2019 Dodge Durango R/T SUV

 The exterior of the R/T gets a more aggressive styling package which includes a set of 20-inch wheels finished off in satin carbon, a blacked out performance grille and optional (but essential) racing stripes. A Technology Group package for the R/T adds adaptive cruise control, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, a forward-collision warning system with automatic braking, lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist .

Trim	R/T
MSRP	$62,995
Key Features	Black Seats
	Adaptive Damping Suspension
	Air Conditioning with 3-Zone Automatic Temp Control
	Rear Air Conditioning with Heater
	Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror
	Remote Proximity Keyless Entry and Keyless Go
	Sentry Key Theft Deterrent System

We Recommend

There is nothing to impede your decision here; if you want a Durango R/T, go get a Durango R/T!

The Durango R/T 's 5.7 -liter V-8 dubbed the 392the 1950s-era 392-cubic-inch Hemi was one of Chrysler's most revered enginesgives it far more gusto than most people need in a three-row SUV.  -Car and Driver

The 5.7 -liter naturally aspirated V8 in the 2019 Dodge Durango is an extremely exciting engine. It growls every time you pin the pedal down, purrs when it upshifts and downshifts, provided you have track or sport mode on. If you don't want to burn fuel at an unprecedented rate, you can switch to Eco mode, which removes the purrs and muffles the growl. You get an 8-speed automatic transmission in the Durango, capable of manual shifts. It is a lightning-fast and precise shifter when the mood hits you, and a laid-back, relaxed unit when you feel sensible and/or responsible.

There are eight driving modes:

• Sport
• Track
• Snow
• Tow
• Valet
• Eco

No need for guesses, each mode is good for whatever it is called. These are lifesavers, and you are advised to set the correct mode every time you turn the engine on. You don't want to be stuck in the wrong mode at the wrong time, e.g., the abundance of power would be particularly distressing in low traction situations. Snow mode would suit you better there.

Models	Dodge Durango R/T	Mercedes AMG GLE 43 SUV	Jeep Grand Cherokee R/T	BMW X5 xDrive 50i	Jaguar F-pace SVR	Porsche Cayenne S
MSRP	$64,390	$68,150	$69,340	$76,745	$80,985	$83,950
Engine	5.7 L V8 Premium Unleaded	3.0L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded	5.7 L V8 Premium Unleaded	4.4L V8 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded	5.0L V8 Intercooled Supercharger Premium Unleaded	2.9L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded
Transmission	8 Speed Automatic	9G-TRONIC 9-Speed Automatic	8 Speed Automatic	8 Speed Automatic	8 Speed Automatic	8 Speed Automatic
Horsepower	475 hp@ 6000 rpm	385 hp@ 6100rpm	475 hp@ 6000 rpm	456 hp@ 5250 rpm	550 hp@ 6500 rpm	440 hp@ 5700rpm
Torque	470 ft-lbs@ 4300rpm	384 ft-lbs@ 2500rpm	470 ft-lbs@ 4300rpm	479 ft-lbs@ 1500rpm	502 ft-lbs@ 3500rpm	405 ft-lbs@ 1800rpm

The table above has the competition laid out in increasing order of price of the base model. Surprisingly, Mercedes makes the list at the lower end of the spectrum, due to the brilliant price for its GLE AMG 43 SUV (there are bigger more powerful GLEs out there, but they are quite a lot more expensive. Better go check those out as well!). Then there is the sibling, Jeep Grand Cherokee, which has the same engine, power figures, mechanical components, as the Dodge, but in a slightly more premium package.

On the upper end of the spectrum, you have the BMW X5, which is perhaps the sanest car here. Then there is the lovely Jaguar F-pace, poetry expressed as a mechanical invention. The beauty offers a large 5-liter supercharged engine, the sound of which complements the look of the car. Porsche has a contender too, it's the powerful Cayenne S (not the Turbo, that too expensive).

