A sleek silhouette, powerful V8 engines, and an imposing size—the Dodge Durango is the last remnant of what the Dodge brand once was. However, the American automaker’s large SUV has been on the market since 2010, which is practically an eternity in the automotive industry. To give you some perspective, in 2010, some cars still came standard with cassette players.
The good news is that Stellantis appears ready to introduce a fourth generation of the Durango. Indeed, the group confirmed earlier this week that there will indeed be a follow-up to its SUV and that it will be assembled alongside the Grand Cherokee in Detroit, rather than in Windsor as initially planned. Overall, this is fairly good news. However, no specific details have been confirmed, and we don’t yet know exactly when the next generation will be unveiled.
A Muscular SUV
The first generation of the Durango hit the market in 1998 and immediately won over the public. This was largely due to the fact that it was built on the same platform as the Dakota pickup truck at the time, making it a very rugged and surprisingly capable off-road vehicle.
The second generation arrived in 2006 with a completely different look. This time, it was closer in size to a full-size pickup truck. Like its predecessor, this new Durango offered a range of V6 and V8 engines, much to the delight of its audience.
In 2010, the third generation was introduced—the same one still on the market today. Ironically, it took several years for the Durango to gain popularity. Dodge eventually realized that buyers wanted big V8s, so they delivered with the R/T, 392, and Hellcat versions.
Still Hope
If we had had this same conversation six months ago, I would have told you that the next generation of the Durango would undoubtedly share its mechanical foundation with the new Charger. However, Stellantis has significantly changed its stance since the departure of its former CEO. The Hemi V8, which was previously set to be phased out, is now part of the group’s future strategy—an excellent development. Needless to say, we are eager to learn more about the next generation of the Durango.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
