This week I have the 2018 Durango SRT. It is a performance SUV that has me very excited to drive.
The base Durango offers everything that a family could need and it impressed me when I drove it a few years ago. Spacious, comfortable and overall a good driving vehicle. With seating for seven, the base model is a sport utility vehicle that its perfect for a lot of family’s.
This is one good looking SUV.
The SRT designation is one of those things that no body actually needs. It feeds your ego. And it fulfills my desire to have something sporty and completely bad ass.
The last twelve months I have changed my life and adopted a more minimalist lifestyle. Getting rid of all the crap. Putting a lot more thought into the things that I choose to spend my money on. Choosing to buy things that bring me joy.
Buying a 29 foot travel trailer that has a big bed, open kitchen and a spacious bathroom. What more do I need? The intention is to make this small space home. Making sure that I have what is important for me to make this work.
A minimalist lifestyle doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t have nice stuff. For me, I have very nice things, I just have a lot less of them. When I think of a vehicle like this 2018 Durango SRT, it makes my heart smile. It fills the basic need of towing my trailer; but there is so much more to it.
Buying a travel trailer means also needing a vehicle to tow it. Without a vehicle to pull it, the idea of a house on wheels is kind of pointless.
As an automotive journalist, I have access to all kinds of different vehicles. The last eleven years I have had no need to own my own. I am in a different one every week, 52 weeks out of the year. I see no reason to purchase a car that I would rarely use. No reason to pay extra costs on something that I wouldn’t use.
Moving into my RV full time and taking it out on a lot of adventures, this might have to change. I finally see a time in my life that I might need to have a vehicle of my own. I am beyond grateful for my job. My intention for the next year or so is to book different vehicles that are capable of towing my trailer. Take road trips and adventures while evaluating the capabilities of these vehicles along the way.
The ultimate test drive!
I have never been a fan of trucks. Over the last ten years in my job they were never something that I got excited about driving. They always feel so overbearing and aggressive. Since getting my trailer I have driven the big three pick-up trucks. Ford, Dodge and GMC. They do the job. However, I still wouldn’t use the word excite when I get behind the wheel of any of them.
Don’t worry – I am putting together a separate blog to evaluate all of them.
Looks good no matter what angle.
When I booked the 2018 Durango SRT a couple months ago I did all the research to make sure that this beast was able to tow my RV. The capability and numbers are more than enough. This SUV offers best in class towing with its standard 3.70 rear axel ratio and trailer tow package. Rated to pull up to 8700lbs. My trailer fully loaded weighs in at 6630lb.
It is just me and Jasper so I don’t need to worry about much more additional weight. Our travels are me, him and a cooler of food inside the truck.
After my disappointment with the Infinit QX80 not having a trailer brake controller, I was diligent when researching this Durango.
It broke my heart to find out that despite these impressive numbers on the Durango it also lacks an electronic trailer brake controller. This is something that completely baffles me.
Company execs described this new 2018 Durango SRT as a ‘trailer-hauling, three-row muscle car.” Yet a small, inexpensive piece of technology needed for towing – is missing.
After a description like that, paired to a price tag close to $70,00 (if you add on the features for this beast to tow.) I am shocked that it doesn’t come standard, let alone is it available as an option.
It is important to point out that it is not needed to tow and it is not an expensive aftermarket item to buy. Depending on the weight of your trailer, it might be required but that varies slightly from province to province.
An integrated trailer brake controls improves safety when towing. It synchronizes the brakes to ensure better stopping ability. And I am not willing to compromise my safety. To purchase one, it is usually specific to a brand or vehicle and they are easily installed. Since I don’t own this SUV and only get if for a week. It makes no sense for me to go out and purchase one.
Towing in an SUV instead of a truck is something that people don’t often think of. Visit any RV park and about 80% of the vehicles are pick up trucks. In fact, several of you on social media outright told me that the 2018 Durango SRT can not tow my trailer.
As you read above, this SRT is more than capable. But with no electronic trailer brake, I am not going to test it in this capacity.
