With over 800,000-plus Durangos produced over fourteen years on sale, the chances are good that you know someone, or know someone who knows someone, who owns a third generation Dodge Durango. (One of my friends is on his second. My brother still has a first-year 2011 Citadel 5.7-liter Hemi with 208,000 miles at last count). But the era is now coming to an end, as the death knell has officially been rung for the Durango with a higher cylinder count. As with the Ram Classic, it’s a long goodbye, as Dodge has announced a ‘Last Call’ run to bow out the Hemis.
The company’s CEO Tim Kuniskis shouted out the beloved, recently-departed LX platform when he outlined plans:
Just as we did with the Dodge Charger and Challenger, it’s time to celebrate the V-8 HEMI engine that has powered Dodge domination of the performance SUV segment. Special-edition ‘Last Call’ models of the Durango will roll out during 2024 as we honor the most powerful SUV ever.
The first edition to commemorate the last HEMI-powered Durango is named the AlcHEMI. This will be based on the SRT 392 and loaded with several cues to tell it apart. The highlights include Satin Black forged 20-inch wheels, yellow-painted Brembo brakes, yellow-accented dual stripes with a honeycomb texture, Midnight Metallic grille, Midnight Metallic liftgate badges, forged carbon fiber interior trimmings, a leather and suede steering wheel with an SRT emblem that glows, yellow and silver stitching, and 392 decals with yellow accents sprinkled throughout.
The AlcHEMI is limited to just 1000 Durangos, with 250 painted in four colors; Diamond Black, Destroyer Gray, Vapor Gray, and White Knuckle. Starting in February, Dodge will make it easier to allocate one to dealers through here. If it slips through the cracks, there are more Last Calls coming.
For 2024, the AlcHEMI joins a lineup offering no fewer than 15 trim packages according to the live configurator. With the biggest array of V8 offerings, the Dodge people-hauler spoils you for choice between an SRT 392 equipped with a 6.4-liter Hemi, the R/T 5.7 Hemi, and the Hellcat with the supercharged 6.2 Hemi. That’s right, the Hellcat is back for one more bang after originally committing to a limited-production run in 2021 to offer the most exciting Durango field ever.
Riding on the WD chassis, the platform shares quite a few commonalities with the fourth generation Jeep Grand Cherokee (which was replaced by the WL-generation a couple of years ago), which itself had some ties to the Mercedes-Benz M-Class from the last days of DaimlerChrysler, an era with a place in my steel-rusted heart.
In its lifetime, the Durango has seen several changes. At launch in 2010, it was available with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that made its way into many Chrysler products after the acquisition by Fiat. For a lot of the early years, the 5.7 Hemi V8 was the premium engine option. These saw 5- and 6-speed automatics before adapting a ZF 8-speed setup for all motors in 2014. Models equipped with the Hemi were rated to tow up to 7,400 pounds until 2018, when further refinements and the addition of the SRT 392 bumped that figure up to 8,700. The Durango saw many trim levels get new names before settling on SXT and GT to signify the lower part of the lineup. The R/T is the cheapest way to get a Hemi. Eventually, Dodge unlocked the high tow rating in AWD R/T variants to create the Tow N Go Package that includes its own slew of upgrades. This package just reached the Citadel trim for the first time.
For its first major refresh in 2014, the Durango received new lighting elements including that full-length LED taillight bar, and a revamped interior that saw new controls supporting the acclaimed Uconnect system. The last meaningful updates came in 2021, when the Durango received an adjusted front end, new wheel options, a revised interior that with a new Uconnect display, and more physical switchgear to go with it. Over time, small improvements like new shift levers and an integrated trailer brake controller to the Tow Group package (less extreme than Tow N Go) were included to keep the Durango fresh.
With the Last Call announced, the V8 will see its last calendar year in production. This goes for all Hemi-backed trims including the Hellcat. Special editions will stretch out to the 2025 model year, implicating lots of life left in the Durango. Reports suggest that this generation of Durango will likely bow out after the 2025 model year, so this will be a slow goodbye.
Pricing for the V8 starts in the mid-50s. Can’t afford the Hemi? The Pentastar is still the potent base engine, rated at 295 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque. Even with old bones, the V6 Durango is still competitive with a modern Kia Telluride, with a tow rating of 6,200 pounds that’s more than sufficient. Interior room is comparable thanks to Daimler roots, if not a hair smaller dimensionally. For what it lacks (slightly) in overall refinement, it oozes charisma to the gills.
The R/T ups the power to 360 horses and 390 lb-ft of torque. The 392 SRT churns 475 horsepower and 470 lb-ft out of the 6.4 Hemi. On the highest end, the Durango Hellcat will continue to produce 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque. That’s good for a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds and an NHRA-certified time of 11.5 seconds to blast through the quarter-mile.
In the end, the Dodge Durango is a family truck available in the most configurations, is a standout in a world that leans evermore into electrification, and has its sight on an epic farewell to close out the three-row SUV saga. As with the new Charger, it’s possible we won’t see the last of the Durango name, but certainly never in this form again.
