In an era where SUVs strive to be either turbocharged sports cars or plush luxury lounges, the Dodge Durango stands out as refreshingly honest. Largely unchanged since 2011, it’s unapologetically old-school — big, bold, and powered by a HEMI V8.
On a recent test drive of the Durango R/T in the UAE, we set out to see if it still holds value in today’s shifting market, or if it’s finally time for it to bow out.
Exterior: Classically styled crossover SUV with bold vibes
The Durango takes its name from a city and state in Mexico, as well as a city in Colorado—fitting Dodge’s tradition of names that evoke nature and ruggedness. The first-generation Durango, launched in 1998, remains, in my view, the best-looking to date. Its front end, reminiscent of “dog-nose” or “Type C” school buses and the RAM pickups of the era, projected a tough, truck-like appeal. The 2004 model was equally robust but had slightly awkward details, later improved with a facelift. The current third generation has been around since 2011 and continues into 2025.
Despite its age, the Durango’s design remains clean and instantly recognisable. The R/T variant adds muscle with a sculpted hood featuring real vents and scoops for better cooling, a black honeycomb grille, and large front intakes. It’s also got LED headlamps to brighten up the tarmac that lies ahead. At 5,105 mm long, one can call it a large mid-size or a small full-size SUV. Its proportions focus more on length than height, giving it city SUV practicality, but with muscular vibes, unlike the MPV-like Ford Flex. Black mirror caps add visual appeal, while the dual exhausts outback, are functional and suit the V8—unlike the fake quad tips on some smaller-displacement Chinese rivals. The full-width rear light bar was once a standout but now feels common, and though the wheels have a large 20-inch diameter, the 5 twin spoke design looks underwhelming for a performance-oriented R/T model.
Visually, the Durango straddles two worlds: part gas-guzzling American truck that screams “democracy” and part city-bound family hauler. I don’t see it being a crowd favourite, but Dubai certainly has some passionate takers.
Interior: Spiffy and spacious dark-themed interior with a usable 3rd row; instrument glare
The Durango R/T’s cabin embraces its American muscle roots with couch-like seats and a spacious real estate that feels open and comfortable. Soft black plastics and leather dominate, with red stitching on the seats and dash adding flair. Marble-like trim adds visual texture, while the Alcantara-like roofliner offers a surprisingly premium touch. The layout is appealing in its simplicity, but the materials are known not to age well—friends’ Durangos over the years have shown worn surfaces and broken parts. So while fit and finish are decent, long-term durability remains a concern. Which reminds me…every time I tapped my feet on the door sill to dust off while getting in, the rocker panel plastic was so flimsy it bent with every tap.
The thick, chunky steering wheel feels great in hand, with volume and tuning buttons cleverly positioned on the rear, though they take some getting used to. The aviation-style gear shifter is sturdy and satisfying, if a bit retro. The foot-operated parking brake, however, feels dated and unnecessary. The instrument cluster is customisable, but glare can make the dials hard to read. Beside it is the 10.1-inch Uconnect screen with an UX design that intuitive, though many rivals now offer larger displays.
The leather appears to be a mix of genuine and synthetic, which is acceptable at this price point. The second row isn’t exactly palatial in terms of legroom, but it’s wide enough for three. Surprisingly, the third row can fit two adults almost as comfortably as the second. However, since the second row doesn’t slide, accessing the third requires folding the seat and climbing in—a bit of a hassle. A panoramic sunroof is also notably absent.
Drivetrain & Drive: Rumbling V8 with soft-edged controls and dynamics; thirsty
The R/T sits in the middle of the Durango lineup—starting with the Pentastar® V6 and topping out with the SRT® Hellcat and its supercharged 6.2L HEMI® V8, per the UAE website. The R/T packs the familiar 5.7L HEMI V8, which puts out a potent 360 hp of max. power and 529 Nm of peak torque, and this is where the Durango’s soul truly lies. Power is channelled via an 8-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. Press the starter and the V8 rumbles to life. Give it gas, and it rewards you with a deep, thrilling soundtrack and satisfying thrust. Acceleration feels brisk and responsive in daily driving, and forceful under heavy throttle. However, the tested 0–100 km/h sprint times were in the respectable high 7-second range, which falls short of claims by a bit (mid-6 / 7.1 seconds, depending on the Dodge source). This brings me to the fact that American cars are notorious for transmission losses, and hence horsepower at the wheels disproportionately undercuts the rated numbers. But the good news is that it feels quick.
