With a 0-60 mph of 3.5 seconds, a quarter mile time of 11.5 seconds, a top speed of 180 mph, and six seats, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat 2021 is in a class of one.
Sure, the Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS 63 is about as fast despite 107 fewer horses, but it costs $ 51,710 more and that’s ahead of options.
With all its strength, torque, fire and anger, this three-row, six-seater family tractor is one of the fastest ways to get the whole family to the holiday home. But it’ll be rare, it’s really thirsty, it’s borderline ridiculously expensive for a Durango, and essential safety technologies like automatic emergency braking aren’t standard, which it should take into account given its terrible crash test ratings.
I spent a week running errands, taking the kids to activities, and taking the family to north west Minnesota for some time by the lake to find out where the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat hits and misses in 2021.
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Hit: The thing rips
The Durango Hellcat uses the iconic 6.2-liter, supercharged V8 engine that produces 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque, and Dodge says it can snap from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. I’ve done multiple runs from 0-60 mph without playing with the start control and posted multiple 3.6 second times according to the on-board electronics. Is this speed necessary for a three-row family tractor? Not even a little, but, oh, it’s satisfying.
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Miss: Don’t drink responsibly
The Durango Hellcat drinks like a college kid at a party after the final week. It’s charged by EPA fuel economy ratings of 12 mpg city, 17 highway, and 13 combined. Those numbers are optimistic given the temptation to hit the gas pedal. I averaged 12.5 mpg on about 100 miles of mixed suburban and freeway travel, then averaged 15.5 mpg on a 444 mile freeway trip according to the on-board computer. This is bad, and it will cost even more because the Durango Hellcat requires 91 octane.
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Hit and Miss: hilarious
The Dodge Durango SRT is loud. The Durango Hellcat gets even louder thanks to a 10.2-inch X-pipe that leads into resonators the size of a bean can. From a cold start to full throttle and everything in between, the Durango Hellcat wants the neighborhood to know that it is nearby.
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
On the one hand, this sound is great. The purely American exhaust note is deep and bubbly. The 2.4-liter compressor howls loudly at moderate acceleration and always warns you of its presence.
On the other hand, a family road trip turned into a game of questions: “Who is the first to complain about the exhaust noise? The winner was my wife and it only took 45 minutes. With partial load actuation from 1,500 rpm to approx. 1,800 rpm, the V-8 gives off a resonance, which can be annoying, however. It can also vibrate in the cup holder, which is particularly annoying with keys. Your family and neighbors may not appreciate the Durango Hellcat.
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Hit: when you know you know
The Durango Hellcat looks angry with its ventilated hood, front spoiler, big wheels and wide tires. My tester’s gunmetal racing stripes made it look even more classy. But all V-8 powered Durangos have a similar appearance. The four outer Hellcat badges – one in the grille, one on the tailgate, and one on each front fender – are hard to see when blasting the highway, so this thing just looks like another Destroyer Gray Durango along the way. It’s something of a sleeper.
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Hit: Comfortable for the whole family
Thanks to their thick upholstery, the SRT-specific front seats offer much more support than the fixed seats in the standard models. The captain’s chairs in the second row and folding third row are not modified for SRT Hellcat service other than synthetic suede inserts, but they are comfortable and prevent the occupants from sliding around thanks to this suede. Despite the Durango’s age – the current model was introduced for the 2011 model year – the third row is adult-friendly. At 5 ft-10, I fit comfortably
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Miss: How much does it cost?
The 2021 Dodge Durango will cost $ 33,260. The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat costs almost three times as much at $ 82,490. My tester’s sticker price was $ 89,665 thanks to a $ 2,395 Technology Group package that included active safety features including automatic emergency braking (which should be standard on the base, let alone top of the line), a $ 2,495 Premium Interior Group package with a synthetic suede headliner and added a leather-wrapped dash with forged carbon trim and those $ 1,195 racing stripes. At nearly $ 90,000, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is astonishingly expensive. On the other hand, only 3,000 are made – that is 1,000 more than originally stated – and that makes the 710hp crossover less common than the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. Rarity doesn’t come cheap.
The Durango with compressor can carry six people surprisingly comfortably and gloomy. It’s the most practical of the Hellcat, but the insatiable thirst for premium fuel and a luxury vehicle price make it impractical for most families. However, it’s extremely rare, incredibly fast, has useful space, and provides numbers that no other vehicle can match. It’s a shame it won’t return in 2022.
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2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Base price: $ 82,490
Price as tested: $ 89,665
EPA fuel consumption: 12/17/13 mpg
The hits: Lightning fast, flies under the radar, convenient for the whole family, loud
The missing: Devours gasoline, almost three times the price of a basic Durango, loudly
