2021 Dodge Durango

Standing in a highly competitive class, the 2021 Durango attracts buyers with stand-out performance specs. While famous rivals like the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, and Honda Pilot attract buyers with their advanced tech and better interior appeal, the Durango gets you massive fire-breathing engines under the hood. The Durango SRT Hellcat with the HEMI V8 is simply the best one shall get to drive in this class. Starting at $31,765 for the base variant, the prices go up to $80,995 for the Hellcat. Let’s see how it fares against the rivals.

The 2021 Dodge Durango is available in six trim levels – SXT, GT, Citadel, R/T, SRT 392, and SRT Hellcat. The trims upward of the R/T are reviewed separately as they have entirely different rivals. The models have a standard RWD system, and an AWD comes as an option across the trims costing you an extra $2,600. The base SXT offers all necessary features at an affordable price tag. It gets a new standard 8.4” touchscreen display, tri-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and much more. You can get it in a 5-passenger configuration or opt for the second-row captain’s chairs, which is available as an option. 

The value-for-money GT Trim gets you many feel-good features at a reasonable price. You get a 7-passenger configuration, 8-way powered driver seats, park assist, dual rear exhausts, and so on. The Citadel trim comes with a lot of feel-good luxurious features such as heated and ventilated seats for the driver and passenger seats with Nappa leather upholstery. 

Which trim should you buy?

Dodge has equipped the 2021 Durango well even from the base trim. However, with a lot of standard equipment and decent performance, we would suggest the mid-spec GT trim. You can also opt for the 10.1-inch updated infotainment on the GT models by spending $995, making it the best deal for the price. If performance is what you prioritize over practicality, then you have to look at the SRT versions.

The engine section of the Dodge Durango is taken care of by a 3.6L Pentastar V6 producing 293-horsepower for the single exhaust and 295-horsepower for the optional dual exhaust free-flow system. The higher trims including Citadel get the V8 churning out 360 horses as an option. The engine is paired with an engaging 8-speed automatic transmission that powers the rear wheels or all the wheels as per your choice. The higher trims come only in AWD configuration.

The base V6 engine lets the Durango hit 60 mph in 7.4 seconds from a standstill. The 5.7L V8 improves the acceleration significantly, covering the same in 6.2 seconds. However, the V6 motor balances performance to efficiency and requires 15.8 seconds for completing the quarter-mile race, making it the slowest in the segment.

The Pentastar V6 on the Durango makes it the most powerful machine in the segment, churning out 293 horses against the 291 hp of the Hyundai and Kia. On the flip side, the Durango is the slowest with the base engine in terms of acceleration due to its heavy weight, but it grows to be the best as you climb up the trim ladder. In terms of acceleration, the Honda Pilot puts its power down very well.

How well does the 2021 Dodge Durango handle?

The 2021 Dodge Durango in RWD configuration is an athletic SUV. The suspension is well-tuned and moves over the undulations of the roads with ease. The ride quality is thus superior and offers enough comfort. However, the steering isn’t that good to live with. The Durango is engaging to drive with the slick-shifting automatic transmission. The car feels flat especially while taking on the corners. It won’t be as quick as one would expect unless one goes for the performance versions. Still, it manages to promise the fun-to-drive character and decent handling, making it essentially a family SUV.

Braking Performance

The 2021 Dodge Durango is equipped with 13-inch brake rotors both in the front and rear. The brakes work pretty decently to halt the car from 60 MPH within 134 feet, which isn’t the best in the segment. All four wheels get disc brakes, assisted with ABS and brake assist.

Optional Brembo brakes are offered with the V8 motor-equipped trims, which are much better. The SUV weighs 4,680 lbs, which can be seen as the major reason behind the unimpressive braking figure.

The Durango gets the biggest rear rotors along with Pilot, while the Hyundai and Kia cousins get larger brakes at the front. All the other cars weigh at least 400 pounds lighter than the Durango. Thus they were able to stop a lot quicker, with the Telluride leading the competition, halting from 60 mph in 126 feet which is much better than the Durango.

The 2021 Dodge Durango, with its RWD drivetrain, will get you 19 MPG in the city, 26 MPG on the highway, and 21 MPG in the combined cycle. Coming to the AWD, the fuel efficiency figures would be slightly lower. The Durango gets a segment-best 24.6-gallon fuel capacity, which gives the best range figures of around 640 miles on the highway. This means that you’ll need to have only very few stops at the gas station.

The Kia Telluride is clearly the winner on the fuel efficiency front. However, the larger tank in the Durango gives it an advantage of a better range, which makes it notable in the segment. Even when equipped with the 3.6 L V6 and RWD, it turns out that the Durango returns the worst fuel efficiency figures. Once you opt for AWD or the V8 engine, this drops down further.

The 2021 Dodge Durango gets the much-awaited changes to the interior. The cabin gets an enhanced ambiance inside, resembling closely that of the Challenger. The leather upholstery on the dashboard and the seats make it far more premium and nicer to touch. The dashboard is clean and minimalistic but largely functional and opulent. The attractive heated steering wheel gets an all-black layout with leather touch and too many controls over it. The vehicle offers leather-trimmed seats with power adjustability except for the base trim, which gets cloth upholstery. 

