The SRT Durango Runs 12.90s, Tows 8,600lbs

The sporty Durango is finally getting the full SRT treatment, and the result is a remarkable sport utility vehicle with the soul of a muscle car. The SRT Durango is the most capable and best performing 3-row SUV in America, with an 8,600lb towing capacity and an NHRA-certified quarter mile time of 12.9. This isn’t speculation – this is the real thing.

“The new 2018 Dodge Durango SRT is America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars Brands, Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT – FCA North America. “This is what you get, when you take everything great about the Durango and combine it with the performance of the Charger SRT: a 12-second quarter mile, toy-hauling, three-row muscle car.”

The Look of the SRT Durango
While the real story of the Dodge Durango SRT focuses on what is under the hood, the exterior design of this muscular sport utility vehicle is going to steal some hearts. The most significant aspect of the SRT Durango package comes up front, with a design which is very much like the Hellcat Charger. This includes a hood featuring two large vents flanking a low profile hood scoop and a large lower fascia opening. This lower front fascia also includes the LED fog lights and a new air intake system which brings much cooler air into the engine bay.

The front end of the SRT Durango is finished off with a unique mesh grille design with the SRT logo, a new thin grille opening just below it (similar to the SRT Jeep) and the darkened headlights from the Durango R/T.

Along the sides, the new Durango SRTs a little lower thanks to the new sport-tuned, adjustable suspension, tucking the body around the new 20 inch wheels. The SRT Durango has a wider track with the new wheels and 295/45ZR20 Pirelli Scorpion tires, so to keep them within the body, the SRT package adds a flared wheel lip which makes a surprisingly big difference.

Finally, the back end has a new lower fascia area with a dark center section and integrated Hellcat-like 4 inch dual exhaust tips. Of course, the SRT Durango has the gorgeous LED “racetrack” taillight design and the excepted badging – including the new Dodge 4 wheel drive logo with a 4 over the red Dodge hashmarks.(More on the Next Page)

This is by far the sportiest of the modern Durango packages and in my opinion, it is the best looking. The interpretation of the Charger Hellcat styling works perfectly on the SRT Durango and I expect that people will buy this SUV based on looks alone.

The Interior
On the inside, the 2018 SRT Durango has sport buckets in all three rows with heated/cooled seats up front and heated seats in the second row. Nappa leather seats with suede inserts and silver embroidered SRT logos are standard, but the images here show the optional Demonic Red Laguna leather interior package. This Demonic Red interior looks incredible, and I expect it to be a popular option with buyers.

Next, the SRT Durango package includes a new leather-wrapped dashboard for a more premium feel, a leather sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, a 7 inch reconfigurable driver information display and the premium 8.4 inch UConnect infotainment system. The UConnect system offers quick access to everything in the vehicle, but for the SRT Durango, it includes the full spectrum of extra gauges and timers of the Performance Pages system. This big screen also controls the various drive mode settings, including the adjustable steering, the adaptive suspension, the all-wheel drive system, traction control, etc. Like the SRT Jeep and the Dodge Hellcat cars, the SRT Durango will be fully customizable to the driver’s tastes – optimizing the capabilities of this high performance SUV in every driving situation.

The Go-Fast Parts
That brings us to the most important aspect of the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT – the drivetrain and handling bits.(More on the Next Page)

The SRT Durango is powered by a 6.4L, 392 cubic inch Hemi V8 with 475 horsepower and 470lb-ft of torque. This power is sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission and an advanced all-wheel drive system which can shift power from 50/50 front-to-rear to 30/70, depending on the drive mode chosen. In Track mode, the SRT Durango sends the majority of the power for the best straight line acceleration, but the low levels of added front-wheel grip helps get this big SUV off of the line in a serious hurry. To be exact, the SRT Durango rips from 0-60 in just 4.4 seconds while running the quarter mile in 12.9 seconds (NHRA certified) – making the SRT Durango the quickest 3-row SUV in the world.

Next, the SRT Durango is designed to corner as well as it launches, starting with the adjustable, adaptive dampers, stiffer front and rear springs and a stiffer rear sway bar. When coupled with the high tech AWD system, this 3-row SUV will carve through the corners, but in the event that you need to slow down suddenly – the SRT Durango has you covered there as well. The SRT package adds a massive Brembo braking package with 6-piston calipers over 15 inch rotors up front and 4-piston rotors with 13.8 inch rotors out back.

Dodge promises that the SRT Durango will have its own feel and characteristics compared to the SRT Jeep, and considering the unique feel between the other similarly-equipped Dodge and Jeep SUVs – I expect that the Durango will have its own feel, even with the shared components.

We don't have pricing information yet, but we do have a video of the SRT Durango doing an incredible burnout with all four tires and you can check that out below.