Dodge Durango

Midsize three-row SUVs are wildly popular with growing families but, let's face it, in general they're not all that exciting or inspiring. For those rare shoppers out there looking to spice things up, the 2022 Dodge Durango may be an intriguing alternative. Think of it as a wonderful mash-up of a muscle car and a sensible SUV. For 2022, the stunning Hellcat variant has been discontinued but, fear not, the 475-horsepower SRT model is still available.

A byproduct of that stout power is excellent towing capabilities, but otherwise the Durango isn't as well rounded as the top SUVs in the class. These include the Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot and Hyundai Palisade, which get higher scores for versatility and efficiency. We spell out in our Expert Rating below where the Durango shines and where improvement may be needed.

Which Durango does MatoCar recommend?

The 2022 Dodge Durango is available in five trim levels: SXT, GT, R/T, Citadel and SRT 392. Dodge offers a choice of a V6 or one of two V8 engines paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard on most models. All-wheel drive is optional on most and standard on the SRT 392.

SXT The base SXT is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 (295 horsepower, 260 lb-ft of torque) paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include:

• LED headlights and foglights
• 18-inch wheels
• Roof rails with cross bars
• Heated mirrors
• Load-leveling suspension (rear-wheel drive only)
• Three-zone automatic climate control
• Seating for seven passengers
• Cloth upholstery
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• USB-A and USB-C ports
• 8.4-inch touchscreen display
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• Six-speaker audio system
• Satellite radio
• Keyless entry and ignition
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
• Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't respond)

Notable options:

• Trailer Tow Group IV
• Integrated trailer brake controller (allows adjustment of a trailer's brakes from the cab)
• Heavy-duty oil cooler
• Class IV hitch receiver
• Load-leveling rear suspension and low-range gearing for all-wheel-drive models
• Full-size spare tire

GT The GT loses the roof rack but adds a few features on top of the SXT features. Those include:

• Black grille and window trim
• 20-inch wheels
• Power liftgate
• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Remote ignition

Options on the GT include:

• GT Plus
• Opens up options list
• Leather upholstery
• Optional second-row captain's chairs
• Power front seats with driver's seat memory functions
• Heated second-row seats
• Auto-dimming driver-side mirror
• Forward collision warning (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front)
• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)

• Premium Group I
• Nine-speaker Alpine audio system with subwoofer and HD radio
• Sunroof
• 10.1-inch touchscreen
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Wireless phone charger
• Navigation system
• Automatic high beams

R/T The Durango R/T ditches the V6 in favor of a 5.7-liter V8 engine (360 hp, 390 lb-ft), still paired with an eight-speed automatic. It builds off the GT Plus. Other standard features include:

• Features from Premium Group I
• 20-inch wheels
• Sport suspension
• Power-adjustable passenger seat
• Household power outlet

Citadel The Durango Citadel uses the 3.6-liter V6, but it's available with the 5.7-liter V8. Besides all of the features of the GT Plus trim, the Citadel comes with:

• Trailer Tow Group IV
• Chrome exterior trim
• Second-row captain's chairs (seating for six)
• Ventilated front seats
• Upgraded leather upholstery

SRT The SRT uses a 6.4-liter V8 engine (475 hp, 470 lb-ft) and comes standard with all-wheel drive. Besides what's standard on the R/T, features include:

• Brembo brakes
• Limited-slip differential
• High-performance adaptive suspension
• Sport seats with upgraded leather
• Active noise cancellation

Other notable options depending on the trim level include:

• 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
• Blacktop package (black painted wheels with blacked-out exterior trim)