I like big things. Big houses, big guitars, big cups of coffee, big screens, big ideas, big engines.
My Durango SRT Hellcat’s engine qualified as a certified “big thing” with its 6.2 litre Supercharged Hemi V8 engine which, repeatedly, propelled me from 0-60 MPH in 3.6 seconds, more or less, accompanied by aural exclamations points.
It’s the most powerful SUV on the planet with 710 horsepower. Giddyap.
This 7-seat family vehicle could double as Godzilla engine-wise, although I'm betting that dinosaur got more than the 13 or so combined city/highway miles to the gallon I got during my week up the mountains, on the streets and around town. I went from a full tank down t0 1/4 in two days. Couldn’t help it. You can’t have this ride and not drive it, and you can’t drive it without gunning it. It’s almost a ritual, getting in the driver’s seat, sparking it up and listening to that furnace. The mystics call it a “mindfulness moment.”
The Hellcat has more going for it than the roar, though. My tester had the plushest leather seats this side of the lobby of a Ritz-Carlton, and what a pleasure it was rolling slowly up Main Street or through neighborhoods during a 103-degree heat wave, windows up and air conditioner blasting, feeling like a boss. No matter what else happens that day, a ride in the SRT Hellcat will get you feeling powerful, on-top, on-point and back to your old self.
Despite its heft, its handling is ever-so-sharp, meaning parking, K-turns and similar were a snap. Curiously, it was less crispy at speed, more like a regular Durango. The engine’s also good for something besides power, noise and thirst - you can tow up to 8,700 pounds.
Lookswise, its best angle is from the front, with its low stance, angry-looking visage and bulging hood. From the rear, I found it surprisingly bland and generic. It didn't help that my test vehicle was grey. My key fob was blood red. That's a step in the right direction; I just wish the test car would have been red as well, to match its ferocity.
You get around on a specially-tuned suspension with adaptive dampers and 20-inch-by-10-inch wheels. Upgraded Pirelli P Zero three-season tires smooth the journey. A mighty Brembo brake system utilizes 15.75-inch front rotors with six-piston calipers, and 13.8-inch rear discs with four-piston binders. That means when you want to stop, there isn’t any pussyfooting - you stop.
Top listed speed is 180 MPH, but you won't be doing that, not even close, although it would be great fun to try on, say, a racetrack or airplane field.
Inside, the Hellcat Durango has a smartly laid-out configuration similar to Dodge’s famous Charger and Challenger. It’s especially pleasing at night, with a plethora of lights in front of you. The available 19-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system is high-quality, although the layout of the SiriusXM Satellite system is weird – you get these tiny icons showing what station is what, horizontally, but they are barely visible, and you have to s-l-o-w-l-y scroll to get from, say, the 70s station (#7) to get to a comedy station (#95) for example. Sigh. Sometimes I think the guys who design these stock car audio systems don’t like music and don’t understand how much of a hurry some people are in to crank up the tunes, quickly.
Your Hellcat comes standard with heated and ventilated seats and nappa leather upholstery, including microsuede inserts on the front cushions. Your cabin can also be upgraded with Laguna leather that comes in a black and Demonic Red color scheme with embossed Hellcat logos. (Demonic red – yes!) The Durango can also be equipped with a rear entertainment system that features a pair of 9.0-inch screens mounted on the back of the front seats.
Safety and driver-assistance features include standard rear automated emergency braking, standard automatic high-beam headlights, available front automated emergency braking, and more. Your Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 mile, the Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles, and there is no complimentary scheduled maintenance, perhaps because the company knows you're not going to drive this vehicle like Grandma on her way to church.
The initial run was 2,000 but as they quickly sold out, Dodge made a few more. But this is it, pal - they’re not making any more.
Check out more info here. If you can lay your hands on one of these and you've got the cash, it'll deliver everything you expect from reading reviews and watching videos, and that’s a great thing.
Although whoever called this ride the “Hellcat” obviously never met my ex-girlfriend.
