The 2021 Dodge Durango isn’t the highest-rated SUV. It has collected several average rankings and is noticed mainly for its powerful, optional V8 engine. It did win one important award, though, receiving the 2021 Vincentric Best Value in America award. Here’s what the 2021 Dodge Durango has to offer.

The 2021 Dodge Durango won a best value award

Vincentric awarded its 2021 Vincentric Best Value in America award for the large SUV/crossover segment to the 2021 Dodge Durango. The company points out that “having the lowest depreciation and operating costs in its class helped the Durango take top honors.” The 2021 Durango comes in 3.1 percent below the expected ownership costs for its segment. The ownership costs are calculated for each trim level at the annual mileages of 10,000, 15,000, and 20,000. The model year costs are determined by averaging all trim levels’ costs.

What Vincentric is

Vincentric is a company that analyzes the various aspects of owning a vehicle for the automotive industry. It has built a database of the costs of owning and operating vehicles and the impact those costs have on value. Vincentric explains that it looks at the costs related to “depreciation, insurance, repairs, maintenance (scheduled and unscheduled), finance, fuel, taxes and state fees (including the federal hybrid tax credit), and opportunity costs” across more than 3,000 different vehicle configurations. This comes up with its “measured” cost of ownership for each vehicle like the Dodge Durango.

Comparing the vehicles within their segments helps come up with the “expected” cost of ownership by looking at the cost of ownership along with the price for that type of vehicle. Vehicles that have a lower cost of ownership for their market price have the best value.

The 2021 Dodge Durango

The 2021 Dodge Durango is a midsize three-row SUV that can seat up to seven if buyers opt to pay for the third row, says Car and Driver. The third row is optional in the base trim and standard in higher trim levels. The Durango hasn’t been fully redesigned since 2011, so the design isn’t the most modern or full of features.

The 2021 Durango doesn’t stand out for its comfort or driver assistance features, but its engine options give it “machismo,” says Car and Driver. Unlike other SUVs in its class, which have a four-cylinder or V6 engine, the Durango has a standard 295-hp V6 engine and an optional 360-hp Hemi V8 engine. U.S. News describes that engine as “ludicrous.”

The V8 engine also gives the Durango good towing abilities too, up to 8,700 pounds. U.S. News doesn’t love the Durango’s handling, though. The more powerful engines do mean that the Durango’s fuel efficiency isn’t as good as its smaller-engine competitors.

Lower trims have an 8.4-inch infotainment screen, while higher trims have an optional or standard 10.1-inch screen, depending on the trim. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is standard on all trim levels. New for 2021 is the available wireless charging along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2021 Durango comes standard with a rearview camera. It has several available advanced safety features, including automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, automatic high-beam headlights, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The Durango doesn’t have top crash test results since its test results were a bit mixed.

While the 2021 Dodge Durango is great for power and towing, it doesn’t generally win all the awards in its segments. However, it has earned the 2021 Vincentric Best Value in America award in the large SUV/crossover segment thanks to its low depreciation and low operating costs.