Picture this: you’re young and fearless. You’re revving up your Dodge Challenger’s engine at the red light, and even though the grandmother in the car beside you doesn’t want to race, you feel like you’re on top of the world. It feels like only yesterday, but now, you’re middle-aged with two kids, three dogs, and a white picket-fenced yard. Inevitably, adulthood came, and you had to hang up the adventure hat, settling down into the world of practicality—until you happened to come across a new Dodge Durango for sale. Yep, believe it or not, you can revive the past while still being a responsible parent! Look away from that boring minivan lineup and turn your eye toward the 2022 Dodge Durango SRT 392 in all its glory.
The Dodge Durango first debuted back in 1998, and it pretty much looked like an SUV version of the Dodge Ram. That comparison was also true for performance since the Durango could keep up with the Ram when it came to towing capacity ratings. The SUV/truck relation was to be expected at the time, but as Ram went its separate way, Dodge decided to ditch the truck platform and go for a sportier build. The Durango’s current design was introduced in 2011 with the unveiling of the third generation. The leading Durango trim, the 2022 SRT 392, offers specs that are comparable to its speedy cousins, the Charger and the Challenger, while still offering third-row seating and up to 2,410L of cargo space. Score!
What makes the SRT 392 stand out from the rest of the Dodge Durango lineup? Why a massively powerful engine, of course! Quite frankly, all the Durango trim levels stand out from traditional three-row SUVs. They’ve got a luxurious interior design, they’re nice to look at and come with a plethora of appearance packages and accessories, and they’re powerful no matter which engine you go with. That said, nothing quite tops the SRT 392’s large HEMI V8 engine. Let’s take a closer look at why this Dodge model can ease your conscience and satisfy your lead foot.
High-End Performance for All Adventures
It’s probably not a good idea to go from zero to 100 km/h in under five seconds if the kids are in the car. But thanks to the powerful 6.4L HEMI V8 engine and 475 hp, your acceleration level really is that powerful. When you do decide to test the Durango SRT 392’s massively powerful engine (safely and securely, of course), you can depend on Brembo six-piston front brakes and four-piston rear brakes for a reliably jolting stop.
It’s not all about power, though—after all, you are looking for a fun and family-friendly SUV. The good news is that you can tow up to 3,946 kg, making the SRT 392 ideal for towing small campers, pontoon boats, kayak-loaded trailers, and more. You can even haul the ATVs and UTVs to the trails if you want. This best-in-class tow rating plus AWD capability for rough backroads and snow days make the 2022 Dodge Durango SRT 392 the ideal, fun family vehicle.
A Flexible and Stylish Interior
Seating for seven, please? Third-row seating is standard on this model. In addition to offering seven seats, the 2022 Durango SRT 392 includes over 50 different seating configurations, meaning you have full control over your space. Whether you need more cargo room, more passenger space, or an even balance of both, the choice is yours—and you can rearrange it all at your own convenience. Our two favourite cargo perks are the split-folding third-row seating and the fold-and-tumble second-row. These two features make it easy to lower the third row and fold down the second row when needed. Even when you have all three rows loaded up, you’ll still have 490L of cargo space to play around with.
Let’s not leave out the fact that this model’s interior is sleek and sporty. Its design looks like a mix between luxury-level detail and a flashy sports car. Plus, you have paddle shifters to really liven up your driving experience. Don’t worry, though––those shifters don’t mean you have to shift manually. You still get that nice automatic eight-speed that all practical adults have grown to know and love—but when you want more control, it’s all right there at your fingertips. The 18 cm instrument display is dial-heavy, like most sporty drivers prefer, while still providing a modern setup that keeps it from looking dated. You can view everything from fuel economy stats and warnings to coordinates and the current outside temperature.
Since the Durango comes with third-row seating, the front seat controls can seem pretty far out of reach for passengers in the rear. However, the SRT 392’s occupants get equal treatment thanks to the second-row center control. This section houses climate control vents, USB ports, a 115-volt outlet, and even heated seating with controls. You won’t have to worry about hearing, “Mom, turn down the heat!” or “Dad, I’m freezing!” ever again—well, at least not when you’re on the road.
Plenty of Safety and Technology Features
The 2022 Dodge Durango SRT 392 offers everything you need to keep the family safe and entertained. The standard safety features include Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Path Detection, and more. Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking can notify you when a front-end collision is likely and automatically apply the brakes when you don’t get to it quickly enough. It will also help enhance your own braking. Blind Spot Monitoring, of course, notifies you if something is in your blind spot in multi-lane traffic, while Rear Cross Path Detection makes it much easier to back out of parking spots safely.
One of our favourite standard safety features is All-Speed Traction Control with Electronic Stability Control, which helps eliminate the downsides of owning a powerful vehicle. This built-in traction system monitors your actions and driving conditions to help prevent losing control. The Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers are handy as well and will automatically activate when the rain starts and can adjust speed according to its intensity.
Tech is important when you’ve got passengers, but it’s also nice to have some convenience features when you’re in the driver’s seat. The new Durango SRT 392 offers a standard Uconnect 5 infotainment hub for all your technology needs, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, and built-in navigation. Its 26 cm screen makes it easy to see and convenient for the front passenger to control while you focus on the drive ahead. When you’re on your own, you can depend on Uconnect’s Voice Command feature to control all your important tech features without taking your eyes off the road.
It Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This
Now you know the truth. You don’t have to sacrifice a little fun just because you’re all grown up. That fact can be difficult to remember, considering how there aren’t many vehicles like the 2022 Dodge Durango SRT 392 on the market—in fact, we can’t think of any other models that offer what this one does. Most three-row SUVs are boring, to put it nicely, while sports cars are too small and cramped to act as the family commuter. The Durango SRT 392 is definitely a game-changer. Whether you already own one and are looking for some validation or you’re rushing out the door to the nearest CDJR dealership, we wish you and your new Durango decades of adventure-filled memories.