All Images: Dodge
For the last hurrah
ChryslerDaumlerChrysler[hedge fund bastards] CerberusFiat ChryslerStellantis should bring out a more subdued version tailored to the needs of boards, commissions and other quasi-non-governmental organizations. You know… a Quango Durango.The Durango has been the best looking SUV on the market for a great number of years.
Best SUV? No, not even close. Too are many great competitors, and the Durango too prone to require unscheduled service.
The special edition that would get me into the showroom would be a Hellcat powered, dropped and chopped version, running about 10 inches lower to the ground. Yeah, in other words, a three row Hellcat Dodge Magnum. Or at least a 392 version…
Other than the minivan taillights, I thought the first gen was fantastic looking. It still looks great today, along with it’s Dakota platform-mate.
I’ve always been shocked by how much money they get out of people for these damn things. They are NOT cheap. I’ve occasionally browsed listings for the Hemi ones because they’re the sort of fun car I could get past the wife but unless you’re down with rolling the dice on a used RT that’s probably been thrashed by someone with a 450 credit score you’re pretty much talking $50,000+…and the 392s are even more on top of that.
I can’t imagine paying $70,000+ for one over an X3M, or a 392 Charger + as much Miata as you can find with what’s left over, or a whole hell of a lot of Macan/Cayenne, or just getting a damn Tahoe or Yukon with the glorious 6.2 liter from the lord’s engine family…but hey, someone is buying them because I see them all the time, and not in the parts of town where $70,000+ cars are bountiful.
More power to Doge and Stellantis I guess? Anyway what the fuck is this company going to do without V8s? The only thing that made them appealing is going away….
Very typo. Much funny. Wow.
😀
Not typo. Very intentional. Wow. Much meme.
Please don’t be like the government and assume that one’s credit score relates to their character. Good people have bad credit scores, and evil people have good credit scores. It’s not a moral means of judging people, nothing truly is, not for the government, & not for people; so, stop the judgment. I have a sub 500 credit score and each of my vehicles are flawless, as well as having more than a little extra love given to them. My credit is poor because I take care of real life people (cars are people too) before paying any creditors or banks, and because I was born into a poor family. Abolish your discriminatory credit score favoring ways. Credit score truly means nothing to a person’s quality, or how well they take care of things in their life. It just reflects how much of themselves they will sacrifice for the sake of paying a bank, or how much money they were born into.
I know people with poor credit scores with immaculate cars. I also know people with immaculate credit who thrash their cars because, they will just buy a new one when they crash or kill their current car. People who cannot afford a new car will take the upmost best care of it to make the car and their money last as long as possible. Stop with the credit score discrimination.
I had a 2013 Durango. I really enjoyed driving it, but it was hands down the least reliable car I have ever owned. The damn thing was always broken. Over 8 years and 145k miles I put nearly 13 grand into repairs and maintenance.
I’ve said this before, but Dodge is the American Alfa. Great cars to drive, but terrible cars to own.
These things are incredibly overpriced, and in my neck of the woods the dealers are still not budging on price. In theory the lower end ones should be a good value, but in practice none of the dealers have any of the lower trims in stock – all the Dodge dealers in my city only have GT and higher models, all north of $60k. I can’t think of a possible reason anyone would buy the a $60k V6 Durango over one of its 3-row competitors, and it shows on the road where I hardly ever see a newer Durango but see new Pilots, Highlanders, Explorers, and Traverses all over the place. I won’t necessarily say good riddance to the Durango, but I will say it was well past its prime and I’m glad to see it go while also disappointed it doesn’t have a replacement.
Pilot, Highlander, Explorer & Traverse are not competitors to the Durango, they are competitors to Dodge’s new Hornet/Alfa Romeo Stelvio, & competitors to Dodge’s old Journey. Durango competitors are the Tahoe, Expedition, Armada, & Land Cruiser. Big engine, big attitude, lots of cargo/passenger space, with some off-roadability. And with trucks/SUV’s, it’s either a V8, or it doesn’t exist.
That may be the competition in attitude, but dimensionally the Durango is almost the exact same size as the Pilot. The Hornet/Stelvio are also not 3-row, which all the ones I mentioned are, so they compete more with the Passport, Equinox, and RAV4.
But, attitude is everything. Just like with people, their spirit and soul supersedes their stature or dimensions. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Look at its contents.
The baseline features that make the Durango and signify its competition are as follows, in order of priority:
V8
4×4*
Towing
Military/Off-Road Heritage
Ground Clearance*
Body on Frame*
Solid Rear Axle*
3-rows seating
Style/ Tri-level hood, popularized by the 2nd gen Ram.
Therefore, competitors need those same attributes. However,
*Even the 3rd Gen Durango itself is lacking in features that make it a Durango. A result of the auto industry following the spending trends of non-truck people. SMH. Nonetheless, these erroneous people are not to divert a vehicle’s definition for what it truly is, or should be.
So, the competition has to have at least:
V8
Towing
Military/Off-Road Heritage
3-rows seating
But, should also possess:
4×4*
Ground Clearance*
Body on Frame*
Solid Rear Axle*
And it certainly should not be fwd.
