You are correct. V8 has the switch in front of the gear selector between the front seats, V6 is on all the time.

 

At least, one "can" leave a V8 in AUTO AWD all the time even on hard surfaces. It's not like a typical 4WD that one can only engage on dirt or snow. I looked in my manual. So the options are AWD Auto, AWD Low, Neutral.

I'm wondering if there's a difference between the V6 AWD and the V8 AWD. Most other true AWD cars have some varying degree of torque split between front and rear ALL THE TIME. But it looks like on the durango, it's 100% RWD until some slippage occurs.

So I guess the V8 is also AWD. Just with a "low" twist.

 

I have a 2012 R/T with the V8 (of course....R/T's only come with V8's) It is full time AWD and the only selector switch that is on the vehicle is there to switch it from high to low. I will probably never use low - it is my understanding that it gears down the transmission about 3 times. In other words, if you normally go 60 mph in 4th gear at 2000 RPM in high, you will only go 20 mph in 4th gear at 2000 RPM in low.

Anyway, just wanted to chime in to say that the V8's are full-time AWD and yes, I think it is normally rear-wheel drive until slippage occurs and then it transfers torque to the wheel(s) that are gripping.

 

My wife and I decided to narrow the search down to a 2011/2012 Durango Crew V6...

Now, my one concern with a V6 is that this vehicle is fairly large -- I'm worried that a V6 would cause a lot more stress on the motor considering the size of the D. Leaving me to think there would be issues later on... I'm probably thinking way to much into this, and I know nothing about motors...

Your thoughts?

 

Why do you not want the Hemi? Large vehicles with small motors are usually less efficient (less MPG) than large vehicles with large motors despite what the EPA sticker says. If you drive like the EPA you might get that 23 with the V6 but as soon as you decide to move the V6 will be inefficient and get worse gas mileage than the hemi.

 

We aren't planning on hauling anything within the near future -- if we ever do haul anything, it will be fairly small in size. I figured the V6 would be better on gas for what we do, which is mainly city driving and 3-4 6hr trips/year to see family. Perhaps my thinking is off?

 

I would think the V6 would be better on the highway where it has a 3 mpg higher rating and can stay at a consistant rpm with the momentum already there. Around town and stop in go is where it may suffer. It's city is only rated 1 mpg higher than the hemi. Of course the V6 is cheaper intially and would be cheaper on insurance as well. We tow our toys all the time and my truck has the hemi so it was no question for us. Just test drive both and get what feels best for you. The gas savings either way would not add up to much unless you drive a ton.

 

The 6 vs 8 is tough. If you do not care AT ALL about performance and will never tow anything over 3500lbs, then I would just get the 6. Do not worry about stressing the motor, unless that is, you really do want performance and are going to be pushing the 6 constantly.

If you drive with a very light foot, but still want some level of performance, you may find yourself pushing the 6, but not the 8, and your effective city may not really be that different between the two. I've seen other SUVs that offer small and large engines where drivers have overall gotten the same if not better mileage with the larger engine contradicting what the EPA says.

It really depends on just how many times on avg you have to stop to do the most things, how long the lights/stop signs keep you stopped, and what avg speed you can get up to between the stops.

I'm amazed sometimes at the EPA differences that people see. Our first long drive with cruise set to 75, and the computer "said" we were getting 22.5. Maybe if I had a 6, the computer would have said 25.5 ? I need to start tracking fillups and see how accurate it is. Our last SUV was similar, with the computer reporting better numbers than EPA. But I never actually tried to calculate it by hand. Don't want to be let down......

My only issue with the hemi lately is that I wish, well, that it kinda of sounded more like a hemi. I wish it had a little better sound too it.

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...XpVZkxNdURVRXc

That is a maintenance log through google docs. Will keep track of your oil changes, gas fill ups and even configure your REAL MPG on it for you. Let me know if you need any help using it

 

I'm amazed that people consider a 290 HP, double overhead cam engine a lightweight. I DO care about performance and find the V6 has plenty. And it gets 18 mpg around town. Give a V6 a test drive the way you will drive it everyday and make a decision based on what you require from a vehicle.