New Dodge Durango R/T has something for eveyone in the family
Over the years, the Dodge Durango has gone through a number of different looks and changes, along with different available engines. Our last time out with the Durango was almost three years ago when we got to drive the SRT 392 version of the automaker’s largest SUV.
The new moniker R/T AWD Tow N Go speaks to the abilities of this new model Durango, with the emphasis being on towing and getting a family’s toys around — however, with just enough of a DNA shot from the SRT division at Dodge to take everyday driving from the mundane to exhilarating.
The R/T come packed with a 5.7-liter engine rated at 360 horsepower and 390 foot-pounds of torque, which is what makes it such a great choice for a toy hauler — that and the fact it is rated to pull 7,400 pounds of trailer behind it.
Seemed like quite an undertaking for the SUV, so we decided to put it to the test with a 7,200-pound trailer full of sound equipment and see how it would react to a load of this size. Remember that the average camping trailer weighs in at around 5,200 pounds of dry weight and most would take up to 1,500 more pounds of gear and water for a more real-world version.
So we figured that 7,200 pounds would be a great trial run for this SRT-inspired SUV. On Saturday, we headed for the lot to pick up that trailer. First thing we noticed is that the Durango sits a little lower than our truck. So with a quick adjustment of the hitch, we were hooked up and ready to go.
With the included trailer brake on the Tow N Go package, managing the large, heavy trailer was easy and the Durango handled it all with ease. With a trailer this large, we highly recommend making sure that the brakes on the trailer are working so as not to tax the smaller vehicle with all that weight when coming to a stop.
With the large engine and all the extra race tuning from SRT, this new R/T turned out to be a monster towing machine, as we went over 50 miles up and down Provo Canyon without even a hiccup along the way. About the only difference we noted was a drop in gas mileage numbers as we would have expected, as it happens with the trucks we use to pull our trailers also.
Along with all the DNA injected from the SRT division at Dodge, the Durango came with a full track package on the R/T which, if nothing else, made the everyday drive even better. With the right setting up of the LED center console, the SUV would log 0-60 or even 0-100 times whenever we wanted.
This made getting onto the freeway at rush hour a task we looked forward, as we would track our time out of the gate to 60, after having to stop at the meter lights. Our best time to 60 for the week was 6.9 seconds — not bad for a full-size SUV. We didn’t get a chance to do the 0-100 test, better left for a day at the track.
Better yet, this year only, the folks at SRT are giving the world a Durango Hellcat version of this SUV, with a 0-60 time under 4 seconds and 710 horsepower. It should be pure rush of adrenalin. Along with this also came a launch control system, lap timers, the whole works, enough for any dad that needs time on the track!
Inside, we were very impressed with the new look and feel of the cockpit as a new flat-bottomed steering wheel is featured along with a wrapped and stitched accent to the dashboard. The driver’s speedometer is now all digital, displaying a multitude of different information. With the right configuration, this is where the 0-60 times would appear.
We also loved the new 10.1-inch touch screen with the new Uconnect 5 system. Bigger is always better, and this is a big departure from the old 8-inch touch screen that had become standard across the Chrysler line. It also came complete with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, another great feature.
This system worked really well throughout the week with only a couple of hiccups. As we would leave the Durango with our phone in tow, it would sometimes have a hard time reengaging if we had not turned the SUV off. It would, however, let us hook up both our phones at the same time when we were in the SUV — kind of cool to be able to get calls on either phone!
On the safety side, our test ride came fully equipped with all the great features we love. These include blind spot monitoring, rear cross path detection, front and rear parking assist, forward emergency braking, and our favorite adaptive cruise control with a lane keep assist.
If all of this were not enough, there was an added rear DVD entertainment package with dual screens for those in the rear seats to take advantage of. Our test ride also came with captain’s seats in the second row which were an option and could be a bench seat if wanted to seat one more in the Durango. These would both fold and tip forward, allowing for easy access to the rear-most seat.
A family and trailer hauler that dad will most certainly love and enjoy as an everyday driver. In fact, mom might also really get into the ride such as Deanne did as she returned from her first solo experience in the Durango and proclaimed, “I like its attitude!”
Base price: $47,905
Price as driven: $66,650