Though not as spacious as the rivals, Dodge offers a decent amount of room inside. However, the third row is cramped. Dodge offers a commanding seating posture and enough bolstering, which makes more sense than having a lot of room within. Coming to the higher trims, you’ll get to see a whole lot of comfort features such as electro-chromatic inside rear-view mirror, power sunroof, and so on. The interior is highly useful with cup holders and cubby holes that make it utilitarian in the true sense. The vehicle offers 17.2 cubic feet of storage space, which is quite decent in the segment. The second and third rows can be folded down to improve the space further.

Though the 2021 Durango seems the least spacious in the competition, it is practically a nice vehicle and quite comfortable. The vehicle offers more amenities and comfort than its rivals. Hyundai and Kia seem to be the most spacious cars in the segment. Moreover, Kia is the largest in terms of boot capacity, followed by the Palisade. Dodge has introduced several new features including a wireless phone charging pad, which itself is an enthusiastic update for the muscular vehicle. Standout interior features include:

• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• Sunroof (optional)
• 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat (optional)
• Heated front seats (optional)
• Heated steering wheel (optional)
• Three-row seating
• Cloth upholstery

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2021 model year brings in updated infotainment that has replaced the outdated 7-inch Uconnect 4 system with an 8.4-inch system. This is standard on lower trims SXT to GT and a 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 as an option on the lower trims and standard on higher trims. The system features all demanded connectivity features, including the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa Integration, Bluetooth, Navigation with Real-time Traffic Display, and so on. The entertainment side is extended to include SiriusXM HD Radio and AM/FM radio facilities.

The system is paired with a 6-speaker Alpine sound system on the base and a 9-speaker version in the higher trims. You get controls on the steering wheel as well as beneath the screen. The introduction of a wireless charging pad is another notable update in the tech front of the vehicle. Some of the notable features in infotainment are:

• Uconnect 5 10.1-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Amazon Alexa Integration
• 9-speaker Alpine Sound system
• Navigation with Real-time traffic display
• SiriusXM HD Radio

The exterior design has also received notable changes for the 2021 Durango. The front fascia now resembles that of the Charger. The aggressive looks of the SUV are enhanced with attractive LED Headlamps.

Revisions on the rear spoiler and front bumper visibly give it a look for the present, without getting away from the traditional Dodge looks. On the higher trims, including the Citadel, you get several cosmetic characters to make the looks more attractive. The platinum chrome accents on the door handle and the mirror caps mark richness. You get a sunroof on the top for higher trims and 20-inch satin carbon wheels.

Dodge is the longest and tallest in the segment along with the largest wheelbase and ground clearance. All these would surely give an advantage to the muscle car. Honda Pilot is the widest in the segment, but too cramped in terms of wheelbase or ground clearance. Moreover, Durango is the heaviest in the segment too, with nearly 4689 lbs. Standout exterior features include:

• Dual rear exhaust
• Sunroof
• 20-inch aluminum wheels
• LED auto high-beam headlights
• Rear spoiler

The robust and athletic platform of the Durango is safe enough. NHTSA has given 5 stars in the side crash tests and rollover tests, but IIHS hasn’t released the scores yet. However, the structurally similar 2020 model had received good ratings in many categories but only marginal rating in driver’s side small overlap front. The Durango gets a lot of standard equipment for the 2021 model year, which includes Rear Park Assist, Hill-start Assist, Brake Assist, and a few more. Optional features such as Blind-spot monitoring would help enhance safe driving. Some of the standout features include:

• Hill Start Assist
• Rear Park Assist
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Rain brake support

2021 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Honda Pilot

Dodge Durango is truly a muscular SUV in looks and performance. However, it is pricier. The Honda Pilot is a more practical and economical purchase with a roomier cabin and premium equipment.

If you are an engine buff and what you need is a power-packed performer, the Durango would be your go-to. But if you need a practical family car to live with daily, then Pilot takes the lead.

2021 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Hyundai Palisade

Hyundai Palisade is one of the most modern SUVs in the market with a long list of standard features and amenities. This gets improved practicality and comfort at an affordable price range.

The muscular Dodge is more likely to get you good performance and power under your throttle rather than improving the features list.

2021 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride is one of the best picks in the segment, with class-leading interiors, fuel efficiency, safety features, and tech features. While Durango stands out in performance and underpinnings, Kia works more on practicality and value-for-money segments, hence picking between these two would be a matter of what your priorities are.

The 2021 Dodge Durango is the athletic and enthusiastic performer in this segment. With menacing performance and smooth ride quality, the Durango seems to be a good pick for those who need more power beneath their feet. While the V6 offers pretty decent performance along with balanced fuel economy, the HEMI V8 is in a league of its own. While the rivals offer better space and features, the 2021 Durango is hefty and capable of towing anything and everything.