough and tough wild machine that you would ideally take out for weekend mud splashing. For a vehicle that serves this purpose, the GT at a price of $34,645, brings along adequate feautures like leather seats, navigation, powered and heated front seats, to make the mud splashing task more comfortable and convenient. Anything over this price for the Durango, doesnt make much sense.
2020 Dodge Durango Engine and Performance
8.0/10
When a car company sells what passes for a family sedan with 707 horsepower, it should come as no surprise that its take on a three-row SUV should be, let's say, a little different from what other manufacturers offer.-Edmunds
Engine and Transmission
The Durango offers a lot of engine engines. Apart from the 6.4 Liter V8 in the SRT, there are two engine options; a 3.6 V6 and a 5.7 V8. Power figures aren't mind-blowing but are still great. The V6 makes 293 horses, while the V8 makes 360 horses. Of course, if you absolutely need more power, you should get the SRT, which makes a marvelous 475 horsepower.
The SXT, SXT Plus, GT, and GT plus trims come fitted with the V6. The R/T model has the 5.7 V8 under the hood. With the Citadel and Citadel Anodized Platinum trim options, you can choose between these two engines.
You get an 8-speed automatic transmission in the Durango, capable of manual shifts (optional in some variants). The base 8-speed auto is fine for everyday use but lacks speed when the need arises. There optional gearbox, another 8-speed auto, but with better response times.
Models
Dodge Durango SXT
Jeep Grand Cherokee
GMC Acadia
Honda Pilot
Ford Explorer
Subaru Ascent
Toyota Highlander
MSRP
$29,995
$31,695
$32,800
$31,450
$32,365
$31,995
$31,330
Engine
3.6 Liter V6
3.6 Liter V6
2.5 Liter Inline-4
3.5-liter V6
3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6
2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer 4-cylinder
2.7-liter 4-cylinder
Transmission
8-speed automatic
8-Speed Automatic
6-speed automatic
6-Speed Automatic
6-Speed Automatic
CVT
6-Speed Automatic
Horsepower
293 hp @ 6400 rpm
295 @ 6400
193 @ 6300
280hp @ 6000
288 @ 6500
260 hp @ 5,600
185 hp @ 5800
Torque
293 hp @ 6400 rpm
260 @ 4000
188 @ 4400
262 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm
254 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm
277 lb.-ft. @ 2,000 rpm
184 lb.-ft. @ 4200 rpm
Acceleration
SUVs are not very performance oriented by default, especially not the affordable ones. The Durango isn't fast, but it holds up fine on the freeway. Merging into the fast lane might take a few downshifts, but other than that, it's quite nice.
Models
Dodge Durango
Jeep Grand Cherokee
GMC Acadia
Honda Pilot
Ford Explorer
Subaru Ascent
Toyota Highlander
0-60 MPH
7.6 sec
N/A
7 sec*
6.2 sec
8.2 sec
6.9 sec
-
Quarter mile
15.8 sec
N/A
N/A
14.8 sec
16.3 sec
15.5 sec
-
Engine
3.6 Liter V6
3.6 Liter V6
2.5 Liter Inline-4
3.5 Liter V6
3.5 Liter V6
2.4 Liter Boxer-4
2.7 Liter Inline-4
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
8.4
7.7
8.4
8.0
9.8
The Grand Cherokee has less weight than the Durango, owing to the lack of third-row seats. Thus, it offers better performance and lesser emissions. Honda Pilot is significantly faster than the Durango, followed by Subaru Ascent.
Ride and Handling
The ride and handling portion use to be the downfall of any Dodge car. Thankfully, the Grand Cherokee underpinnings have helped the SUV be a better car overall. It wouldn't take corners like a Porsche, but it wouldn't throw you on the side either. Remember to leave the throttle alone when you approach a turn at speed, and you'll be fine. Or don't carry any speed into a corner. Very safe indeed.
The size is a problem though. In tight spots, the driver would find visibility on the rear passenger side to be a little compromised due to the long length. The blind spot is also quite big, which is problematic if you aren't accustomed to the sheer size of this car.
Braking
Disc brakes on all wheels with anti-lock braking system ensures you do not swerve uncontrollably, even under panic braking situations. The weight holds it back though, but the Durango still manages to roll to a stop from 60 MPH in just over 120 feet.
Model
Dodge Durango
Jeep Grand Cherokee
GMC Acadia
Honda Pilot
Ford Explorer
Subaru Ascent
Toyota Highlander
Brake Front (in.)
13.0
13
12.6
12.6
12.8
13.1
12.9
Brake Rear (in.)
