Big changes are waiting for the fans of the Durango SUV. After a long time, the FCA is redesigning the mid-size model. Be ready for the all-new 2024 Dodge Durango. That is the only certain thing, but it caused a lot of reasons for speculations. What to expect from the upcoming model?
One theory is the 2024 Dodge Durango is moving to the body-on-frame architecture. For a long time, the SUV shared the platform with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The company doesn’t like the competition within the family. Plus, the FCA doesn’t offer a BoF model.
Since the Grand Cherokee moved on from the platform shared with Durango, it is obviously old and outdated. Durango is definitely not staying with the same architecture. Using the same one as the new Grand Cherokee puts those two at the same relation the FCA wants to avoid.
Finally, the all-new 2024 Durango could be based on the Wagoneer. Well, it is a higher class, so the upcoming model would be a competitor to Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition. It can have the most sense, since the carmaker is missing such a vehicle, with Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer being premium SUVs.
All in all, the upcoming Dodge Durango won’t be the same as before. Spy photos of test mules will help us predict the future. But, the first units won’t be out until the end of this season.
Expectations
Durango is an iconic SUV and one of the few members that still wear the Dodge badge. Trucks are now with the Ram logo, while most other vehicles are discontinued (Colt, Magnum, Nitro, Journey). Many experts predict the same for the SUV, but it still remains in the market as an upscale model. The 2024 Dodge Durango redesign should be the best ad for the new version. A lot of fans are still waiting for big things to happen.
Anyway, even the next-gen version is going to keep the best features. The SRT package is again exclusive for Dodge vehicles, after the cut of the Grand Cherokee SRT and turning it to the Trackhawk edition. Also, the top of the range Durango now features the Hellcat engine, which makes it the most powerful SUV in the market with 710 hp. With the new architecture and improved body structure, this model will deliver even better performance.
2024 Dodge Durango Redesign
The last huge update of the SUV happened in 2011. The third generation of the vehicle is still in production, and it is one of the oldest models in the family. The company is working on a new SUV and the 2024 Dodge Durango redesign is unavoidable. If the FCA misses on that, they can shut down the production of this vehicle.
First of all, there are styling issues. Fans and buyers are bored of the look and they always look for something fresh. The new Durango will deliver it through the redesign. Plus, the interior needs to become sharp again. The three-row SUV offers plenty of space. If designers turn it into a full-size model, it can solve the biggest issue – the room in the third row. Of course, the redesign will also take care of the safety issues. Staying on the unibody platform is better in this case, since such an architecture is safer. The entire body is soaking power from the hit, while the frame ladder and body are separated in the BoF structure.
Engines, Specs, Hellcat Model
The base version of the 2024 Dodge Durango should stick to the 3.6-liter V6 drivetrain and around 300 horsepower. Unless it becomes a full-size SUV. Then, a six-cylinder unit is going to be dropped and a V8 becomes the entry-level option. FCA doesn’t lack choices here. Durango is already using a 5.7-liter V8 plant for some configurations. This engine is ready to deliver 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The highlight of the SRT package was a 6.4-liter mill with 475 horsepower. It was one of the most powerful mid-size SUVs in the market. But, with the Hellcat engine, it became the most potent SUV overall. The 6.2-liter supercharged V8 mill can produce 710 horsepower, 3 hp more than for the Grand Cherokee. This engine helps Durango achieve a stunning time in the 0-60 mph run – 3.4 seconds.
2024 Dodge Durango Release Date and Price Update
The 2024 Dodge Durango is still under development. The redesign will need some time, especially with huge platform changes on the way. Nevertheless, it will be worth waiting for. The first official news should be out by the end of 2022 and the test mules are about to start rolling early in 2023. The company is definitely updating the price of the 2024 Durango. If the SUV becomes a full-size model, the base MSRP won’t be under $50,000. The Hellcat SRT will definitely enter the six-digit realm. Even if Durango stays in the mid-size world, the starting price will be about 10 percent higher than it is now.