These are the only worthy SUV’s:
Durango
Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban/Escalade
Expedition
Excursion
Land Cruiser
Sequoia
Armada/QX80
Wrangler/Gladiator
Land Rover
Mercedes G wagon
Those models that you reference are pathetic blasphemy, that should never have made it to market, the Equinox, Passport & RAV4.
Although, if we want to be exact with the competition, we would have to rule out, not only smaller sized SUV’s but, also the larger full sized SUV’s because, technically, the Durango is a mid-sized SUV, based on a mid-sized pickup truck.
So, for competition to the Durango, in the mid-sized pickup truck-based SUV realm, with all the same features listed above, we are left with the only competitors being:
1. Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator (Hemi swapped)
2. Land Rover Range Rover
3. Mercedes G wagon
Turns out, the only competition to my $35k Durango are 3 $100k+ vehicles.
IMO
Chevy should make an SUV out of the Colorado and put a V8 in it.
Ford should do the same with their new Ranger, V8 SUV.
Dodge should re-release the Dakota and make the Durango based on that again. Also, an SUV with a V8.
Toyota should do the same with their Tacoma, make it into a V8 SUV.
Nissan could do the same with their Frontier, V8 SUV.
Basically,
Small SUV’s are too small.
Large SUV’s are too large.
Mid-sized SUV’s are just right.
Pickup trucks are a waste of space, no extra seating, no protection of the things in your bed from theft or weather. In an SUV, the truck bed could be used for seating and, if you need to store stuff like in a pickup, the enclosure of the SUV protects the things you store from theft and weather.
There’s a huge gap in the market where all the V8 mid-sized SUV’s are gone but, they seem to be getting started again on making their mid-sized pickup truck fraternal twins again. So, maybe someday soon. Probably not though. We’ll have to build them ourselves in the aftermarket, & we’ll probably have to do our own V8 swaps in all of them.
Goodbye new auto market, hello aftermarket.
Plus, SUV’s are the best for installing a full stereo system! Room for the subs, no truck or bed to separate the sound, one big speaker box. Hatches and Wagons get the same benefit.
*correction,
Not the Gladiator as it’s a pickup.
Not the Wrangler as it’s a 2-door.
Jeep’s competitor to the Durango is:
Wrangler Unlimited (Hemi-swapped)
*another correction,
Not even the Wrangler Unlimited (Hemi-swapped) because it still does not have 3 rows seating.
Absence of 3-rows seating also rules out the Bronco (Coyote-swapped), which I forgot.
And further checking myself with a quick google search:
Not the G-Wagon either, as it too does not have 3 rows seating.
And the older Range Rovers also do not have 3 rows seating.
So, the only ONE precise competitor to the Durango is the…:
Newer Land Rover Range Rover
So, the only ONE competitor to my
$35k fully custom Durango, costs
$150k bone stock, used on CarGurus.
Remember, men and women also may be roughly the same size but, they are completely different. So, two vehicles of the same dimensions can be as different as two humans of the same dimensions. Contents/attitude is everything.
Equinox is 1.5 liter.
Durango is 5.9 liters.
Equinox is 4 cylinders.
Durango is 8 cylinders.
Equinox is FWD.
Durango is 4×4.
We are not the same!
Kind of amazing that they don’t have the replacement lined up
I remember when the Durango was a mid sized pickup.
This is some characteristic sarcasm, I guess? Because you’re remembering something that didn’t happen
Mixed up Durango VS Dakota
You kind of didn’t, they were on the same platform for a while.
I do it all the time. I don’t know why, but I always have to remind myself which is which.
There was a “semi-custom” Ford Fairmont pickup that sold a few thousand in the early 80s
I come to bury Durango, not to praise it.
Just because it had a long model run and a Hemi didn’t mean it was an objectively good truck.
In terms of proven durability, police use (which counts for something), and value it is this generation’s Crown Vic. Except much better than a Crown Vic ever was. What 3-row, ~300 HP, 6,200-pound towing capacity SUV would you recommend instead for under $40,000?
find me one under 40k my friend? Where I live in the Denver metro you can’t find even a V6 out the door for under the mid 50’s.
I got mine for $2,500 in Washington state. 4×4 with the 5.9 Magnum V8, the tow package, & full leather interior.
Ok but what year and how many miles?
The Magnum engine should have told you what year. First Gen., when they were actual trucks, body on frame. Mine’s a 1999.
Mileage doesn’t matter, I replaced everything with new & upgraded parts. Fully custom, all new parts, classic body on frame design, no computers to try to control me.
Today, all the new custom parts (engine, upgraded & rebuilt transmission, geared diffs, new towing performance brakes, brake lines, suspension, slight lift kit/leveling kit, control arms, optima battery, high output alternator, radiator, 2 performance transmission coolers from Derale, rims, tires, dash, dash gauges, head lights, tail lights, fog lights, light bars, 7-pin tow adapter, trailer brake controller, gear lever, steering wheel, stereo head unit with car play, navigation and a big screen, Focal door speakers, 2000watt RMS dual voice coil Sundown Audio subwoofer, JL amplifiers, alarm, exhaust manifolds, exhaust pipes, Flowmaster Super 10 dual exit muffler, towing helper springs, tow bump stops, K&N intake, performance ignition coil, good spark plugs, thicker gauge spark plug wires, distributor, the list goes on), have about 10k miles on them. Yup, when I buy oil for my oil change, I can skip the high mileage options.
