2022 Dodge Durango

Since the base trim is too basic, we recommend at least going for the 2022 Durango GT trim, which adds features like rear park assist, powered seats, bigger alloy wheels, seven-seat configuration, to name a few. These features are a must, and you can’t have such a big SUV with a bare necessary park assist to start with. Thus starting from $38,500, the GT trim makes more sense here. It certainly is the most value for money proposition of the lot. In comparison to the competition though, the Durango does lack in some essential features.

The 2022 Dodge Durango will continue to be offered in four trim levels namely, SXT, GT, GT Plus, and Citadel, whereas the R/T, SRT, and SRT Hellcat versions are considered to be different variants altogether. The standard Durango being reviewed here will cover only SXT, GT, GT Plus, and Citadel variants.

While the high-powered Durango trims, i.e., R/T, SRT, and SRT Hellcat will be reviewed separately as and when scoops are available on these with us. On the feature front, safety takes the prime spot, with the latest driver-assistance features being added as standard now.

The Durango SUV gets a V6 engine as standard, while V8 is available. The base trim gets bare minimum features, but as you climb up the trim ladder, you add Nappa leather upholstery, Alpine premium speaker, powered seats, heated and ventilated seats, to name a few. The 2022 Durango could also be equipped with a Trailer-Tow Group IV package to enhance its towing capabilities.

Dodge has made a habit lately of stuffing its older models to the gills with screaming, forced induction horsepower - Motortrend

We don’t expect anything new from the 2022 Dodge Durango in terms of engine and performance for the upcoming year. The base trim will come equipped with the same 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 which produces 293 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft torque. Buyers can also upgrade the engine to a 5.7-liter Hemi-V-8 which is capable of producing 360 horsepower. The V8 engine sets it apart from the rivals as none of them provides an option of V8 under the hood. The V8 engine is offered in R/T and Citadel trims. Moving up the ladder, the Durango SRT version churns out 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque from the potent 6.2-liter Supercharged V8. RWD comes as standard with an optional AWD configuration.

Acceleration prowess can’t be doubted as it is well equipped with a robust engine. This 2022 Durango hits 0-60 mph in just 7.6 seconds when equipped with a V6 engine, and the figure drops to just 6.4 seconds when equipped with the HEMI V8 engine. The fastest among all remains the Honda Pilot here, with it doing 0-60 mph in just 6.2 seconds and quarter-mile coming at 14.8 seconds. While the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride share about the same 0-60 mph and quarter-mile figures, owing to the similar powertrain under the hood.

The 2022 Dodge Durango will offer excellent ride quality even on harsh roads. The sturdy and responsive chassis can maintain minimal body roll at all times while driving. Independent front and multi-link rear suspension including Bilstein adaptive dampers will help in better cornering. With standard launch control and launch assist, amazing agility is achieved even on a 4,500 pounds plus SUV.

All these cars are laden with V6 engines, which provide enough pep and punch to get you through on busy roads. However, the 2022 Durango pumps out most power on paper and wins the trophy here. Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride have the same mechanicals under their hood and put out 291 horses and 262 lb-ft of torque, while Honda Pilot has the least power figures of 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.

The 2022 Dodge Durango is expected to return a similar EPA-rated 19 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on freeways, the figures offered are satisfactory. We barely anticipate any changes in the powertrain of the 2022 Dodge Durango model over the current one, so the fuel economy should remain similar to that of the 2021 MY. When equipped with the V8 engine, the fuel efficiency drops drastically, but gladly, that engine comes as optional. With a 640-mile highway range from its 24.6-gallon fuel tank, the Durango ensures comfortable highway trips.

Moving on up the ladder, Durango Hellcat, powered by the Supercharged V8, is able to deliver 12 and 17 MPG in the city and highway respectively. The rivals except for the Kia Telluride offer somewhat similar fuel economy figures. That said, the Kia Telluride returns 20/26/23 mpg of fuel economy in city/highway/combined, respectively. Rest all offer a similar 19 mpg in the city and 22 mpg of combined fuel economy. The only game-changer is the fuel tank capacity which the Dodge Durango has highest at 24.6 gallons, followed by Honda Pilot’s 19.5-gallon fuel tank.

For those rare shoppers out there looking to spice things up, the 2022 Dodge Durango may be an intriguing alternative - Edmunds

As a perfect people-hauling car, Dodge Durango offers its occupants a nice place to sit inside the cabin. For the 2022 model year, we don't expect any significant changes as the car got a redesigned dashboard and more features only last year. However, for 2022, Durango will get a new instrument panel, a roomier center console, and a 10.1-inch touch screen. The 2022 model will be refined to a substantial extent that will give tough competition to its rivals with its appealing interior design. The dashboard design is cool and attention-grabbing. Nappa leather and suede with silver accent stitching are offered, along with embroidery of the SRT Hellcat logo. To enhance the interior, Laguna leather seats in the color of Demonic Red will be offered, along with Demonic Red seat belts for an extra price. Carbon fiber accents and soft-touch leather are also made available.