I could have told FCA to cancel my booking, but I just couldn’t. A vehicle with the SRT classification something that a lot of people aspire to own. It is a trailer hauling three row muscle car; how do you say no that? This is a vehicle that no one really needs. But, damn, is it high on my list of vehicles that I want.
But the SRT designation is one of those things that no body actually needs. It feeds your ego and desire to have something sporty. I can say without any hesitation – I am excited to get behind the wheel of this vehicle.
The trailer is parked for the week. I won’t get to enjoy the hauling aspect, but I am looking forward to using this three-row muscle car for other adventures.
As a single woman with no kids; seating really is non issue. I prefer to have an SUV over a truck so I can keep things inside out of the elements. Jaspers dog kennel, suitcase to the airport and trips to IKEA are all that I need space for. The seats all fold flat to provide ample storage for people, things and pets.
Under the hood is a 6.4L V8 hemi that puts out an impressive 475hp and 470lb-ft of torque. This SUV can make the run to 100km in just 4.5 seconds. It growls just the right amount under hard acceleration yet is still impressively smooth. To refer to this SUV as a muscle car is surprisingly accurate. In a quarter mile run, the 2018 Durango SRT can complete it in 12.9 seconds. That makes it only 3.3 seconds slower than the Challenger Demon. That is 3.3 seconds slower than the fastest quarter mile production car on the planet.
Maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised. FCA (Fiat Chrysler Auto) has also put the SRT DNA into the Jeep Grand Cherokee with great success.
Equipped with a Bilstein adaptive damping suspension system it is easy to choose how firm or soft you want the ride to be. Floating over bumps in the road connects with my desire to have something lavish. While the stiffer ride feeds my need for speed. It is the rigid unibody that also helps give the Durango SRT sports car-like reflexes.
This thing has the looks to match what’s under its hood. Muscular stance and chiseled in all the right places.
A gorgeous looking interior.
Though the engine and exterior look aggressive. The interior is a beautiful balance of race car feel and high end finishes. Leather and sued sport seats that both look and feel fantastic. The perfect amount of carbon-fiber trim. Just enough to remind you of its muscle car abilities.
Inside and out. I think this is the best looking in the bunch. The Range Rover sport has a more modern interior but might be a bit much for some. I would say that the RR Sport would be the top competitor for the 2018 Durango SRT. However, it can only tow 7,600lbs and it starts at close to $80,000.
Fuel economy goes out the window when you start to tow. However, this engine comes with FuelSaver Technology that deactivates cylinders when you don’t need them. Official posted numbers are 18.3 and 12.2L/ 100km on city and highway driving. With no towing and mostly normal driving on both city and highway roads and only a few moments of heavy pedal aggressive testing, I finished my week with 13.6L/100km.
The only small complaint I have, is one that is to be expected. Feeling a bit top heavy in corners because of its high ride height.
Never would I have imagined that a beast like this could be this fun to drive. And let’s be honest, there is absolutely zero need for this kind of impressive power, noise or performance. But damn is it something that put a huge smile on my face and and flutter in my heart every time I turn on the ignition.
The 2018 Durango SRT delivers sleek driving dynamics without any drama. It doesn’t have the brand prestige as some of the luxury competitors like Lexus, BMW and Land Rover. But the Street Racing DNA alone going to attract a lot of people.
This SRT is the ultimate Durango. You get all the practical needs met for your family outings. And it fills the rest of your hearts desires with its muscle car attitude.
If I want to do more traveling with my RV, purchasing a vehicle of my own is now on my radar. The trucks have done a fine job of moving from point A to B with very little complaints. However, this Durango SRT can do that AND get me excited to be behind the wheel.
As I finished writing this blog I have learned some good news for 2019! Along with some design and tech updates, next model year will have an integrated trailer brake. Buyers will have to add on the Trailer Tow Package available on every trim, not just the SRT. The package includes a heavy-duty engine cooler, class IV hitch receiver, brake switch, a four- or seven-pin wiring harness, load-leveling shocks and a spare tire. I know what I am going to booking for a test drive next year!
