2022 Dodge Durango SRT SUV

The Dodge Durango SRT is only available in a single trim level option that is expected to start at around $67,000. There’s also an SRT Hellcat on sale, but the Hellcat gets a different powertrain unit and has way more power output compared to the Dodge Durango SRT. It gets all of the SRT goodness whether it be the exterior styling, interior design elements, or the engine and other functioning systems.

Which trim should you buy?

As far as trim levels go, as mentioned earlier, there’s only a single trim level on offer when it comes to the Dodge Durango SRT. But you do get several packages to suit your needs and expectations and these can be added to the Durango SRT for some premium. Some of the packages on offer are the Black Appearance Package, Anodized Platinum Appearance Package, Blacktop Package, and so on.

Release date:

The Dodge Durango SRT is expected to go on sale by the second quarter of 2021.

There is a slight chance that people might mistake the Durango SRT for its bigger sibling, the Durango SRT Hellcat. The new Dodge Durango SRT gets a 6.4 L naturally aspirated Hemi V8 that is known for its punchy power output. It produces 475 horsepower and 470 lb-ft. of torque while the larger Durango SRT Hellcat has a 6.2 L supercharged Hemi V8 producing a blistering 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft. of torque. The Durango SRT has a very even power output throughout the rev range and has some incredible performance and towing capabilities up its sleeves. 

The engine unit comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission unit which is crisp and quick with its shifts just as you would expect in a performance machine. The Durango SRT is only available in an AWD avatar which quite honestly is a blessing for an SUV with so much power. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds and can cover a quarter-mile distance from a standstill in 13.3 seconds. Moreover, It has a top speed of 160 mph.

The Durango SRT is no ordinary family SUV. Just like its powertrain unit, its suspension system is a performance-oriented adaptive damping system with Bilstein shock absorbers. The adaptive sports-tuned suspension system makes sure that the Durango SRT always gives you the confidence you need to scale the speeds that it’s capable of, and yes, you do feel some body roll but that has to do with all the mass and height of the Durango SRT but still, it feels better than a regular SUV of this size in every way possible.

Sure, the Durango SRT’s German rivals such as the BMW X5 M50i and the Mercedes-Benz GLE 580 can produce more power and also have better performance figures to prove, but they also are costlier than the Durango SRT by quite a lot of money and that makes the Durango worth the money being spent on it. Speaking about the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, both the Durango and the Grand Cherokee are products of Chrysler and hence share the same powertrain, SRT badge, and a lot more components. Yet the Jeep offering is a tad bit slower and lurks at the bottom of the table clocking 5.3 seconds to the 60mph mark while recording a top speed of 155 MPH. 

The Dodge Durango SRT is a performance SUV from Dodge and as a result, fuel economy takes a back seat due to the fact that it has a large displacement engine that is naturally aspirated. The Durango SRT returns a combined fuel economy of 15 miles per gallon and offers 13 and 19 MPG on the city and highway driving conditions. 

It does get one of the largest fuel tank capacities in the segment at 24.6-gallon, which helps it offer a combined range of 369 miles and a maximum range of 467.4 miles on the highway and an average of 369 miles.

Compared to its German rivals, the Durango SRT’s fuel economy is really low as they offer 18 and 19 MPG as combined fuel economy figures and despite having smaller fuel tanks, they are capable of offering a higher range due to their higher fuel economy figures. The Jeep equals the Durango SRT when it comes to fuel economy, tank capacity, and range figures.

The 2022 Dodge Durango SRT’s interior, in plain Dodge fashion, is simple, massive, and has a premium touch to it thanks to the ‘SRT’ badge. The interior is available in single and dual-tone color options with the iconic SRT red and black colors as the only colors available. The interior has a strange similarity to the Dodge Challenger and Charger’s interiors as a lot of the interior elements are shared within the Dodge fleet.

The dashboard is massive and reminds you instantly of the dashboards from the Challenger and Charger. Being an SRT SUV, it has SRT-inspired stitching and badging inside the cabin. The interior is clad in leather and you also get to choose between carbon fiber and aluminum trim inserts. The dashboard does look minimal but lacks aesthetic appeal. The sport steering wheel gets heating and other infotainment control features as standard.

The front seats are 12-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated seats clad in leather upholstery with SRT stitching. The power lumbar control function and front armrest with lots of room for your elbow add to the confidence and comfort of the driver. The dashboard elements such as the HVAC vents and the infotainment screen are tilted towards the driver to convey that it’s a driver-focused SUV. The dual-zone automatic climate control unit, illuminated cup holders, and ambient lighting further improves the ambiance and ride experience.

The second-row seats are available both in an individual captain seat option as well as a bench seat arrangement with the captain seats getting a heating function. There’s enough room for three in the second row with some media accessories that you can opt for as well.

The third-row seats can only accommodate two kids comfortably when on long journeys. These seats can be folded completely when not in use to make space for some cargo.

