PHOTO | DODGE

The 202 Dodge Durango SRT has big-league hauling capacity with the acceleration of 0-to-60 mph in 4.4 seconds.

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Is there a real need to have an SUV that can negotiate a track nearly as well as a race car? No, but if you own a Dodge Durango SRT, why the heck not?

The Durango has been around for a number of years but this is my first experience with the truck. This version, the SRT, comes with a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 that produces 475 horsepower and 470 pounds feet of torque. The engine is coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission that can be shifted like a manual.

Al of these features certainly make the Durango SRT engaging, there’s also settings to make this family hauler into a, well, ass hauler. With the touch of a button the Durango goes into track mode. Dodge says you can hit 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds.

You can check that yourself or test its grip on a skid pad. The transmission has rev matching technology that sends equal amounts of power to all four wheels, but track mode shifts 70 percent of the power to the rear wheels. As if needed, the 4-inch, chrome tipped dual exhaust has sound resonators to give the SRT a distinct sound.

Yep, the Durango feels at home running around like a sports car, but only a fraction of buyers will do any of this stuff more than a couple of times, if not once. Most will appreciate the Durango’s might translates into ridiculous towing capacity - 8,700 pounds. That’s the best in class according to Dodge.

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All should appreciate the Durango SRT’s surprisingly civil ride quality. The suspension is set up for monster track performance but if you bought this for everyday use, that’s OK as well. The Durango offers a very comfortable but firm ride. The suspension soaks up a great deal of the rough stuff before it hits the cabin unless road conditions turn brutal.

The cabin remains fairly quiet but wind and road noise creep in at higher speeds.

Driving dynamics go without saying. The track stuff translates into exceptional cornering and blistering straightaway speeds. The Durango SRT remains poised and confidant regardless how it’s treated. The standard all-wheel-drive system keeps the vehicle tracking straight as well as giving it the ability to go wherever it wants.

The Durango SRT is a handsome beast. My test ride was dressed with matte black 20-inch wheels that allow the high performance brake calipers to be prominently featured.
The vehicle’s silhouette is a standard boxy look that has been smoothed at the edges. A hood scoop gives the front a more menacing look and I think is functional.

The exterior is filled with leather, carbon trim and metal. Seating for seven is standard but there is five-seat package available. It’s a pleasant place to sit. There is tons of space everywhere for people and for stuff. The standard equipment list is long and most of the options boxes are checked.

That brings us to the price. This Durango was loaded to more than $70,000. You can get lesser versions, but they will not be quite as fun. If you are looking for something with muscle to carry the family but can’t justify a Charger or Challenger, the Durango may be in your future.

Pros:

• Beastly power

• Tenacious grip

• Best in class towing

• Room with a view

Cons:

• Price

Email Winfred Cross at [email protected].

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