I bought it with 165k miles. The only old parts are the seats, interior, chassis & drive shaft. Everything else is new, and for only $35k. Plus, it’s better than new with my upgrades, and it’s fully customized.
You put $32.5k into a $2,500 1999 Durango with 165k on the clock?
Well damn. You’re braver than I thought. For that kind of investment I hope it can at the very least make the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs.
Lol!
And the engine was testing with low compression!
I had a full pre-purchase inspection, as well as, paid the extra for the compression test. They originally wanted $4.5k for it. Paint and interior were good, everything else I planned on replacing anyway; so, they were just bargaining chips to knock down the price.
It made it from the Canadian border to the Mexican border when I bought it & drove it for the first time. Did surprisingly fine.
After about 6 months, 3rd gear started acting up. Again, I had planned/budgeted to rebuild everything new anyways.
I had a budget of $35k & I was looking for an SUV that would last me forever, and checked all of my boxes but, nothing new checked all of my boxes, not for less than $150k anyways.
So, the idea was, old truck, all new parts, basically a new truck but, how I like it, since I don’t like the new stuff.
Cheaper than new.
Better than used.
Practically new.
Fully customized.
I spent 4-5 years researching before making the purchase and starting the build.
I learned that the Durango is a successor to the Power Wagon / Town Wagon & RamCharger; so, it’s got the best dirt cred that I can think of.
5.9 magnum V8? That’s two generations ago they’re talking about the current gen. Unless you mean hemi
The subject line reads “ It’s Time To Start Saying Goodbye To The Dodge Durango, Finally”.
So, the topic is Durangos, not just one specific model run, all them. People favoring the new over the old is just the result of poor judgment on behalf of vehicle buyers.
I’m here to shed some enlightenment upon the poor misinformed folk.
I’m surprised that arugula sniffing Denver even has Dodge dealers, but here you go, one in Denver under $40,000:
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/dd896d26-df80-495d-a6f4-b86b1bc5e804/
Move over to Chicago and they are starting under $36,000:
https://www.cars.com/shopping/results/?dealer_id=&keyword=&list_price_max=40000&list_price_min=&makes%5B%5D=dodge&maximum_distance=100&mileage_max=&models%5B%5D=dodge-durango&monthly_payment=737&page_size=20&sort=list_price&stock_type=new&year_max=&year_min=&zip=60606
I won’t comment on “arugula sniffing”, but I am not surprised that the crooks at Larry Miller have one lost leader on cars.com. Just case in point, when I bought my Supra a year ago, I was looking at Z’s, Supra’s, and Kia EV6 GT’s and I found a ton of them on websites, new, in stock for good prices but EVERY SINGLE ONE was BS and when you called the dealership they either were not real, lost leaders, “in transit” or hiding some kind of dealer fees or other bullshit. Finally, I found a Supra at a dealer who would sell it for 2k under sticker for a cash buyer. I would be very very surprised if that Larry Miller car was the real deal.
On the Chicago cars, maybe there they are real but I do notice some weird trims including a couple of pursuit packages. I don’t know for sure but I haven’t seen “real” cop packages for sale NEW to the public. Looks like these are BS cars too.
Look, you obviously want to be right so fine. I guess if you really want a base package one of these maybe if you want to really search you can get one. there! But most people won’t have luck
Oh and if you want to try to find a new affordable car, read the news… they are almost impossible to find.
They don’t make new vehicles anymore. What they are making now does not meet the qualifications for the title “automobile”. It’s all blasphemy now. All of the sacred deities that are automobiles worthy of respect are in the used market.
I thought the cops stuck to Ford (a reason to dislike Ford), like the Explorer is the replacement for the Crown Vic, as I have seen.
Side note: Why do people purchase cop cars? New or old, just don’t buy them. The only time we should ever see a Crown Vic or a new Explorer, should be when it’s a cop. This way, they stand out and we know where the cops are. No civilian should ever be disguised as a cop car. Whatever the cops drive, we don’t drive… duh.
Basically, cops are the enemy, especially to drivers & minorities; so, whatever cops do, we do the opposite. They drive Ford, we avoid Ford. They beat minorities, we treat minorities as equals. Don’t be like a cop, they are the compass for immorality. Don’t be immoral. Don’t be like a cop. Don’t drive cop cars.
Woo hoo! All of the
colorgrayscale variety of a 1981 IBM MDA graphics adapter!When I started reading that sentence I was all “four-tone paint? sign me up!” and then I finished the sentence and was back in blandsville where the industry has put us.
Out of curiosity I priced out some Durangos. Starting at ~$50k and topping out at ~$107k? You gotta be kidding me lol. I get that the $100k model has the performance bits but on an SUV?
Dodge better be offering some serious discounts.
They are easily available for under $40,000 on cars.com and autotrader. And I would not pay over $40,000 for one.
