Quick Take: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT 392

NATIONAL CITY, California — Mom and dad really wanted a Hellcat, but got a 2018 Dodge Durango SRT 392 SUV instead. Not a bad concession if you ask us.

The little brats should be grateful for the compromise and the sporty SUV is nearly as fun for its passengers as it is to drive.

Well, it’s definitely more fun to drive, but there’s plenty of room for grown ups, though we recommend keeping only the kids or a pet way back in the third row. Conveniently, the third row’s headrests can be folded via the 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, which makes it a lot easier to see out of the back if nobody is back there.

Under the hood, the six-seater packs a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 engine that offers 475-hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It sounds heavenly—in a Hellcat sort of way—and is mated to a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission. And it lets the 5,510-pound truck sprint you and the gang from 0-60 mph in a wicked 4.4 seconds.

Think of how fast you can get them out of the house and to school—which ought to allow you plenty of time to drag race to the market or mall. As an added bonus, it’ll tow up to 8,700 pounds.

The SRT SUV rides an inch higher than a standard Durango. It gets a wide-body kit, high-performance suspension and exhaust, and bright red Brembo brakes to help slow you down.

Inside, there’s no sunroof, but plenty of black trim plus a fat, leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel and heated, leather-trimmed bucket seats up front that will keep you toasty on those mountain runs. (The second row gets sporty captain’s chairs.) There are slick aluminum pedals and lots of old school touches like a gas door release and a push to release parking brake—love those.

The Uconnect system is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay friendly. There are two USB ports up front and an aux jack as well. Plus nice big volume and tuning knobs that are easy to reach. The Beats Premium Audio System is adequate and gets the job done—it’s hard to compete with the sweet sound of the Hemi.

Our only gripe is with the location of the tailgate closing button, which is located inside the truck’s lower left side panel, instead of on the tailgate itself. I always feel like I’m going to lose a finger when it starts to close.

Gas mileage is what you’d expect for a beast of this nature—but hey, that’s not why you buy one of these beauties. We averaged about 13.6 mpg on a recent road trip to the U.S./Mexican border from Los Angeles, California. Not great, but damn, we made good time.

 

2018 Dodge Durango SRT Specifications
ON SALE	Now
PRICE	$64,090/$70,270 (base/tested)
ENGINE	6.4L OHV 16-valve V-8/475 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 470 lb-ft @ 4,300 rpm
TRANSMISSION	8-speed automatic
LAYOUT	4-door, 6-passenger, front-engine, AWD SUV
EPA MILEAGE	13/19 mpg (city/hwy)
L x W x H	201.2 x 77.1 x 71.9 in
WHEELBASE	119.8 in
WEIGHT	5,510 lb
0-60 MPH	4.4 sec
TOP SPEED	N/A

 

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