It offers three rows of seating for up to seven passengers, with adequate bolstering. The driver seat will get a memory function in higher trims to uplift the convenience. Comfort level doubles in the front row seats, while all the other rows offer equal and sufficient space to the occupants. This car serves as a practical utility with decent cargo space to carry 6 medium suitcases and up to 15 suitcases after folding rear seats. Durango manages to offer 17.2 cubic feet cargo capacity. That said, the Honda Pilot has an almost as spacious cabin as the Dodge Durango but a smaller 16.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

The 2022 Durango will get a big 10.1-inch touch screen while an 8.4-inch screen remains standard on the SXT and GT models with the latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also offered. The Nine-speaker audio setup comes as standard and can be upgraded to a 19 speaker Harman Kardon system.

Dodge Durango is also expected to get a much better and updated wireless charging pad and will be sans buttons on the center console and infotainment screen. Highlights of the infotainment system include:

• UConnect 5
• The 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• Wireless device charging

In terms of exterior looks and design, the 2022 Durango will receive no new changes and gets the same looks just as the previous 2021 version. The good combination of lightweight materials and better engineering makes it a somewhat catchy and dynamic car. Last year, Durango received refreshed exterior styling, a revised bumper and headlights, and three grille textures. Hellcat gets the gloss black grille with the wider opening for cooling, while R/T, GT, and SRT392 get a black-colored wider honeycomb grille. Furthermore, painted Granite crystal grille is offered in SXT and Citadel models.

The Durango substantially adds more aggression to its exterior. For 2021, it got upgrades like a body-color lower splitter, a special black grille, and red Brembo brake calipers along with LED headlamps and LED fog lamps that come standard. The 20-inch alloy wheels came with mid-gloss black pockets and a machined face finish. Dual center stripes and a power sunroof are also available. These will be carried over to the 2022 Durango with no change.

Dimension-wise also the 2022 Durango will be similar to the previous model. It will again have the longest wheelbase of 119.8-inches. Compared to its rivals, Durango offers the highest curb weight of 4,750 pounds and the best ground clearance of 8.1-inches. The extra curb weight, si the reason for it to be the slowest amongst the lot. It is also the widest and lengthiest among the rivals.

Following are the exterior features offered by Dodge Durango:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Speed Sensitive Variable Intermittent Wipers
• Lip Spoiler
• Colored Grille w/Chrome Surround
• Front Fog Lamps
• Perimeter/Approach Lights
• LED Brakelights

The safety quotient of the Durango is where Dodge has focused the most for 2022. For the upcoming year, both the Blind-spot Monitoring system, and Rear Cross Path detection system is offered as standard across the lineup, whereas various other packages also now come with the latest in terms of driver-assistance tech. The 2022 Durango model has not been crash-tested yet, so ratings from NHTSA and IIHS are not officially available. But taking an idea from the previous crash tests, NHTSA has rated the 2021 Durango with 4 out of 5 and IIHS has offered a “Good” rating in four categories and a “Marginal" rating in the driver’s side small overlap front test. So, we can expect a better result this time around, now that it gets plenty more safety tech.

Following safety features are expected to be offered in the 2022 Dodge Durango:

• Parking aid
• Backup camera
• Lane keep assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Hill-start assist.
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Forward collision warning with active braking
• Rear cross-path detection

2022 Dodge Durango Vs 2022 Hyundai Palisade

Dodge Durango is known for its well-built dynamic design, but Hyundai Palisade is not far behind. The Palisade is pocket-friendly and is offered at $33,150 with the best ride quality and great handling in the segment.

But when it comes to better performance and interior space, the Durango is unrivaled. Thus we would only recommend the Palisade if you want a big SUV but are not concerned about the performance and polarizing looks.

2022 Dodge Durango Vs 2022 Honda Pilot

A tough battle goes on between these two arch-rivals, Honda Pilot has been a supremely tough competition to Durango for a long time. Although it may not be the best in the segment, it is known for its excellent ride quality, space, practicality, and of course driving dynamics.

If you want to consider a choice apart from a muscle car, then Honda Pilot is the apt choice for city dwellers with a big family who frequently go on long trips.

The 2022 Dodge Durango will be the ultimate muscle car that opens up a lot of potential for having an SUV that can be used as a family hauler and occasionally for spirited driving. With a more aggressive body, ruggedness, and better performance capabilities, the 2022 Durango brings more options for the buyers than what the rivals can offer. It has some flaws in the safety area and it also gets the smallest cargo in the segment of three-row SUVs. This car is for those who can compromise on the utility and practicality factor for better performance and handling, which is a rarity in this segment of SUVs.