Acceleration

What's the point of power if you can't outrun your opponent? The Dodge outpaces most cars on the road, taking under 4 and a half seconds go from a standstill to 60 MPH. Quarter mile run takes just under 13 seconds. The 2019 Durango might shame a few sports cars in terms of acceleration, and will definitely shame a lot of them in terms of the exhaust note. The sound makes it feel even faster, which just elevates the fun factor.

Models	Dodge Durango R/T	Mercedes AMG GLE 43 SUV	Jeep Grand Cherokee R/T	BMW X5 xDrive 50i	Jaguar F-pace SVR	Porsche Cayenne S
0-60 MPH	4.4 sec	5.6 sec	4.4 sec	4.6 sec	4.1 sec	4.9 sec
Quarter mile	12.9 sec	N/A	13.1 sec	N/A	N/A	13.3 sec
Engine	5.7 L V8 Premium Unleaded	3.0L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded	5.7 L V8 Premium Unleaded	4.4L V8 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded	5.0L V8 Intercooled Supercharger Premium Unleaded	2.9L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded
Emission (Tons/yr)	8.4	9.3	N/A	10.3	N/A	N/A

The Jag takes just 4 seconds to reach 60 MPH, a feat usually reserved for the most powerful of sportscars. The Jeep is right at its tail, with just 0.2 seconds separating these two. The Beemer is not the M variant, which is why the X5 posts a relatively docile time of 4.6 seconds for the 0-60 run.

Ride and Handling

The Dodge can hold its own against an equivalent small car, and it stands true for every trim. The SRT is heavily track-focused, while all others get a much comfier driving experience. . The others are good for a quick dirt session, but function primarily as a family ferry. Adaptive suspension makes life easy for the passengers, and all cars here are nicely supple on road.

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 gets Jeep's suspension but is sprung stiffer for better handling. The ride is a little stiff on normal roads, and you will feel all the small bumps in the cabin, and all the tiny bumps on the steering wheel. Yes, the steering is THAT precise! The feedback is great, and you know what the front wheels are up to, at all times.

Braking

There are Brembo brakes on all wheels, which is a sure guarantee of the Durango's braking prowess. It is only held back by the weight which, to be honest, feels like the Dodge has just let itself go. At over 5 and a half thousand pounds, the R/T SUV holds a lot of mass within, about 400 pounds more than the Grand Cherokee.

Model	Dodge Durango R/T	Mercedes AMG GLE 43 SUV	Jeep Grand Cherokee R/T	BMW X5 xDrive 50i	Jaguar F-pace SVR	Porsche Cayenne S
Brake Front (in.)	15	14.8	15	N/A	15.6	15.3
Brake Rear (in.)	13.8	13.6	13.8	N/A	15.6	13
Curb Weight (lbs.)	5510	4987	5104	5170	4395	4454
60-0 MPH (ft.)	N/A	N/A	106	N/A	N/A	N/A

The lighter Jeep posts a phenomenal braking distance of just 106 feet for 60-0 MPH braking test. The biggest brakes in the segment are paired with the biggest engine here. The standard F-pace takes just 102 feet to come to a halt from 60 MPH.

Do you expect good fuel economy from the 5.7 V8? Forget good, there aren't any significant economy figures from the Hemi engine. You could squeeze 13 MPG in the city if you're careful, and 19 on the highway, but that would require a great amount of restraint, which requires sensibility, which isn't your strong suit if you are driving around an R/T.

Model	Dodge Durango R/T	Mercedes AMG GLE 43 SUV	Jeep Grand Cherokee R/T	BMW X5 xDrive 50i	Jaguar F-pace SVR	Porsche Cayenne S
MPG (city)	13	17	13	17	16	N/A
MPG (highway)	19	23	19	22	22	N/A
MPG (combined)	15	19	15	19	18	N/A
Range (city/highway)	320 / 467	N/A	320 / 467	372 / 482	347 / 477	N/A
Tank Capacity (gal)	24.6	24.6	24.6	21.9	21.7	23.7

Common sense states that generally, smaller engines are more economical than the bigger ones. The turbocharged Merc and Beemer are quite frugal for the segment, much more than the thirsty Hemi Engine. Considering the performance on tap, you can't really complain here.

