Is the Dodge Durango’s HP the Ultimate Muscle?

Photo Source/Copyright: Dodge

Dodge finally did what car folks have been begging for: they killed the entry-level Pentastar V-6 outright. No downsized inline-four standard, no turbocharged compromise. Every single three-row Durango rolling off the factory floor now packs a standard HEMI V-8. That turns the base trim from a commuter penalty box into a legitimate performance vehicle right from day one.

What’s Under the Hood Now

Standard all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic handle the power output across the entire trim lineup, so nothing gets wasted on a slick on-ramp. However, the vehicle’s character changes drastically depending on how heavy your right foot gets:

• GT: The 5.7-liter HEMI kicks out 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. Dropping the V-6 shaves a full second off the 0-60 mile-per-hour (MPH) sprint. You actually feel that gap when merging onto a crowded interstate highway with a cabin full of kids, not just on a laboratory spec sheet.

• R/T 392: This is where things get absurd. Dodge stuffed a 6.4-liter naturally aspirated 392 HEMI V-8 under the hood, generating 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. That represents a massive 115-horsepower jump over the previous R/T version. The result is an NHRA-certified 12.9-second quarter-mile run in a three-row family hauler.

• SRT Hellcat: 710 horsepower. 645 pound-feet of torque from a supercharged 6.2-liter. Zero to 60 in 3.5 seconds flat, running an 11.5-second quarter mile. It puts a seven-seat SUV into supercar territory where it has no business keeping company.

Hauling Gear, Not Just Tail

Straight-line acceleration is fun at stoplights, but practical utility still matters. When you opt for the Tow ’n Go package, which bundles track-ready Brembo brakes and a Class IV receiver hitch, the Durango hauls up to 8,700 pounds. That tops the entire class. Boats, double-horse trailers, or heavy campers move without the engine hunting for gears on steep highway inclines.

Fold the second and third rows down, and you unlock 85.1 cubic feet of flat cargo space. Plenty of SUVs seat seven, and plenty tow well, but finding both in a muscle-car body is a very short list.

The Sub-$50,000 Power Math

Dodge claims the R/T 392 delivers the most horsepower available in the automotive industry for under $50,000 MSRP (excluding destination fees). While most segment competitors offer buzzy four-cylinders or mild V-6 setups, dropping 475 horsepower at that price point sets a completely different benchmark. The question stops being how much power you can afford and starts being how much you actually want to explain to your HOA or your insurance company.

Real Questions People Ask Us on the Lot

Q: Is the V-6 really gone for good?

A: Yep. Every trim, from the GT and R/T 392 to the SRT Hellcat, comes standard with a HEMI V-8 and an eight-speed automatic.

Q: Which one makes sense for daily family duties?

A: The GT variant delivers plenty of muscle for daily commutes. However, the R/T 392 hits the ultimate sweet spot if you want serious V-8 rumble and mid-12-second quarter-mile capability without stepping up to Hellcat pricing.

Q: How fast is the Hellcat in person?

A: At 710 hp and a 3.5-second 0-60 time, it feels like an amusement park ride in a seven-passenger vehicle.

Specifications on paper only tell half the story. Swing by our lot, grab the keys for a test drive, and settle which trim fits best from behind the steering wheel.