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  2. 2022 Dodge Durango Review

A Muscle Car-like Family SUV with Powerful Engine Options

Price From $40,090 – To $57,790

Source: www.dodge.com

by | Sep 15, 2022

Overview

In this 2022 Dodge Durango review, we are going to look at a vehicle that’s known for its macho image, distinct design language, and great performance. We will evaluate the vehicle from multiple angles, and assess its engine, performance, comfort, safety, pricing, and other details to help you decide whether it meets your requirements, and whether it’s worth the investment or not. 

Dodge Durango first hit the market back in 1998 as a midsize SUV. The modern iteration is designed in the form of a full-size crossover SUV and targets primarily families and city cruisers as their audience. Reasonably priced, the vehicle has plenty of remarkable features: it has a spacious interior, rugged exterior, signature styling, high towing capacity, and a spacious cargo area. 

While it may not appeal to buyers seeking off-road capabilities, it’s a decent vehicle overall, if your rides are restricted within the limits of urban roads.

Pros
Handsome muscle car-like styling
Incredibly powerful engine options
Spacious cargo area for loading luggage of the entire family
Excellent towing capacity
Cons
Third row is not ideal for adult occupants; it's only suitable for children
V-8 engine has a high fuel consumption
There are very few standard driver-assist and safety features available; most are optional

Performance, Engine, and Comfort

(4/5)

Over everything, Durango is a performance-driven lineup. It’s one of the main reasons why the makers ditched less-potent engines and stuck with the V-6 and V-8. The vehicle is a treat to ride for passengers, and it’s also pleasant for the driver to drive it around. There’s not much to complain about this full-size SUV, but it does disappoint big time on the safety front.

Engine & Performance

(4/5)

A powerful engine and smooth performance are two of the biggest advantages of this lineup. It doesn’t offer a four-cylinder engine, rather it offers V-6 and V-8 engines to boost performance. However, that does impact the fuel economy to a certain extent, but even for a V-6 engine, the economy is good. You’ll enjoy its slightly athletic demeanor during city cruising, or while going on road trips with the family.

Engine

Durango is powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 engine with an output of 295 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The other two available engines are: a 5.7-liter V-8 engine generating 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, and another 6.4-liter V-8 engine generating 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. 

Transmission

The engine is supported by an eight-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting mode.

Suspension

Dodge Durango’s suspension is somewhere in the middle ground between comfortable and sporty. The shock-absorbing qualities make sure you get a convenient driving experience, without losing out on the feel of driving a well-built sport utility vehicle.

Steering

The steering is convenient to handle and comes wrapped in leather. To offer greater control while you’re driving the vehicle, there are performance-inspired paddle shifters located behind the steering wheel. 

Safety & Reliability

(3.5/5)

Unfortunately, the safety part of the 2022 Dodge Durango is dwindling. While it does offer a number of safety features, it fails to meet the standard set by its competitors in the same segment. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated it 4 stars, while the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety had mixed opinions. 

Brakes

Durango’s braking system is one of the best in the segment. It comes with rain brake support, electronic brake force distribution, and advanced brake assist to make your driving experience smooth and seamless.

Airbags

To keep the driver and the passenger safe in case the vehicle encounters an accident, Durango is equipped with front-impact airbags, side-impact airbags, overhead airbags, knee airbags, pretensioners, and anti-whiplash head restraints. The IIHS thinks the side curtain airbags do not offer enough forward coverage, which could be a safety concern.

Electronics

The standard and available electronic safety features include adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rain-sensing windshield wipers, electronic stability control, lane departure warning with lane keep assist (LaneSense), and forward collision warning. However, the issue here is that most of the driver-assist features are available as add-ons, and not as part of the standard package. 

Lights

LED racetrack tail lamps represent the remarkable image of Dodge and make heads turn. Thanks to the LED daytime running lights, fog lights, and automatic high-beam headlamps, visibility is never an issue. You could get optional LED front turn signals for added safety and also for enhancing the style quotient.

Traction control

Durango is equipped with All-Speed Traction Control, a system that prevents vehicle rollover. It utilizes electronic roll mitigation to offer you a safe driving experience. 

Fuel Economy

(4/5)

As a rational customer, we know you’re looking for power plus fuel efficiency. And that’s exactly what the Dodge Durango offers. Equipped with both a V-6 and a V-8 engine, this full-size muscle car doesn’t disappoint us with its fuel economy. Of course, the V-8 engine is more fuel-thirsty, but the fuel economy of the V-6 is impressive for a vehicle of this proportion. 

