- Originating in the 2011 model year, this generation of the Dodge Durango is one of the oldest new cars in the U.S.
- Production of a long-overdue next-generation Dodge Durango will reportedly begin in 2029.
- A $130 million investment from Stellantis is underway to retool a Michigan factory for the new Durango
The Dodge Durango in its current form has been a mainstay of the Dodge lineup for 15 years. It first came out for the 2011 model year, when the Dodge Caliber, Avenger, and Nitro still roamed the Earth, got some exterior and interior tweaks since then, but hasn’t changed a whole lot in recent years beyond aesthetic options and stronger V8 engines.
Now, according to an Automotive News interview with Dodge CEO Matt McAlear, a next-generation Dodge Durango is finally coming with production starting in 2029. That would make today’s Durango voting age by the time it’s replaced.
The Family Muscle Car
“Durango continues to do extremely well for us, as we have positioned that properly in the marketplace, really focused in on the V8s and offering consumers something they can’t get from any other vehicle in that segment,” McAlear told Automotive News. Indeed, we’ve consistently praised the Durango for offering something uniquely muscular in a class of tame and family-friendly midsize 3-row SUVs. With three V8 options, including the 710-hp Hellcat Jailbreak model, none of its rivals come close to the Durango’s level of performance. Its reputation as a muscle car with seven seats remains accurate.
But no matter how much horsepower Stellantis puts in the Durango, there’s no getting around its age. Its interior design and technology are decidedly dated compared to those of its competitors, all of which have had more recent redesigns than the Dodge. That’s where the next-generation Durango comes in. McAlear has assured that the next-gen model will “carry that recipe forward.” We can expect the next-gen Durango to retain its balance of practicality and muscle, but in a more modern package.
‘More Evolutionary‘
“Don’t look for anything revolutionary, let’s say more evolutionary, in design,” McAlear said. “It’s something that we aim to recreate and hold that special essence of what has made it such a good vehicle for so long.”
Production of the new Durango will continue at the Detroit Assembly Complex-Jefferson plant, which has built the Jeep Grand Cherokee since 1993 and the Dodge Durango since its current generation came out in 2011. Stellantis is investing $130 million in this factory. As a reminder, the 3-row Jeep Grand Cherokee L debuted in 2021, and it had a V8 option when it first came out. It’s conceivable that the next Durango will be a mechanical relative of today’s Grand Cherokee L, but with a greater focus on on-road performance rather than off-road capability.
