2022 Dodge Durango R/T SUV

The R/T itself is the trim that we are talking about. Thanks to Dodge’s power and a performance-induced lineup which gives every trim a special character of its own. The Durango R/T comes in both RWD and AWD. The RWD is the standard with the AWD being optional. The RWD starts at around $48,000 (exact pricing not yet revealed). The AWD is expected to be priced at around $51,000. It only comes with one engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. Since it is higher up the hierarchy in the Durango trim list, it offers quite a few standard features and luxury ones too.

The Durango also comes with the Tow N Go package, which comes only with AWD. It costs around $4,995 and adds trailer brake control, trailer towing prep with a Class IV trailer hitch, 20” aluminum wheels, and also adds Pirelli Scorpion Zero all-season tires. Other packages include the Blacktop Package which adds a satin black Dodge tail lamp badge, gloss black exterior mirrors, etc. The Technology Group costs $2,395 and adds adaptive cruise control w/ stop, advanced brake assist, full-speed forward collision warning plus and lane departure warning. There are other smaller packages too.

Which trim should you buy?

Ask yourself if you are willing to use your SUV for towing and trailering. If you are, then go with the Tow N Go package as it will allow for you to tow heavy objects without breaking a sweat. If you don’t want to tow, then you are fine without the package. However, we would definitely recommend adding the Technology Group package which adds a few important driver-assistance features for your ease and convenience.

2022 Dodge Durango R/T Release date

While there have been no affirmations from Dodge yet, we do expect the 2022 Dodge Durango R/T to hit the stores by the end of 2021. With no major updates on the cards, the Durango R/T should smoothly walk into its 2022 model year. 

The 2022 Dodge Durango R/T shall continue to source its power from a big 5.7-liter HEMI V8 that is capable of producing 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and it comes with RWD as standard, but you can also upgrade to AWD if you want to. The engine has been in use since 2002, yet it still kicks hard to this very day, almost 20 years later. The engines deliver power at narrow bands, and it is not easy to tap into their full potential without the eight-speed auto. The transmission does a very good job and offers smooth shifts throughout the range, and brings the most out of this engine. Also, the sound from the HEMI V8 is rebellious and we love it.

Despite the Durango’s overall heft, the V8 block can push it from 0-60 MPH in just 6.2-seconds, eventually clocking out at a top speed of 145 MPH. That is pretty impressive acceleration for a heavy muscle SUV. However, its bulk does show up in hard brakings where the brake pedals feel a bit too grabby. A 60-0 stopping distance of 134 feet, profoundly speaks of the Durango R/T’s large proportions. The star of the show is its 7400 lbs towing capacity which is already better than its rivals and further increases to 8700 lbs with the available “Tow n Go’ package. You could tow another large SUV behind this and also add something more. 

*2021 MY data used for reference

The Durango is not the brightest handling SUV of its class. Sure, it does have its plus points, but they still don’t make it handle well. The handling can be best described as average; neither too shabby nor too exciting. The steering has a good response and it is precise and direct. Going into a corner is also not dangerous, as the body roll is well-maintained. It is quick, but it is not exactly athletic and the huge body and weight restrict it from being a good overall handler. While the Ford Explorer manages similar timings as the Dodge, the Jeep and Chevrolet fall back in this aspect clocking 6.5 and 6.9 seconds to the 60mph mark. 

The Durango utilizes multi-link rear suspension and short and long arm front suspension w/ coil springs. The suspension is soft and it offers a gentle ride for the occupants. For the most part, the occupants inside enjoy a rather comfortable ride, but it is not the best in business. It can handle a little bit of off-roading too.

Yes, the 2022 Durango R/T is not very fuel-efficient. Most of the HEMI V8s are not, most of Stellantis (Chrysler) vehicles are not. So, this is also a pretty inefficient engine. The EPA estimates are 14 MPG for the city, 22 MPG for the highway, and 17 MPG for combined driving. Yikes! Thankfully though, the Durango gets a large gas tank. Quite large in fact. 24.6 gallons, to be precise which translates into a driving range of around 344/541/418 miles for city/highway/combined driving, which is impressive. But you will need to fill more fuel though and that will sip in a lot of money.

*2021 MY data used for reference

The HEMI V8 of the Stellantis SUVs here is surely bad for fuel economy. This is because they were not meant to be frugal or very environment friendly. Instead, these large blocks cater to the fast and brute aspirations of the enthusiast inside you. The Ford Explorer fares far better having a mileage of 24 MPG and despite having the smallest tank size, still manages to offer the highest range of 429 miles. The Chevrolet Traverse ranks second in the segment but manages the lowest range, while the Jeep Grand Cherokee is similar to the Dodge in all aspects. 

The 2022 Dodge Durango R/T houses a pretty upscale interior. The design on the dashboard and the function and utility is appreciable with the infotainment screen and the climate control buttons are slightly tilted towards the driver for ease of access for them. The dashboard is also modern in look and has good ornamentation of soft-touch materials and leather upholstery as standard inside the R/T. Buyers are welcomed by a Black leather and suede upholstery is standard, but you can upgrade to full-leather options with choices of your own color scheme for $995. There is also contrast stitching on the interior.

The seats are also adorned in soft-touch leather and the driver’s seat is 12-way power-adjustable and includes 4-way lumbar support and so does the passenger’s seat. The steering wheel is heated and leather-wrapped. The total seating capacity is 7, meaning that the third row only has two seats. You can also opt for captain’s chairs in the second row. The second-row seats are heated. The first two rows are quite spacious and roomy, with plenty of headroom and legroom. The third row has cramped legroom but with some compromise, smaller adults can fit in there too.