BUT, for under $40,000 it is an incredible value.
Interestingly the entry-level ones seem to be getting the big discounts while the $100,000+ are selling at MSRP to somebody. I’m not so stuck up that I can’t be seen in a Dodge, but I sure as hell would not be seen in a $100,000 Dodge.
Dude, on Cars.com and autotrader are either used or lost leaders. I guarantee you won’t find a NEW Durango for under 55k in a city. These are most certainly not “deals”. They might not hold their value and therefore be good used cars (although any performance car that people who don’t really maintain correctly) which these are notorious for, aren’t a great buy. I would stick with a V6 used unless you buy it private party used since a lot of these get bought by idiots on 80+ month loans that they can’t really afford, flogged within an inch of their lives, them get repoed so they end up cheap on places like auto trader, cars.com, carmax or carvana. Those usually spent their early lives lighting up their tires and beat to hell.
Why must a vehicle be bought within a city? Why not away from the city? I’m sure the prices get better there, as with most things. There is a world outside of the city limits, fyi. That’s where the car folk live, less money on housing, more money for cars and trucks.
Entry level is a blasphemous disgrace to the engineers, designers, & artists who built it, as well as to any enthusiast.
So after 2025, there’s nothing left of Dodge besides the Hornet? And Chrysler has nothing but the Pacifica? Yup, dead brands walking.
A few years back, I always thought “well, they can’t get rid of the marque that’s actually the automaker’s name, even if there are only two models for sale.” But now that Stellantis has gained a fair amount of currency…I guess they can.
Think “Charger” will end up being its own thing, like Ram? Does fit the retro/electric vibe I guess.
Durango will continue after 2024. The Charger should be a 2025 too.
Just to put this in perspective, this Durango was already due for a mid-cycle face-lift when Will Ferrell was hired to do ads for it as a tie-in with Anchorman 2, and over a decade later, its still going
We all need to abolish this throwaway mentality & culture; wherein, if something has been one way for a while, we must change it. Instead, we must adopt the mentality of, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The 1st Gen body on frame platform should have remained in production this entire time. The new Durango is just what the Dodge Caravan should have been. Make it right, keep making it right, don’t change it. Just maintain it. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, all while keeping the legends within their legendary status.
Just imagine if they made the 1st gen Camaros this whole time. It’s still the coolest of them all. Should have just left it that way.
So, the alcHemi is just a bunch of paint add-ons, woopty doo. They should have put the 426 ci hellephant engine in there, drag radials, stiffer suspension, removed bougy features to add lightness & simplify. Vehicle companies need to start making vehicles for vehicle enthusiasts, not the laymen. Dog people get dogs. Cat people get cats. Dog people don’t get cats; so, non-car people should not be getting cars. Spend your hard-earned money on what you love. If you don’t love cars/trucks, spend your money/vote elsewhere.
A little better analogy:
Non-pet people do not get pets; so,
non-car people should not get cars.
Leave the cars, trucks, & roadways to the enthusiasts & professionals.
Laymen need to telecommute, or take the bus/train/taxi/ride-share.
Treat your driver’s license as seriously as a pilot’s license. If you are not willing to devote yourself to the craft, you are a passenger, not a driver, not a pilot.
Well written copy. Doesn’t the PR agency deserve a citation? /s
They have a Puerto Rican agency?
“At launch in 2010”?!?!?! It was first launched in 1998! And the 1st Gen. being the only body on frame real truck Durango, it’s the only true Durango, with the latter gens being Hemi toting minivans. Granted, they got the Hemi but, they look like & are constructed like minivans. An ex of mine also pointed that out. The Durango is the successor to the RamCharger, which is the successor to the Town Wagon, which is the SUV variant of the almighty Dodge Power Wagon. It is the beast of all off road beasts, even with the military history of replacing the Jeep; so, Durango > Wrangler. It’s better for off road, has the big 360ci /5.9liter V8, and can still tow with some of the big boy pickups. Mine hauls my 31’ travel trailer (23 years old and heavier than the new ones) up all kinds of mountains, 6% graded roads, & hauls my rig off road into rv parks’ difficult terrain. I also take it off roading too but, barely getting started on that part. The Durango Dodge should be building is akin to mine. Like Porsche, I am unimpressed with the new market’s offerings; so, I made my own, as an example of what should be. I am the positive change I wish to see in this world. Check out my Durango on my Instagram story highlights @liny2sd
Uh… the 2nd gen, ugly as F 2004 version was also body on frame. The Durango went unibody in the 3rd gen.
Yea, the 2nd gen we don’t speak of, lol. Ugly and an experimental new Hemi riddled with issues. It looked big and clumsy too. But, thanks for the clarification on the body on frame design for the 2nd gen. I still say they shoulda stuck with the 1st gen. The 3rd gen should have been just called a “Caravan”, while keeping the 1st Gen. Durango alive.
They couldn’t have picked more boring colors for a special edition: Black, gray, another gray, and white.
I feel like I don’t really see Durangos anymore. Either because this generation has been around for so long I don’t notice them, or because people in my area have moved on to buying other SUVs.
