If you’re in the market for a three-row SUV unlike any other, the Durango Hellcat may be right up your alley. Of course, the selling point of this gentle giant is the big V8 mill augmented by a twin-screw blower.
Supplied by Japanese company IHI, the 2.4-liter supercharger is pretty audible from the driver’s seat on full throttle. Taken together with the induction and exhaust noises, “the sound is unbelievable” according to Doug DeMuro. Even more surprisingly, Dodge has toned down the Durango from the Challenger and Charger with the 6.2-liter engine option.
The downside to beefing up the suspension to harness 645 pound-feet (875 Nm) is, as expected, a harsh ride quality. On the other hand, exchanging ride quality for better handling is a compromise I would gladly take. Doug doesn't agree to that, making a point about most customers preferring comfort over superlative corner-carving capability.
Being a Chrysler product that was last redesigned a decade ago, the Durango has a few other annoyances that need to be mentioned. The backup camera’s resolution is atrocious at best, and another quirk would be the foot-operated parking brake instead of a proper lever or a button on the center console.
Capable of hitting 60 miles per hour (96 kph) in 3.5 seconds, the Durango Hellcat is an idea quicker than the world’s fastest sport utility vehicle. As far as maximum velocity is concerned, the Bentley Bentayga Speed has the upper hand at 190 mph (306 kph) versus 180 mph (290 kph).
And now, let’s talk pricing. $80,995 excluding destination charge and the gas-guzzler tax is serious moolah when you think about it, more so if you go through the options list. Even at this price, Dodge is charging extra for Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop Function and a Class IV hitch receiver.
Looking at the bigger picture, Dodge offers better value for money than Jeep. The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk retails at $87,915 right now, and if you’re into towing stuff, the Durango Hellcat is the one to have thanks to 8,700 pounds (3,946 kilograms) versus 7,200 pounds (3,266 kilograms).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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