2018 Dodge Durango R/T V8 5.7L

Updated: Feb 20, 2019

This week with our first winter review, the Dodge Durango R/T V8 5.7L with an MSRP of $59215.

Fun Factor: 6

Can it Family: 7

Fuel-Friendly: 3

HWY-warrior: 6

Karaoke Friendly: 8

Baby friendly: 5

City Cruising: 2

That’s a lot of car for that amount of money especially considering you you're getting a Mercedes-Benz W251 platform based car, it’s an older M-Class and R-Class SUV.

Is it fun to drive? The experience isn't perfect the loose steering doesn't always strike confidence with its size in the city at lower speeds, the more you push the Durango R/T, the more planted and more stable it feels with its 360hp and 390 lb-ft of torque at the crankshaft. Riding on 20-inch wheels that come standard on the Mastodon Durango, can make the ride a little harsh on bumpy roads.

How's the gas consumption? We've been able to get an average of 12.4L per 100km, however, if you're thinking of the getting the Durango for city driving only, think about it twice. We've been averaging 18.9L per 100km on the HWY. It is, however realistically possible to get fuel consumption between 10-11L per 100km. The average of 12.4 is based on 20% city and 80% HWY.

The HWY experience of the Durango is pleasant, you can count that it will get you through any kind of weather! Yes, any type of weather mother nature will hit it. When seeing this car in the rearview mirror what strikes you first is the mean expression of the Durango and the multiple air intakes... And yes, the air intakes are even functional! With these mean looks, any driver in front of you will know you're not playing around and that moving into the right lane is their only option. The seats are not the most comfortable ones, it takes lots of adjustment to get comfortable. We found the seating experience very sofa-like.

The sound system is set up to play hip-hop or EDM so that you can bang your head on your favorite jams, it can easily be set up in UConnect to have all the music blasting in the front seats while your kids are sound asleep in the 2nd and 3rd row.

Now can it properly move the family around? On paper, this 7 seater has a lot of space, however, to the detriment of rear cargo space, you'll be able to find one stroller and 2 or 3 grocery bags, now if you're taking this as a 5 seater and put the 2 rear seats in the floor, this can be done quickly and manually from the trunk, you'll get enough space to bring all of your furniture shopping with you. The 2nd row can be comfortable for adults as long as you only have one car seat in that back row. The reason is that once you've installed that car seat, either in the middle or in left seat no one can enter in the back row. This leaves only the right door to let kids go in the 3rd row. The 2nd row also offers 2 level heated seats. As for the 3rd row, it can only be used for children unless it's for short trips.

As a final thought, I can only suggest this type of SUV if you live outside the city such as suburbia or countryside and have more then 2 kids and they both play hockey and need to bring their equipment to bring to practice everywhere. The fuel consumption is too big of a factor to consider this as a city cruiser or as a daily driver and let me not even talk about finding parking, its best suited for shopping mall parking.