Agreed, cars needs more color options. My Durango is blue and my car is red.
I don’t need an SUV, but really like the idea of a White Knuckle edition.
OK; color, but still appropriate
IMHO it’s still a great looking vehicle, if you’re into SUVs.
I just hope they don’t discontinue it without having a replacement ready.
This FCA/Stellantis thing of cancelling Dodge/Chrysler models without having anything to replace them is getting old.
All automobile companies are getting out of the auto industry (machines) and pivoting to the computer industry (computers with wheels). They are no longer making vehicles, which is sad. The only vehicles that now exist are pre-2015 (minus a few exceptions doing their final run). There is no longer a new auto market, only used. I switched from following car companies to following car builders, mostly racecar builders and engine builders. It’s the oil embargo all over again. Hopefully though, it will return again like it did before. Sure will if I have anything to do with it. If I am alive, there will be badass gas powered vehicles on the road.
No car company is continuing to make any cars or trucks. That’s why there is no replacement, no more auto industry. There’s just the used market left. They are replacing vehicles with computers on wheels. Soon, it will be all robots. We’re so doomed if we continue this trajectory. That’s why it’s so important to buy and restore old vehicles.
Stellantis seems to be utterly clueless about what it’s doing in the US.
All they have been thing about is Jeep. And now Jeep dealers are running low on customers with more money than common sense. Times will be getting tough for Stellantis in the US.
The Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer are the replacement.
With like 10 years’ worth of inventory on dealer lots.
Why does Stellantis exist?
“The Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer are the replacement.”
If it doesn’t have a Dodge brand name, then it’s not a replacement.
Tell Chrysler, who replaced the Dodge Grand Caravan with a Chrysler Pacifica, and who replaced every Dodge pickup with not-Dodge Rams. I mean this has been happening forever- the 2nd gen Dakota replaced the Jeep Comanche.
When you are replacing the Dodge brand, obviously new models will be under brands other than Dodge.
“I mean this has been happening forever”
But that doesn’t make it right!
If it was up to me, Ram would go back to being “Dodge Ram”, the Pacifica would have been a full size CUV, the new minivan would have been called the Chrysler Town & Country in luxurious form and called the Dodge Grand Caravan in sportier form.
And the regular Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Voyager would have reappeared as a shorter wheelbase van after the Dodge Journey went out of production.
“When you are replacing the Dodge brand, “
… you should stop what you are doing and reverse course and instead, look at using Dodge to replace the hopeless Fiat brand and other brands in at least some markets like the USA and Canada.
Obviously none of us like the discontinuation of the Dodge brand.
What confuses me is that Stellantis isn’t actually fully killing the Dodge brand. They came out with the Hornet and now this new Charger. All of their actions would make sense if the objective was actually to get rid of dodge, but they’re not. They’re keeping a couple models with Dodge but not enough to have anything resembling a lineup, and it’s baffling that they’re doing this halfway.
Dodge has been a pretty dead brand since Ram split off. Imagine what Ford would be if the pickups were split off into a separate brand: the Expedition and the Escape. Imo the pickups have been carrying the brand reputation of all 3 of the big 3 since most of the cars have been rather poor quality for about 40 years.
Yea, they are taking away our options for diversity, trying to lump us all into the same category, instead of allowing people who want a little more or less luxury/sportiness to have their own preferences & options. Trying to make us all lemmings, doing and driving the same thing, for the sake of profits, instead of allowing us to express our individuality, for the sake of humanity.
Trying to lump us altogether, trying to make us into lemmings all doing the same thing, translates beyond the automotive world. In all aspects of life, the powers that be, are trying to prevent individuals from being individuals. Do not let it happen. Be you. Drive what you love. Do work that you love. Sleep when you are tired. Work when you are awake. It can be any vehicle, any career, any time, any day, regardless of peer pressure.
Sounds like instead of replacing the Dodge vehicle models, they are replacing the whole brand altogether. So, still not quite model replacements. More like brand abolishment and badge engineering, which is shameful.
Firebird people want Firebirds, not Camaros. Durango people want Durangos, not Wagoneers. They are half-assing their model replacements, which is even more shameful.
They need to bring back the days of when you could take your pick, like when GM had the Chevelle, Tempest, Cutlass & Skylark all on the same A-body.
These current replacements are half-assed, & they need to go back to making actual replacements, all of them. Ya know, making cars for the people, instead of just making profits for the executives. Passion over profits.
Oh yea, and the El Camino was also an A-Body option.
To some extent, the 1st gen Durango WAS the replacement for the Wagoneer (& RamCharger). They seem to have just switched it back now. Not sure why they cannot make both at the same time today, probably due to money, smh.
Going further back, the Wagoneer & RamCharger were the replacement to the Power Wagon/Town Wagon.
Going further back, it seems that the US military went back and forth between Jeep & Dodge trucks, the Jeep or GP & the M137.
This heritage is why I decided to go with the 1st gen Durango when I was shopping for a legit SUV. Towing & off-roading prowess.