13.0
13
12.4
13
12.8
13
12.2
Curb Weight (lbs.)
4680
4513
3956
4036
4458
4430
4134
60-0 MPH (ft.)
121
N/A
172 (70 to 0)
117 (est.)
108 (With optional tires)
119
126 (est.)
Towing Capacity
The benefit of having a workhorse is that you can tow stuff around, and boy can the Durango Tow! You can lug around nearly 3 tons behind this Dodge SUV, which is honestly, truly impressive. The closest competitor in this regard would be the Honda Pilot, which is still more than half a ton behind.
Model
Dodge Durango
Jeep Grand Cherokee
GMC Acadia
Honda Pilot
Ford Explorer
Subaru Ascent
Toyota Highlander
Towing Capacity
6200
3500
4,000
3500
5000
5000
1500
2020 Dodge Durango Fuel Economy
Fuel efficiency is fine for a large SUV, and the large fuel tank helps improve the range of the vehicle. City efficiency is just 18 MPG for the 3.6 V6, and lower still for the 5.7 V8. Compared to its competitors, the Durango sits comfortably in the middle of the segment.
Model
Dodge Durango
Jeep Grand Cherokee
GMC Acadia
Honda Pilot
Ford Explorer
Subaru Ascent
Toyota Highlander
MPG (city)
18
19
21
19
17
21
20
MPG (highway)
25
26
26
27
24
27
24
MPG (combined)
20
21
23
22
20
23
22
Fuel Tank (gallons)
24.6
24.6
19
NA
NA
NA
NA
2020 Dodge Durango Interior
8.4/10
With one of the best infotainment systems on the market perched atop its sculpted dashboard, the Durango is better than many of its rivals, but only if buyers choose the optional 8.4-inch touchscreen. -Car and Driver
Seating and Comfort
Dodge offers a Passenger capacity of 5, 6 or 7 people, depending on which trim/package you choose. The 2020 Durango offers a decent interior room in the first and second rows. The third row is a little compromised, as they usually are, but you could get an average sized adult in there for short rides. Ingress/Egress is quite easy, and kudos to Dodge engineers for thinking about making life easier for the last row passengers too. The second row folds easily from the front as well as the back, and there are overhead AC vents for everyone.
The interiors are fine, and unless you are expecting German quality, you will be fine. Even the base model gets leather seats as an option, which is wonderful. There are a lot of cheap bits around though, which is to be expected from a 'budget' offering. Still, it's quite a step up from the previous generation Durangos.
Model
Dodge Durango
Jeep Grand Cherokee
GMC Acadia
Honda Pilot
Ford Explorer
Subaru Ascent
Toyota Highlander
Passenger Capacity
7
5
7
8
7
8
8
Front Row (cu. ft)
(Head/Shoulder/Leg Room)
39.9/57/40.3
39.9/58.7/40.3
40.3/59.4/41
40.1/62/40.9
41.4/61.5/42.9
41.3/61.1/42.2
40.7/59.3/44.2
Second Row (cu. ft)
(Head/Shoulder/Leg Room)
39.8/42.8/38.6
39.2/58/38.6
39.6/58.7/39.7
40.2/62/38.4
40.6/61/39.5
40/60.3/38.6
40/60.3/38.6
Third Row (cu. ft)
(Head/Shoulder/Leg Room)
37.8/42.8/31.5
-
37.5/54.3/31.1
38.9/57.6/31.9
37.8/50.8/32
36.3/57.2/31.7
36.3/57.2/31.7
Infotainment
You get a 7.0-Inch Touch Screen Display along with Uconnect 4 system as standard across the range. There is an optional Uconnect 4C NAV system available as well. Other features include:
Android Auto integration
Apple CarPlay support,
Integrated Voice Command
Bluetooth Streaming Audio
SiriusXM
If you opt for Uconnect 4C NAV, the car comes fitted with a larger touchscreen (8.4 inches) and gets more SiriusXM features (Guardian, Navigation, Traffic Plus, and Travel Link) as well.
Cargo volume
If you opt for third-row seats, you'd get a very small trunk, but thankfully the last row folds flat, giving you an uncompromised cargo area. Even the second-row seats fold, to allow for surfboards or similar things.