Engine size

The 2022 Dodge Durango is powered by either a standard V-6 engine or an optional pushrod 16-valve V-8 engine. Both engines are incredibly capable and powerful.

Gas per mileage consumption

The V-8 engine with all-wheel drive is good for 14/22/17 mpg city/highway/combined. With the V-6 engine, you can expect better fuel economy—19 mpg and 26 mpg on city and highway respectively. 

Interior

(4.5/5)

A well-equipped and thoughtful interior makes your riding experience all the more special. Keeping this in mind, the Dodge Durango offers 50+ seat configurations to choose from—you can customize and arrange your interior space just the way you prefer.

Seats

Durango’s interior has three rows for passengers. It seats a total of 7 people, with ample legroom in all seats except the third row: it’s best to keep it reserved for your kids. The fold-and-tumble second row allows easy access to the third row. If needed, you can quickly fold down the third row and maximize the boot space. Based on the trim level you choose, the vehicle offers a power-adjustable driver’s seat and heated front and rear seats. Premium leather and suede upholstery are available, and for the top trims, you would get Nappa leather upholstery with contrast stitching. 

Design

Durango’s style and design aesthetics are that of a muscle car. Its massive proportions, signature grill, and headlights give it a rugged appearance. But from the inside, it’s meant to offer a balanced riding experience for families, blending comfort and sportiness. 

Infotainment

With this vehicle, you can expect top-tier in-car entertainment. Durango’s infotainment system is modern, easy to access, and loaded with features. An 8.4-inch display is standard for entry-level and mid-level models, while the high-end ones get 10.1-inch display units. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are part of the standard package across all trims. You could also get a rear-seat infotainment system as an optional add-on. 

Overall height and space

This full-size  SUV boasts a large dimension. It’s 201.2 inches long, 75.8 inches wide, and the total height is 71.9 inches. It has a passenger volume of 141 cubic feet. 

Trunk space

The cargo space in Durango is higher than what you typically find in similar SUVs. There is 17.2 cubic feet of base trunk space behind the third row, expandable to 43.3 cubic feet when the third row is folded up. If you fold up all the rear seats, you’ll have 81.5 cubic feet. The vehicle comes with a manual liftgate, but you may switch to a power liftgate.

Price and Extras

(4/5)
The full-size SUV market is brimming with top-spec vehicles, and the price range is more or less on the affordable side. In such a saturated market, it was important for Dodge to price this SUV accordingly. The base model starts from $40k onwards, which is a good starting point. However, as you climb up the ladder and go for the higher trims, you’ll find lesser value in the models, considering the price you’re paying. 

Market Price

The pricing of the 2022 Dodge Durango is more or less justified, but we would appreciate it more had it offered more standard driver-assist features. Most of the premium tech options are add-ons, which means you’ll end up paying way higher than the actual cost of the vehicle.

Trim Level  Price 
SXT $40,090
GT $42,590
GT Plus $46,690
R/T $53,190
Citadel $54,090
Orange Sport $55,185
R/T Plus $57,790

The entry-level trim level is a good choice, but it lacks most of the tech refinements you’d expect from a modern SUV. So we would suggest you go for the GT or GT Plus trim—they are more well-equipped, and offer more comfort, thanks to the enhanced interiors. If fuel economy is your priority, stick to the basic V-6 engine. It may not be as powerful or robust as the V-8, but it doesn’t compromise performance and keeps the fuel consumption considerably low.

AWD/FWD

Rear-wheel drive is standard across all trim levels, with all-wheel drive available as optional. 

Warranty

Dodge’s warranty front is similar to most of its competitors. You get a limited warranty coverage for three years or 36,000 miles, and a powertrain warranty covering 60,000 miles or five years. The automaker doesn’t offer any complimentary maintenance.

Extras

The lineup offers impressive towing ability. With the optional 360-hp V-8 engine, the 2022 Dodge Durango can tow up to 8700 pounds. And with the standard V-6 engine, the vehicle can tow up to 6400 pounds.

Verdict

If we ignored the safety and security features, we could easily say the 2022 Dodge Durango is a good purchase. You’re getting a large SUV at the price of a midsize, you get to fit your entire family inside the car, and you get to enjoy its powerful engine—there’s a lot we like about this vehicle. 

However, the safety of both the driver and passenger is an important aspect you should look at whole choosing a car. And if we go by NHTSA and IIHS reports, the vehicle didn’t do poorly, but it didn’t excel either. So if you really like the design aesthetics and other features of this vehicle, we would suggest you spend some extra, and get the added safety and driver-assist features. But in case you don’t want to pay a premium for the add-ons, you can look elsewhere for a better deal.