Ram 1500 TRX Vs Durango Hellcat: Which Supercharged Hauler is Right for You?
Durango Hellcat is lighter and quicker, but the Ram 1500 TRX packs way more “wow factor.”
You are probably reading the title and wondering why anyone would compare the Ram 1500 TRX to the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, but in the various modern Mopar social media communities, this is a pretty common discussion point. The used values for Dodge Hellcat cars is sky-high right now, leading many Challenger and Charger owners to sell and look at new models. Two of the hottest vehicles in the performance world are the Ram 1500 TRX and the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, both of which pack supercharged Hemi power, but they are obviously two very different vehicles.
The Ram 1500 TRX is the quickest, fastest, most powerful and most capable off-road performance truck ever. The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is the quickest and most powerful gas-powered SUV in the world, but unlike the TRX, the Durango is not intended for off-road use at all. It is a low-slung vehicle with tires designed for gripping pavement, whereas the TRX comes with monstrous off-road tires. Aside from the drivetrains, these two vehicles are completely different and, in most cases, a buyer wouldn’t be cross-shopping the TRX against the Hellcat SUV. However, Mopar lovers who want something more functional than a Challenger or Charger will surely find themselves looking at these two Hellcat-powered machines, wondering which is right for them.
Fortunately, we have spent extensive amounts of time behind the wheel of both the Ram 1500 TRX and the Durango SRT Hellcat, so we can provide some input on which might better fit your needs.
Off-Road or On?
Before getting into how these two vehicles different in terms of road manners, we should make it crystal clear that anyone who wants to do any off-roading of any kind that should pick the Ram 1500 TRX and never look back. Even if you spend time on rougher, unpaved roads, the TRX is the easy choice. The TRX is made to handle the roughest paths that Mother Nature can create, so rough public roads are breeze and in terms of actual off-roading, the TRX is unbeatable in the factory-stock world.
We drove the Durango Hellcat on a rough, unpaved road and it did just fine, but for a vehicle that sits so low to the ground, it was nerve-racking to navigate around some deep ruts and potholes in the mud. Also, the tires are not intended for off-road use, so they don’t handle muddy roads very well.
If you spend any time driving on dirt, get the TRX. You will not regret it. If you spend all of your time in paved roads, read on for more information.
TRX Vs Hellcat Daily Driving
While these two vehicles are both extreme, high performance machines, they are surprisingly civilized in normal driving situations. Just like the Dodge Hellcat cars, the supercharged Durango and the TRX function just as smoothly as any other trim level in their lineups when being driven “gently” on the road. Sure, they both have the whine of the supercharger under even light acceleration and the exhaust note is unmistakable, but when some 700-horsepower vehicles are erratic in situations like dense traffic, the highest performance Ram 1500 and Durango are unaffected. Some people question whether vehicles like these can really serve as daily drivers in every condition and the answer to that is a resounding “yes.”
The next key concern is whether or not these two vehicles are comfortable for the daily drive, in terms of driving dynamics. The Durango Hellcat has one of the stiffest suspension setups of any SUV, but thanks to the adaptive Bilstein dampers, you can pick a setting that offers smoother ride quality. At the same time, the Track setting of the Durango really isn’t that rigid, so the high performance suspension doesn’t beat you up.
The TRX also has adaptive dampers, but with this truck being engineered to shine brightest on rough roads, the ride is much softer. The Durango is set up to stick to the road and prevent body roll under hard cornering, while the TRX is quite a bit softer. As a result, you feel far less road roughness in the cab of the supercharged Ram 1500, which is furthered by the thick sidewalls of the off-road tires.
The Durango SRT Hellcat absolutely out-handles the TRX in a big way, but for an off-road truck, the TRX handles very nicely. If you want a smoother ride and you aren’t all that worried about hard cornering abilities, the Ram 1500 TRX is the better pick. On the other hand, the TRX feels like a big, high-riding truck while the Durango feels more like a sports car. If you don’t mind the slightly stiffer ride and you want a large vehicle that you can push hard through the corners, go with the Durango.