*2021 MY data used for reference

Apart from its enhanced presentation, Durango R/T also boasts of an impressive 17.2 cubic feet of cargo, even with all three rows up. The third row can fold down in a 50-50 split and it opens up 43.4 cubic feet of total storage. You can also fold the second row in a 60-40 split and that opens a massive 85.1 cubic feet of cargo storage. 

Also, the small-item storage solutions inside the Durango R/T are very good too, with plenty of storage. Although all the SUVs come with three rows, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the only one that comes with a two-row. However, it boasts the largest cargo capacity among all 36.3 cu.-ft. The other SUVs all have a cramped rear third row. Some of the standout interior features are as follows:

• 12-way power-adjustable front seats with 4-way lumbar support
• Leather upholstery with contrast stitching
• Leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Urethane gear shifter material

What’s there to keep you entertained?

With a very recent infotainment update, the 2022 Dodge Durango R/T will feature its new Uconnect 5 system with a 10.1” infotainment touchscreen tilted slightly towards the driver. It has been improved and is now quite fast. Very smooth and operational. The system is also generally quite intuitive and easy to use. Standard features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD radio, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, SiriusXM radio, SiriusXM w/ 360L, GPS navigation, global telematics box module, Connected Travel & Traffic Services. 

You also get a lot of USB ports and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. As standard, your ears are treated with a 506W, nine-speaker Alpine sound system. However, if that is not enough, you can upgrade to the 19-speaker 825W Harman Kardon sound system. Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows: Key infotainment features in the 2022 Dodge Durango R/T are:

• Uconnect 5 system with 10.1” touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 9-speaker Alpine sound system
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Connected Travel & Traffic Services
• SiriusXM w/ 360L
• Amazon Alexa compatibility

The 2022 Dodge Durango R/T would continue to wear its thick-skinned exterior sleeve which did receive an edgier update for its current 2021 model. The design may still be old, but Dodge has done its part to still make it look pretty impressive to this date. A muscle SUV at heart, the Durango has big ambitions, as is apparent by looking at it. The design is aggressive and the size is gigantic. This juggernaut is handsome too, dare we say. The front fascia has a two-tier grille design, with there being a big gap between the two. One is located at the upper end of the front fascia, while the other one is at the bottom. 

The front grille is sandwiched between the two LED headlights, which have a very old and recognizable shape but are now sleeker than their earlier counterparts. The front fascia is big and it instills a look of aggression on the face of the American SUV. The hood is large and wide, and it also features a wide hood scoop. From the side, it looks massive and pretty long. The third-row window is separated by a body-color C-pillar. The rear-end sees two beautiful and stylishly shaped LED taillights and the “Dodge” inscription is between them. There are also dual exhausts to emphasize athleticism. It rides on 20” fine silver wheels, but you can upgrade to better ones.

*2021 MY data used for reference

Among the competition here, every single SUV has a style statement of its own. Even in terms of proportions, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the only one that gets behind the other three SUVs here. Interestingly, not the Jeep, but the Ford Explorer is the lightest among the segment here which does aid it with slightly better maneuverability than the others. The Dodge Durango is one of the longest SUVs with a wheelbase of 119.8 inches and a ground clearance of 8.1 inches, while the Chevrolet Traverse gets the lowest clearance of 7.5 inches. Key Exterior Features in the 2022 Dodge Durango R/T are:

• 20” fine silver wheels
• Heated side mirrors
• HEMI badge
• LED DRLs
• LED brake lights
• Automatic high beams

The scores for the 2022 Durango are obviously not available since the vehicle did not come out yet. However, since there won’t be any major changes to the vehicle, we can compare the 2021 data. NHTSA gave it a 4-star overall safety rating. The overall front star rating is 4-star, while the side has a perfect 5-star rating in all the categories. 

The rollover gets a 3-star rating. IIHS gave it a mix of “Marginal” and “Good” ratings. Well, it is not the best that we would have hoped to see. Dodge is going to include standard safety features, but which ones exactly are not known as of now. Key Safety Features in the 2022 Dodge Durango R/T are:

• Roll stability control
• ParkSense with stop front and rear parking sensors
• Parkview back-up camera
• Adaptive cruise control (optional)
• Advanced brake assist (optional)
• Full speed forward collision warning plus (optional)
• Lane departure warning plus (optional)

2022 Dodge Durango R/T vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse 1LZZ

The Chevrolet Traverse is not as quick as the Durango, but it still manages to trail closely. The Traverse also has more practicality on offer, thanks to its larger trunk space.

Also, its V6 engine is more efficient than the HEMI V8 and will cost less to maintain over time. When it comes to looks, the Traverse is a handsome vehicle with sharper and curvier edges than the Durango, but it is not exactly a muscle SUV.

2022 Dodge Durango R/T vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited X

The Durango R/T and the Limited X are practically the same vehicles, under Stellantis. The only difference is that the 5.7L HEMI V8 is optional on the Grand Cherokee, and it is a smaller SUV, with 5 seats only.

If you want a smaller beast, then go for the Cherokee, but if you want the full power of your family-hauling capacity, then go for the Durango.

2022 Dodge Durango R/T vs 2021 Ford Explorer Limited

The Ford Explorer is the one with better performance than the Durango when it comes to acceleration. But it can’t even hold a candle to the muscle SUV when it comes to towing capability.

The Explorer is not as roomy as the Dodge, but it does come with slightly more cargo space. The best advantage that it has is the highly efficient engine, as compared to the HEMI V8.

The 2022 Dodge Durango R/T is only meant for those who want nothing less than a V8 to haul their families on. It is a power-hungry and powerful engine that is capable of some excellent performance. The R/T with the Tow N Go package is the go-to for anybody who wants a family hauler that can also haul other things. With its exceptional towing capacity, practicality, luxury, and “muscleness”, it turns out to be a pretty convincing option. The only problem is the highly inefficient V8 and the running costs.