I apologize in advance. This week I bring you an amazing SUV that you cannot purchase…the 2021 Dodge Durango Hellcat. Dodge is only making 2000 of these and they’ve all been spoken for.
Let’s cut to the chase and get right to the power train. This 3-row family SUV has a massive 6.2-liter Supercharged Hemi V8 that is putting out 710-horses and 645-pound feet of torque, numbers that are amazing, especially in an SUV.
The huge engine is mated to an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system that can shift 70% of the power to the rear wheels.
This SUV will take you from 0-to-60 in 3.5 seconds and will tow an incredible 8700 pounds. Top speed is 180 miles per hour. Nuts, right?
The 2021 Durango is refreshed in the front and rear, and it is what I call a sleeper. Unless you know the Hellcat emblem on the front fenders, you’ll think you are seeing a normal SUV, but there is absolutely nothing normal about it.
Inside you find incredibly comfortable stitched and bolstered Alcantara front power seats with the SRT logo embroidered into them.
I love the flat-bottomed steering wheel with controls. You can operate the driver info center from there, and the gauge cluster is colorful and easy to read, and as it should be in this vehicle, red.
The center console is comfortable for your arm and there are two USB ports and an easy-to-use cell phone charger.
Center dash is the Uconnect version 5 10.1” touchscreen that is quick and so simple to operate, one of the best systems I have reviewed.
There are a ton of apps you can choose from, there are wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, real-time traffic and weather, an Alpine stereo system, HD radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
You have to explore the SRT pages, which will let you configure this incredible SUV the way you want it. There are timers, G-Force monitoring, and a host of gauges. On a side note, we had an icy day in DFW, and the snow mode made this SUV incredibly maneuverable on the slick roads I encountered. I was duly impressed.
There are shortcuts under the air conditioning controls to get to the SRT pages, and also to go into Launch Mode, which is a pure rush of adrenaline. Just follow the instructions on the dash and hold the brake and gas pedal to the floor, let the brake go and hold on for dear life. I can’t describe how fun that is adequately.
There are captain’s chairs for the second row, tons of headroom, and there are USB ports, a power outlet, and air conditioning vents for the second-row occupants.
Third row seat room is surprisingly roomy and two adults will be comfortable back there. Cargo area behind the 3rd row seat is also large, and there is a nice storage area under the floor.
This SUV is loaded with safety features including brake assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot warning.
Standard features include remote start, power liftgate, heated and cooled front seats, Brembo brakes, and a backup camera with cross-traffic alert.
In summary, the Durango Hellcat is just amazing. It is a super nice 3-row SUV, yet it is also an incredible performance vehicle. I’ve loved every Charger and Challenger Hellcat I’ve reviewed, but this vehicle makes the most sense of them all.
If you are worried about fuel economy, just know it sucks. 12 city, 17 highway for a combined 13 overall, but if you drive like I do, expect 10 or so.
MSRP is $90,315 and honestly, that is a bargain for those who were lucky enough to get an order in on one of these.
Strong statement here: The 2021 Durango Hellcat is the most incredible SUV I’ve ever reviewed, and I’ve had some great ones, including some that cost three times this amount of money.