The EPA has announced the official fuel economy ratings for the refreshed 2014 Dodge Durango with the new 8-speed automatic transmission and thanks to this new gearbox – the 2014 Durango is now the most efficient base V6 and V8 option in the full size SUV segment. Most importantly, the 2014 Durango is more efficient than the Chevrolet Traverse and the Ford Explorer in similar trimlines while also offering the most power with the 5.7L Hemi.
First off, the 2014 Dodge Durango powered by the 5.7L Hemi V8 and the 8-speed automatic transmission in a rear drive configuration offers 14 miles per gallon around town, 23mpg on the highway and a combined figure of 17mpg. The Chevrolet Equinox is not offered with a premium engine option and the Ford Explorer – which makes use of the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 for its premium engine – is not offered in anything but all wheel drive so the RWD, Hemi-powered 2014 Durango is in a league of its own among the top American large SUVs.
The 2014 Durango when fitted with the Hemi and all wheel drive offers 14mpg around town, 22 on the highway and 16 combined and while the combined and city numbers are below that of the Ford Explorer Sport with the EcoBoost engine – the Hemi AWD Durango offers the same 22mpg as the EcoBoosted Explorer.
When you get to the higher volume but less powerful models, the 2014 Dodge Durango really shines over the competition. The rear wheel drive Pentastar-powered Durango with the new 8-speed transmission offers 18mpg in the city, 25mpg on the highway and 20mpg combined – the Durango beats the base V6 Explorer and the Traverse in every category. This makes the Durango the most fuel efficient non-hybrid large SUV on the market today while also packing more power than the competition. Adding all wheel drive knocks the Durango MPGs down a bit to figures of 17 around town, 24 on the highway and 19 combined. The base Explorer with AWD also offers the same city and combined fuel economy but the Dodge offers 1mpg better on the highway and when compared to the AWD Traverse – the Durango leads in every category.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