Inside, the Durango's look is more conservative, with a logical simplicity to its design that stands in contrast to some swoopier rivals. -The Car Connection

Seating and Comfort

Dodge offers a Passenger capacity of 6 people, which isn't in line with the competitors. Other SUVs offer either a 5 seater or a 7 seater SUV. The 2019 Durango offers a decent interior room in the first and second rows. The third row is a little compromised, as they usually are, but are good for toddlers and preteens.

The interiors aren't too good, however, and if you were to go around looking for cheap bits, you'd be pretty occupied for a while. That said, it's quite a step up from the base Durango. The strength of the Durango isn't in the interiors, but they aren't too bad. Overall, the space is very good, and 4 adults would enjoy each other's company in great comfort.

Model	Dodge Durango R/T	Mercedes AMG GLE 43 SUV	Jeep Grand Cherokee R/T	BMW X5 xDrive 50i	Jaguar F-pace SVR	Porsche Cayenne S
Passenger capacity	6	5	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.9/58.5/40.3	40.4/58.5/40.3	39.9/58.7/40.3	40.8/60.0/39.8	37.8/57.7/40.3	N/A
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.8/57.7/38.6	38.5/58.4/38.4	39.2/58.0/38.6	38.7/58.1/37.4	37.5/55.8/37.2	N/A
Third (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.8/50.4/31.5	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

None of the performance SUVs bother seating more than 5 adults, because third-row seats are just added weight. 4 adults can sit comfortably in all the seats, or you could have 3 kids in the back.

Infotainment System

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. 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. Other features include:

• Android Auto integration
• Apple CarPlay support,
• Integrated Voice Command
• Bluetooth Streaming Audio
• SiriusXM

Cargo volume

The third row intrudes into the Dodge SUV's trunk space, which isn't much of a problem because you can simply fold them down. There is a film that neatly divides the trunk horizontally, and it can stretch up to the second row too if you fold the third row down. It's called a privacy cover, and it exists.

Model	Dodge Durango R/T	Mercedes AMG GLE 43 SUV	Jeep Grand Cherokee R/T	BMW X5 xDrive 50i	Jaguar F-pace SVR	Porsche Cayenne S
Cargo Volume in trunk (ft.3)	17.2	38.2	35.1	33.9	33.5	27.1
Cargo volume with third row folded (ft.3)	47.7	-	-	-	-	-
Cargo volume with second row down (ft.3)	84.5	80.3	68.3	72.3	-	60.3

The Mercedes adds practicality to its performance SUV by offering the biggest boot of all here, good for 38 cubic feet of storage space. Apart from the Dodge, Porsche's Mighty Cayenne has the smallest boot amongst the competition but still has a 10 cubic feet advantage over the Durango (without the last row folded, of course).

If the Durango looks familiar, that's because you've seen this current generation on the road since the 2011 model year. That's an eternity compared to nearly every rival, but Dodge has kept this three-row crossover relevant.  -Edmunds

The Dodge SUV is heavy, we've already discussed that. It is the heaviest car here and employs the classic Muscle car strategy of offering a bigger engine to compensate for the extra bulk. 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 with the intimidating dimensions and loud V8, people just might just move out of your way!

The Dodge Durango is extremely simplistic in its approach to styling. The headlamps are large, bulbous and clear, adorned by LEDs. There is a hood scoop on the bonnet, which is a cherry on top of the cake. The tail section spells the Dodge family name inside the Dodge family-style long, horizontal running taillight strip. The R/T 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.