But, to be precise, you are correct. Just like the Chevy Camaro is not a successor to the Pontiac Firebird, the Wagoneer is not quite a successor to the Durango. The market misses them both, Firebird & Durango.
I always liked how Dodge made it look like what it was – a purely street-going vehicle (why does it even have roof rails?) – so thought the name was a little wrong, would have been better suited for a off-road themed SUV.
I mean, if it couldn’t be used for a sleek, oft-stolen sportscar in the not-to-distant-future that is.
Although, was the first gen that off-roady either? They didn’t go quite as heavily full street truck like the related Dakota 5.9R/T (even the Durango R/T), but still.
No, you’re right – the first gen was fairly “pickup truck-y” looking, to channel the Ram instead of the Charger, so maybe quasi-street back then? And the less said about the second gen, the better.
I was thinking the exact same thing about the second gen, although it’s got the Notorious SWG seal of approval.
I always thought the second gen looked like a minivan… Except actual minivans had better styling.
The second gen Durango looked like a sad hippopotamus.
The Durango is the most “off-roady” vehicle since the 1980’s. It’s the successor to the almighty Dodge Power Wagon/Town Wagon/RamCharger. It doesn’t get anymore off road worthy than that. Puts the Wrangler to shame.
Dakota R/T owner checking in.
The original Durango could go either way. Definitely not just for the streets but probably where they usually were used. And as Jack Trade said, they looked very truck like. The front half of the Dakota and the Durango are basically identical.
They are also mechanically identical. When you buy parts, (or watch DIY YouTube videos) they are marked for Dakota/Durango. Entire front end, engine, body panels, transmission, suspension, brakes, wheels, hubs, all interchangeable. This is true for almost all of the parts except for the taillights and lack of rear seats in place of the pick up bed. And with true 4×4, solid rear axle, locking diff, significant ground clearance, and a V8, it’s an off road beast, not a pavement princess.
People failing to truly use something for its built purpose, should never sway your view of the thing, only the people.
The Durango is for off roading and towing, a truck, not a car.
People failing to use their vehicles properly, just goes to show that the wrong people are buying vehicles for the wrong reasons.
SUV’s are trucks. And all trucks/SUV’s have V8’s. Badass trucks have true 4×4 off road prowess. Anything less is a crossover.
Additionally, the Durango has a stiffer frame and weighs more than the Dakota; so, even more truck than it’s truck fraternal twin.
“would have been better suited for a off-road themed SUV.”
Nah. The Durango name belongs on a proper Ram minivan (a badge engineered Dodge Caravan) with aspirations of a cowboy lifestyle ala’ the Pontiac Montana.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq7Id8zxOpo
Hey if VW can do it why not Ram?
For me, the chef’s kiss part of the Montana was always the logo…the ballsiness of it is wonderful, and makes me wonder how the Aztec got away without some stylized serious-looking deity or something.
Badge engineering should be deemed illegal as an evasive marketing strategy designed to trick consumers into buying, an offshoot of false advertising.
They should have just kept the Caravan name, it was the industry standard for minivans, like Xerox is to copiers or like Kleenex to tissues. That’s the badge that the 3rd gen Durango warrants.
Then, they should have continued making the Dakota (I guess under the new Ram Trucks brand) as well as the Dakota-based Durango.
How it should be, and should remain:
Truck lineup:
Ram 1500/2500/3500: full-sized truck
Dakota: mid-sized truck
Durango: mid-sized SUV
Car lineup:
Caravan: minivan
Charger: sedan
Challenger: coupe
Dart: sport coupe
Crossover lineup:
None. Make up your mind, do you want a truck or a car, pick a lane.
If you need both, get one of each, that’s what I did. They don’t have to be new. One new vehicle is the same cost as two used vehicles. Spend wisely.
To me, the Durango was always a meh vehicle. The special additions are just lipstick on a pig.
I always thought it was supposed to be a cheaper Grand Cherokee, but the prices put that misconception to bed.
It’s not a Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 but it’s better than a Highlander, Pilot, or whatever the Hyundai/Kia things are called. Agreed that the heavily optioned versions should be avoided.
Well that’s saying incredibly little. Almost anything is better than a Highlander, pilot, or Kia.
It got longitudinal engine over its Asian counterpart, so I think it is a plus in terms of serviceability. Any V6 in the latitudinal configuration is a no no in my book.
Any V6 in a truck is a no in my book. Shoot, even in most cars, a V6 is a no in my book. The only true Camaros/Mustangs/Challengers are the V8’s. There’s only a select few instances where a V6 is sufficient. Even fewer for 4-bangers. No replacement for displacement. Every single vehicle in my “wish list” is a V8, V10 or V12. The only exception is the best 4-banger ever made, the Honda F-series. Although, I will give respect to the 2JZ & the RB straight 6’s.
So, unless it’s an F-series, 2JZ, or RB, it better be a V8, V10, V12 or even a W16. These are the only acceptable power plants for an automobile (for the most part).
Heavily optioned vehicles need to remain in the luxury sector. Fancy lighting and heated seats should never be selling points for a vehicle. Engine power, style, & functionality are all that truly matter. Anyone considering anything else as a factor has no business buying non-luxury vehicles or swaying the non-luxury auto market.
