2024 Dodge Durango: Stellantis Didn’t Kill the Last Dodge SUV
The Dodge Journey went gently into the good night without fanfare. The same fate almost awaited the Dodge Durango, but Stellantis saved the venerable one. It was among the first three-row unibody crossover SUVs, but that’s about to change with the 2024 Dodge Durango.
Is the 2024 Dodge Durango returning to its roots?
Some forget the first two Durango generations were truck-like, body-on-frame SUVs. Not until the third generation did the SUV adopt a car-like unibody construction. But with the new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer in the Stellantis family, the 2024 Dodge Durango appears to be returning to its roots.
The latest model will likely move upmarket to be a bigger, more luxurious, and more capable full-size SUV. That would mean the new Durango would ride on a truck platform once again.
Could the new Durango be a more affordable Stellantis SUV?
The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are the only full-size SUVs from Stellantis. They’re excellent vehicles with appealing features, luxurious trimmings, and impressive equipment. But they’re also expensive.
There’s plenty of room for a more affordable full-size SUV to compete with the Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and Toyota Sequoia. These SUVs start at around $50,000, but the Wagoneer models are much pricier. That’s where the new Durango can fit in.
Why does moving the 2024 Dodge Durango upmarket make sense?
Dodge is expanding and ready to welcome a new lineup of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric vehicles over the next few years. We could see the Durango eventually use a hybrid powertrain, but for now, the first hybrid Dodge is the new Hornet. This small crossover gives the automaker a platform to build a lineup of electrified SUVs to compete with other brands that already produce hybrid and electric SUVs.
Adding the Hornet while moving the Durango upmarket makes perfect sense. The Hornet is a new name that consumers need time to understand, but the Durango will be better than ever. This new 2024 Durango full-size SUV promises to be more capable and feature-packed than before, which should entice consumers searching for a large SUV and a familiar name.
Which platform will the new full-size Dodge SUV use?
The Ram DT body-on-frame platform could underpin the new 2024 Dodge Durango. It would allow the SUV to enjoy increased towing capacity, improved cargo space, and more passenger room, Muscle Cars & Trucks reports. If the Durango uses the same powertrain as the Jeep Wagoneer, the tow rating could increase from 8,700 pounds in the current model to 10,000 pounds in the new version.
Will the new Durango use the Hellcat engine?
As much as Dodge loves its Hellcat, the 2023 model year marks the end of this engine. The 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat uses the iconic 6.2-liter supercharged V8 to produce 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels, allowing the SUV to hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. That aggressive power will probably end.
Although we don’t expect to see the Hellcat in future Durango models, here’s what we could anticipate in the new model. Two classic Hemi engines, used in the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, could continue as part of the 2024 Dodge Durango options. These Hemis are the 392-hp 5.7-liter V8 and 471-hp 6.4-liter V8.
Stellantis also has a new 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder called the Hurricane, which should offer more power and better fuel economy than the Hemis. This engine might achieve 500 hp, and it’s expected to see a plug-in hybrid version.
When will the new 2024 Durango come out?
Stellantis hasn’t yet announced a release date for its new full-size Dodge SUV. However, production is expected to start in late 2023. It could mark an exciting generation as the brand breathes new life into the 2024 Dodge Durango.