Model	Dodge Durango R/T	Mercedes AMG GLE 43 SUV	Jeep Grand Cherokee R/T	BMW X5 xDrive 50i	Jaguar F-pace SVR	Porsche Cayenne S
Curb weight (lbs.)	5510	4987	5104	5170	4395	4454
Length(in)	201.2	189.6	191.3	194.3	186.5	193.7
Width(in)	75.8	76.2	84.8	78.9	81.5	78.1
Height(in)	71.9	69.5	68.1	69.0	65.0	66.8
Ground clearance (in)	8	6.7	8.3	8.7	8.4	8.2
Wheelbase (in)	119.8	114.8	114.8	117.1	113.1	114.0
Track width (in) F/R	64.4/64.7	65.1/65.9	65.7/64.8	66.1/66.9	64.6/65.1	66.2/65.9

The SVR Jag makes all the others look extremely bulky, and is more than a thousand pounds lighter than the Durango, which is a lot. Coupled with its smaller dimensions and higher power output, the F-pace is quite a hoot to drive.

Safety Features in the 2019 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 R/T separate from the regular Durango.

Dodge Durango R/T vs Jeep Grand Cherokee R/T

 

Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee share the same engine and transmission, and consequently the same performance as well. The Durango has space for one more person, in a unique 2-seats per row 3-row fashion. The Jeep has a traditional interior setup, with 2-seats in the front row and 3 in the back, just like any other Sports SUV. As such, the Durango is a smidge more practical than the Jeep, although not by much. Also, the Jeep has a little better interior, which makes it a little upmarket.

Dodge Durango R/T vs Mercedes AMG GLE

 

While the Durango R/T is just one top-of-the-line spec car, the AMG variants of GLE have various specs. There is an AMG 43, an AMG 63, and an AMG 63S. Instead of picking the top-of-the-line variant though, we have the smallest one, the 43, because it matches the R/T in price. Also, nothing apart from the price is common in these two vehicles.

Where the Mercedes is a luxury car with some extra power, the Dodge is a muscle car that can carry a family of six. The German car has suave interiors and classy exteriors, while the American car has cheap interiors and a butch, macho exterior. The AMG GLE is powered by a small turbo engine, whereas the Durango R/T has a large naturally aspirated V8. Both these cars sit on the opposite ends of the spectrum, which means personal preference is the way to go here.

Dodge Durango R/T vs BMW X5

 

Just like the AMG GLE, the X5 is a refined German masterpiece. The only difference between the two is that the BMW is more sporty oriented while the Merc is more luxury-oriented. As such, the BMW X5 is more exciting to drive, a better handler, and most importantly, more powerful. In fact, the BMW 4.4 litre V8 is very close to the 5.7 liter Hemi V8 in Durango in terms of max power and torque figures. While both V8 motors are nice, the Beemer's is a little more refined while the Hemi is a little louder. Again, personal preference is the way to go.

The Durango is a drag car in the disguise of an SUV. It would show its true colours on a drag strip and in typical dodge fashion this isn't a big fan of corners but straight-line acceleration is its forte. Combine that with large cargo space and the class-leading towing capacity and you have a wonder on wheels. In an age where sensible SUVs roam the roads, the Durango R/T is a breath of whiskey tinged air that forces you to sit up and notice it. Dodge is well known, and loved, for building some of the wildest modern-day muscle cars in the world, and while the Durango R/T might not be one of the hottest in the range, it definitely makes its presence known with its macho looks.

FAQ

What's the Price of the 2019 Dodge Durango R/T?

The 2019 Dodge Durango R/T costs $44,245 MSRP in RWD configuration, and you'll pay $46,845 for it to drive all four wheels. 

Is Dodge Durango good for towing?

The 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine can tow up to 6,200 pounds. If you decide to move up to the Durango SRT with the 6.4L HEMI V8 engine, then you get up to 475 horsepower, 470 pound-feet of torque and a Best-in-Class maximum towing capacity of up to 8,700 pounds.