The standard trunk capacity of the Durango SRT is 17.2 cubic feet which can extend up to 85.1 cubic feet on folding all the seats behind the front row.

The Durango SRT is the only SUV in the segment with the third row of seats. The Mercedes-Benz GLE 580 and the Durango SRT seem to be one of the closest contenders when it comes to interior space. The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, on the other hand, has the largest cargo space in the entire segment of 36.3 cubic feet. It is a shame that the SRT has got half the size of the cargo space of the other rivals, but again it does add an extra row of seating at the rear. Some of the standout interior features are:

• Dual-Zone automatic climate control unit 
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• SRT inspired design elements inside
• Dual-tone leather upholstery
• Illuminated cup holders
• Ambient lighting
• Carbon fiber and aluminum trim inserts

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The Durango SRT gets the latest and best infotainment features from Dodge. The infotainment system is the latest UConnect 5 system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display unit and navigation system. It can also display multimedia as well as live performance data and tracks time telemetry.

The audio system available as standard is a 506W nine Alpine speaker unit with a regular Amplifier. The connectivity features on board the Durango SRT include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, and 4G Internet access WiFi hotspot.

Some of the standout infotainment features are:

• In-built navigation
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display unit
• 506w 9 Alpine speaker sound system with a regular amplifier
• Bluetooth phone connectivity 
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 4G internet access WiFi hotspot
• UConnect 5 infotainment system
• Available 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system

The 2022 Dodge Durango SRT has borrowed some design elements and styling from its SRT siblings and has become a performance SUV by looks, form, and function. The first thing that you would note on the Durango SRT would probably be the blacked-out chrome elements. Be it the grille, window surrounds, or wheels, the colors are all black as far as the Durango SRT is concerned.

The Durango also gets SRT-inspired bumpers and badging. The front LED DRLs and LED projector-beam headlights add to the sporty aesthetics while the long LED strip lights in the rear fascia make it instantly recognizable at a traffic stop. The wheels are 20-inch Hyper Black aluminum wheels that come as standard. It just looks like a Dodge Charger SRT on steroids.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and the Dodge Durango SRT have a lot in common and it reflects in some of the exterior features as well. The BMW X5 M50i is an absolute looker with M-inspired design elements all over the exterior while the Mercedes-Benz GLE 580 has a subtle yet bold design appeal. While there is no doubt that the Dodge is one of the larger SUVs in the segment, its corporate sibling, the Jeep, is rather smaller than most of its rivals. Some of the standard exterior features are:

• 20-inch Hyper Black aluminum wheels 
• Auto on/off LED projector headlamps 
• LED tail lamps
• SRT inspired design elements around the exterior
• Blacked out chrome bits

The Dodge Durango SRT hasn’t yet been rated for safety by NHTSA or any other agencies but we are quite sure that Dodge wouldn’t compromise on safety on an SUV that can perform better than some sports cars.

The Dodge Durango SRT does come with some safety aids in the form of ParkSense front and rear parking sensors, ParkView Backup Camera, and Low Tire Pressure Warning System along with the basic safety features to make sure the occupants are always safe and sound. 

Some of the notable safety features include:

• Low Tire Pressure Warning 
• Side Impact beams
• Roll Stability Control (RSC) 
• ParkSense front and rear parking sensors 
• ParkView Backup Camera 
• Brembo brakes
• Available Adaptive cruise control 
• Available Forward collision warning
• Available Automatic emergency braking 
• Available Lane departure warning 

2022 Dodge Durango SRT vs. 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT

The Dodge Durango SRT and the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT are identical SUVs except for their exterior form and design. They share the same powertrain, drivetrain, infotainment, and a host of other features and components, and hence choosing the Durango SRT would be a better option amongst the two as it offers an extra row of seats and costs less.

2022 Dodge Durango SRT vs. 2022 BMW X5 M50i

The BMW X5 M50i is an absolute blast to drive and truly is one of the most exciting SUVs in the segment. But it turns out that the X5 M50i also costs a considerable amount more than the Durango SRT and doesn’t have the practical and utilitarian essence that the Durango SRT has on offer. Being a Hemi V8-powered SUV, the Durango SRT’s driving experience has a touch of American muscle to it which has a following of its own.

2022 Dodge Durango SRT vs. 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 580

The Mercedes-Benz GLE 580 is a subtle, nimble, and powerful SUV but is also one of the most expensive options in the segment. The Durango SRT offers better braking performance, more room, and has fun and punchy driving dynamics while the GLE 580 offers more fuel economy, range and refinement in its drive quality compared to the Dodge.

The 2022 Dodge Durango SRT seems like a complete package that cannot be ignored if you are in the market looking for a full-size SUV that can put some sports cars to shame with its performance capabilities and also doesn’t cost as much as the Hellcat version.

The Durango SRT seems like a reasonable option in the segment to go for as it can take care of the household duty trips and the fun and exciting drive duties all in a single package.