The steering feel can best be described by the Pink Floyd song “Comfortably Numb”. It lacks feedback but is well-assisted and suits the Durango’s cruiser-like character. Braking is solid, though the pedal feel is somewhat wooden—more feedback would help with modulation. The suspension is also soft and not tuned for sharp turn-ins or quick directional changes. The R/T doesn’t chase Nürburgring times, but it’s still fun to hoon around in. It also comes with a separate page in the infotainment menus for performance meters like g-force, acceleration, and braking stats…and who doesn’t love stats. In terms of fuel economy, it’s about as thirsty as a sinkhole, which aligns with the origin country’s position on the Paris Climate Agreement. It averaged just 6.1 kmpl, with an indicated range of around 520 km eeked out from the 93-litre tank. The FuelSaver Multi-Displacement System (MDS), which cuts cylinders under light load, didn’t seem to help much.
AWD Low is offered via a two-speed, active on-demand system available with the 5.7L HEMI. This lets you venture onto sand or mild trails—but nothing too serious. With a long body, 207 mm of ground clearance, and road-biased tyres, it’s no rock crawler or sand dueler. So I suggest you keep away from Camel rock and Al Badayer. All in all, despite its rumbling V8, the Durango R/T is more a comfort-oriented cruiser than a control-focused performance SUV—one that revels in the experience of thrust.
Features & Functionality: 2,410 litres cargo capacity, Harman Kardon audio, and a remote starter, among other features
The Durango scores well in terms of accommodation. Inside, the central cubby is a good size, though the door bins are relatively small. Space behind the third row isn’t a lot, but it fits one large suitcase (just enough for a short grocery run to Lulu) and includes some undertray storage. However, folding both the second and third rows gives you a massive 2,410 litres of cargo space. Thoughtful rubber and stainless-steel scuff sills help protect the paint from luggage scrapes, and with a power tailgate button conveniently placed on the side, it is easily accessible for shorter users too. For those with gear to haul—or into dirt bikes or water sports—the R/T offers up to 3,356 kg of towing capacity with the V8, along with a trailer braking function for heavier loads like yachts or horse trailers. A roof rack is also included, useful for long trips and staycations.
There’s plenty to appreciate in terms of connectivity as well. The glovebox is small but includes a 12V outlet. Up front, you get 2 USB-A, 2 USB-C ports, and a wireless charger. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported—we paired a Galaxy S23 Ultra, and everything worked smoothly, including audio streaming and Google Maps. A branded 19-speaker Harman Kardon system is available. It delivers decent sound quality, though not quite at the level the branding might suggest.
The A/C is strong and effective. Rear passengers get their own climate controls, with vents for the second row (both above and below) and for the third row (above). Interestingly, the outboard seats heated—unusual in a region where heat is rarely in short supply. One of my favourite features is the remote starter, and they had it even before it became a thing. This helps you cool your cabin, especially helpful for those who don’t have covered parking.
On the safety front, it also includes adaptive cruise control and LaneSense, making highway cruising easy. However, for low-speed manoeuvres and parking, it only offers a rear-view camera with low resolution. That might have been fine a decade ago, but today, with high-res 360° cameras commonplace, it feels outdated.
Verdict: Muscly V8-powered 7-seater SUV that ticks several boxes, but lacks durability and drinks like a fish
The Dodge Durango R/T is the perfect example of what happens when a muscle car meets a family hauler. With a restrained yet brawny design and a thumping V8, it appeals to those chasing the American dream beyond North American borders. It doubles up on utility too, offering solid space, features, and usability for today’s driver. That said, its performance is more experiential than outright quick, durability is average, the rear camera is low-res, and fuel economy is poor. It’s an ageing product whose value lies in character, not spec sheets. Rivals may be newer and more refined, but none offer a V8 like this.
Rivals
As a large 3-row SUV, it goes up against a competitive herd that includes the VW Teramont, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, Toyota Land Cruiser 4.0, Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, Nissan Patrol, Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan Xterra, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, Mazda CX-9, and Skoda Kodiaq Sportline 2.0. Then there are also some Chinese alternatives to consider, like the GAC GS8, Tank 500, and Haval H9.
