We have been talking about the possibilities of a high performance Dodge Durango SRT8 sine the newest generation of the SUV debuted a couple years ago but in the long run – does Dodge really need to offer an SRT variant of the Durango or should buyers who want a 470hp sport utility vehicle just stick with the tried and true Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8?
Let’s look at the pros and cons.
It should be pointed out that the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee are based on the same platform and shy of some exterior sheet metal along with some basic design cues – these are the same vehicle. It can be argued that the Durango takes more of a “street SUV” look while the Grand Cherokee is better known for being more of an offroading machine but in the long run, the Durango SRT8 would be very similar in its capabilities to what is already offered on the Jeep SRT8. The company could offer some special suspension or drivetrain tuning to focus more on high performance street use while the Grand Cherokee SRT8 looks to offer high performance in a broader range of locations. But honestly, there is no question that Grand Cherokee SRT8 is one bad ass street machine.
In short, the Durango SRT8 and Grand Cherokee SRT8 would be very similar with the exception of exterior design. Sergio Marchionne has made it clear that he doesn’t love having closely competing vehicles offered by different brands but when you consider the fact that the Dodge Charger SRT8 and Chrysler 300C SRT8 are every bit as similar as the Durango and Grand Cherokee – the idea of the high performance Dodge SUV doesn’t seem quite so outlandish.
Dodge has always been known as more of a high performance brand while the Jeep brand has always been better known for a go anywhere, do anything attitude that has earned many modern Jeep models the term “Trail Rated.” Due to that, the Durango would seem like a better fit in the performance-branded Dodge lineup, but the reputation for being an offroading dream certainly hasn’t stopped Jeep from selling the high performance Grand Cherokee SRT8.
"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.