Model
Dodge Durango
Jeep Grand Cherokee
GMC Acadia
Honda Pilot
Ford Explorer
Subaru Ascent
Toyota Highlander
Cargo Volume in trunk (ft.3)
17.2
36.3
12.8
16.5
21
17.8
13.8
Cargo Volume 3rd Row folded (ft.3)
47.7
-
41.7
46.8
43.8
47.5
TBD
Cargo Volume 2nd row folded (ft.3)
84.5
68.3
79
83.9
80.7
86.5
83.7
2020 Dodge Durango Exterior
In general, the 2020 Durango's styling roams a territory that encompasses a certain toughness, a fair amount of chrome in a few trim levels, and a subtly sporty look in others. -Kelly Blue Book
Weight and dimensions
This Dodge SUV is heavy, undeniably so; its heavier than its competitors. Dodge employs the classic Muscle car strategy of offering a bigger engine to compensate for the extra bulk. For faster progress, buy the V8s. In fact, the engine makes up the majority of the mass in the car.
The dimensions are large too, largest amongst all cars here, another classic muscle car move. It's over 200 inches in length, which is quite a lot for crowded cities. Negotiating city traffic is a little difficult, but if you don't live in a crowded place, you won't find this to be a problem.
Model
Dodge Durango
Jeep Grand Cherokee
GMC Acadia
Honda Pilot
Ford Explorer
Subaru Ascent
Toyota Highlander
Curb weight (lbs.)
4680
4513
3956
4036
4458
4430
4134
Length(in)
201.2
189.8
193.6
196.5
198.3
196.8
192.5
Width(in)
75.8
63.9
75.4
78.6
78.9
76
75.8
Height(in)
70.9
69.3
66
70.6
70
71.6
68.1
Ground clearance (in)
8.1
8.6
7.2
7.3
7.8
8.7
8.0
Wheelbase (in)
119.8
114.8
112.5
111
112.8
113.8
109.8
Track width (in) F/R
63.9/64.1
64.1/63.9
64.5/64.5
66.3/66.3
67/67
64.4/ 64.2
64.4/64.2
Design and Styling
The Dodge Durango is extremely simplistic in its approach to styling. The headlamps are large, bulbous and clear, adorned by LEDs. The hood scoop on the bonnet adds more character to the design. The tail section spells the Dodge family name inside the Dodge family style long, horizontal running taillight strip. The SRT has a clear front grille, as opposed to the large cross on the front grille on the simpler Durangos. There isn't much more to the style, and the rest of the car looks just like a typical SUV.
2020 Dodge Durango Safety
Safety Features in the 2020 Dodge Durango are plenty. These include the following:
4-Wheel Traction Control
Electronic Stability Control
Enhanced Accident Response System
Hill Start Assist
LED Daytime Running Headlamps
Parksense Front / Rear Park-Assist with Stop
ParkView Rear Back-Up Camera
Remote-Start System
Security Alarm
Tire Pressure Monitoring Display
Trailer Sway Damping
Advanced Multistage Front Airbags
Supplemental Front Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
Supplemental Side-Curtain Airbags
Supplemental Side-Curtain Airbags in All Rows
Driver Inflatable Knee-Bolster Airbag
LATCH Ready Child Seat Anchor System
Additional Safety & Security Features
Dual Note Electric Horns
Electronic Vehicle Information Center
Front Passenger Seat Belt Alert
Performance Shift Indicator
Temperature and Compass Gauge
IIHS and NHTSA do not rate the Durango SRT separate from the regular Durango.
2020 Dodge Durango Competition
Dodge Durango vs Jeep Grand Cherokee
Platform sharing helps shed development costs and (usually) the result is better cars for all manufacturers involved. Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee share the same engines and transmissions, and consequently the same performance as well. Yet these two are quite different cars.
The Durango is a proper workhorse, with seating options available for more than 5 people. The Jeep, on the other hand, is more of a 'lifestyle vehicle', better suited for leisure than work.
Dodge Durango vs Honda Pilot
Honda Pilot is a great car if you're looking for a vehicle that can carry a lot of people. It can carry 8 people, 1 more than the maximum of what Durango can hold. The Durango has better engine options and gets more cargo capacity, which could be what you want in your SUV.
Dodge Durango vs Ford Explorer
Ford Explorer is a lovely car, with more space all around than the Durango. You'd also save money on fuel bills in the Ford, especially with the EcoBoost engine. The soundtrack is very disappointing on the EcoBoost though, which isn't really a problem but deserves a mention. The 5.7 V8 on the Durango sound divine at full clip, and if you want to flaunt your car around, the Dodge is a better pick.
2020 Dodge Durango Final Verdict
As mentioned at the beginning of this review, the Durango is a raised muscle car rather than an SUV. There is plenty of power on offer and towing capabilities are unreal. Even the base engine can pull upwards of 6000 pounds, which is significantly more than its competitors. The affordability is this vehicle's biggest weapon, which is another brownie point. The butch proportions and macho looks are too!
With so many factors in favor of this car, you should just go ahead and buy one.