Interior Space and Technology
The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is the world’s quickest, fastest and most powerful three-row SUV, so it will comfortably seat six adults. The Ram 1500 TRX has a big, roomy cabin that will comfortably seat four adults, or five if the three in the back are friendly, but the Durango has an obvious advantage in passenger capacity.
If you don’t need the extra seating capacity, the TRX offers an advantage in terms of space around the driver and front passenger, although both of these vehicles offer a ton of space for everyone. Of course, if you are looking for cargo space, the Durango with the second and third row seats folded down offers loads more cargo space than the back seating area of the Ram 1500.
One key aspect of the Durango Hellcat which may appeal to some buyers when comparing it to the Ram TRX is the lower ride height. This makes it much easier for small children or vertically challenged people to get into the Durango, whereas the TRX requires a bit of a hop to get in. Even with the Mopar side steps, it is somewhat of a climb to get into the off-road-ready Ram 1500, but you don’t have to worry about that at all with the Durango Hellcat.
In terms of interior technology, SRT vehicles have always come packed to the gills with modern niceties and the Ram TRX and Durango Hellcat both introduce new premium features for their respective brands. The Durango Hellcat has the new 10.1-inch infotainment screen and it is beautiful, with impressive sound quality coming from the 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. It also has premium leather-wrapped seats that are heated and cooled, an adjustable driver information center and an advanced climate control system.
The Ram 1500 TRX also has the premium Harman sound system, heated-and-cooled leather seats and the trick gauge cluster, but the pickup has two key advantages. The Ram has the 12-inch infotainment screen that is one of the best in the industry and it also has the new heads-up display system. When grouped with the rest of the premium options of the Ram brand, the TRX offers more luxury feel, although the advantage over the Durango Hellcat is literally a battle of inches.
On-Road Performance
The Ram 1500 TRX is built to dominate in the dirt, but the reality of the situation is the most owners will put most miles on the supercharged half-ton on paved roads. Ram claims that the 702-horsepower pickup will sprint from a stop to 60 miles per hour in the low 4-second range while running the quarter mile in the high-12-second range. We found those numbers to be grossly underestimated, getting well into the 3-second range on a 0-60 sprint and running low-12s in the quarter mile. Those are awesome numbers for big, heavy, full-size truck on beefy off-road tires, but the Durango Hellcat is quicker.
The Durango Hellcat will easily pop-off a 0-60 run in 3.5 seconds and, in good air, the big SUV will get even deeper into the 3-second range while running in the 11-second quarter-mile range without issue. The Durango is quicker, but we are talking about a very narrow margin of performance. Whether you are running a mid-11 or low-12 quarter-mile, you are going to beat the vast majority of vehicles in the average stoplight sprint, but if your goal is to run the best possible quarter-mile times, the SUV has the clear advantage.
The Durango is also world’s faster in terms of top speed, thanks to the unfortunate speed limitations of all off-road tires. The Durango will get up to 180, but due to federal laws which state that a vehicle’s top speed cannot exceed the speed rating of the factory tires, the TRX will only go 118 miles per hour. On a highway pull starting in fourth gear at 60 miles per hour, the TRX hits the speed limiter shortly after you shift into sixth gear, but the Durango will pull hard through every gear, right up to 180 miles per hour.
The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat offers better acceleration and top speed on paved surfaces when compared to the Ram 1500 TRX. The TRX accelerates to 60 almost as quickly, but the Hellcat SUV is quite a bit quicker in the quarter mile while boasting a far higher top speed.
Which is Right for You?
If you want the best possible on-road performance capabilities or loads more interior space, including extra seats, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is the better buy. If you want a smoother ride for the daily drive and more premium interior features with very little compromise in on-road performance, the Ram 1500 TRX is your winner.
They are both great vehicles, but the Ram TRX is truly something special, so despite the better performance numbers, we prefer the supercharged half-ton.
Photos for Dodge Forum by Patrick Rall
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