Luxury vehicles are for comfort.
Cars are for hauling ass.
Trucks are for hauling loads.
That’s all that matters.
Hope they find a new use for the model name, but otherwise I won’t miss this SUV. That’s true of most SUVs for me, though.
I wanted a 1st gen with the 360 so bad when I was in school. The later generations really dont interest me, but I still love the 1st gen.
Same here. I built up my 1999 360 4×4 Durango with tow package to release the beast it was always meant to be. You can see it on my IG story highlight. IG: liny2sd
I’m in the 1st gen camp too. Solid rear axle, body on frame, actual off road prowess.
The Durango with a V6 has always been an incredible value and still remains one. Its only competitor as a three-row, RWD, unibody, IRS SUV that with serious towing ability is the Explorer.
It’s not clear from the article, is the Durango going away or just the Hemi option?
Who cares about the Hemi option? By the time you option the Durango up with a Hemi you’re getting to the point where you can buy something nicer, and how much power does your wife’s station wagon need?
But if the Durango is going away that’s a bummer.
It’s a long, drawn-out death. Will probably continue through 2025.
How much power does dad’s station wagon need? Wife won’t let you buy a Challenger, and a Charger isn’t big enough for your family? Get a Durango. Wanna have some fun while the kids are at hockey? Get a Hellcat Durango. They’re kinda big & bloated, but as SUVs go, Durangos do have character.
In my too wealthy for its own good area of the country a brand new Dodge Durango can still be had for $36 – 37K.
That is a solid value.
Paying north of $100K for something that still says “Durango” and still requires dealing with Dodge dealers is insanity (IMHO).
$64,000 will buy plenty of proper performance cars instead of buffoon badging on a family truckster.
> buffoon badging
I like that.
You must not be a car/truck person, and therefore, you should not be affecting the industry you are not passionate about. You either get the V8 or you don’t get it. The 1st gen offered 3 different engine options, all V8’s. That’s the only way it should be, especially for a truck or any performance vehicle (they all should be performance vehicles or luxury. No compromises models should exist, it’s disrespectful to the entire industry), all or nothing. Don’t compromise on the almighty automobile that will become a part of your family as well as serve your family for a lifetime. Buy old, maintain it, never buy again, sustainability, environmental, respectful to the vehicle and it’s feelings, as well as it’s designers and engineers. Respect.
How much power does a wife’s station wagon need? Well, my father used to drag race his Chevy II, change the tires, and that’s what my mom drove to the store, 4 on the floor; so, mom needs just as much power as dad on the dragstrip. That’s how car/truck people roll. Vehicles are not economical purchases. Never were, never will be. A bus pass is the economical option. You either get the full version that was drafted by the engineers, designers and artists, showing respect to them all, or, you don’t get one at all, and take public transportation.
Yeah but why would I want a three row rwd unibody irs SUV with semi-serious towing ability.
Idk but some people sure want ’em
And those people have no business buying vehicles, possessing licenses, nor swaying the auto market. Just because people do it, does not make it right. Wrongfulness exists in this world, and it’s up to all of us to stop it from persisting.
If you’re not buying a serious vehicle, with serious capabilities, you are not serious about your purchase, which is a waste of money, time, and resources, as well as a false data point to erroneously sway the market into the wrong direction.
No one with proper intentions would. Instead, I got a 3-row, 4×4, body on frame, solid rear axle SUV… with semi-serious towing and very serious off-road ability.
(IMO, serious towing ability belongs to tractors, not pickups. If I ever went for serious towing/diesel, I’d go all the way with a Peterbilt, Kenworth, or Mack. All or nothing.)
Maybe it’s just my personal perspective, but it took me a minute to figure out why Dodge was making a Durango just for diabetics. The A1c HEMI seemed like a weird marketing plan.
(Took me a minute to realize that A1c was actually Alc. A very tiny distinction in this particular font.)
No sugarcoating.
The first thing that came to my mind was “Alcohol HEMI.” Dodge drivers ranked 4th for racking up DUIs.
After seeing in-person for the first time, an alcohol running dragster, I decided right then and there that I want to run my Durango on alcohol. Just imagine the sound! That’s what the alcHemi should be! That’s the kind of alternative fuel we need to be working towards.
The first thing that crossed my mind when I saw this article. The two most recent alcohol related crashes I have seen were both Durangos. One was a guy who crashed into a construction hoarding and proceeded to flee, but was quickly caught by cops who witnessed it. 11AM on a weekday LOL, liquid breakfast indeed. The other was a guy (males for some reason?) who crashed into the back of a moving bus. In his case the idiot had his dog in the front seat. Needles to say the dog did not survive.
Semi-related: I always get triggered when I see society airheads driving with their purse pooches in their laps. They don’t stand a chance in a fight with an airbag.
I feel ya, it’s cute and all but, not safe, which is why I got my dog a dog seatbelt that attaches to her chest/shoulder harness, and she gets strapped in to her seat just like myself and my kiddo. We each get a seat and a seatbelt.
Durango Obesity Edition, available in Wal Mart blue