I have driven at least three similar sized SUV’s over the last several months and in my opinion my 2017 RT compares favorably in every category. The car magazines don’t even put the DD in the top 10 of their “Top 10 SUV” lists. When it gets mentioned at all they talk about it as an “aging platform.” What am I missing?

 

The Dodge Durango is not so much "ignored" by news as it is considered an aging, known entity, with its recent narrative focused on niche performance rather than mainstream innovation. As of early 2026, the Durango is actually experiencing a massive surge in popularity, but several factors contribute to a lack of traditional, widespread media buzz namely due to it's aging platform. However; despite the lack of typical "new car" buzz, the Durango is selling incredibly well. It has experienced significant year-over-year sales increases, often being the only vehicle keeping Dodge's sales numbers high.

 

Yep, as suggested above, I agree that it's more that there's a lot of data and reviews out there on the "aging platform" and not a lot of innovation (because why mess with a good thing?) so the information you're likely looking for when in the market for that size vehicle has already been covered. I also agree that it's tough to beat the Durango when shopping for that class of vehicle. It's very versatile too, ranging from relative economy option with a V6 to "I can't have a sports car, but I still want something that can out accelerate most sports cars." And since it's an "aging platform" there is a lot of information available on how to recognize and solve just about any issue an owner is likely to encounter. I used to be a Ford guy, until I bought a Durango....

-Rod

 

I really liked our 15 Durango, it seems the 3.6 should have gotten more kinks out if it by then, but i guess they just couldn't stop messing with the V6 type platform (multiple displacement variations through the 2000s era) after your semi annual rocker change out or oil cooler they were pretty solid motors overall. To me they just aren't the most suited for growing familys, why Dodge(ram, mopar, Chrysler, fiat, jeep, stelantis, whatever you want to blame) as a whole struggled with bringing something of the suburban nature to the customer is shocking, nothing more then soccer mom wagons and pint size SUVs until the Wagoneer made a comeback, knocking on 6 figures. Me at 6'2" with car seats in the mid row, it (the Durango) was just to cramped for me, with a 3rd on the way 3rd row car seats wasn't an option. Wagoneers still out of reach at 40k+ for something under 100k miles, we settled for a Yukon XL, which I'm fastly beginning to hate the 5.3 in the short 5k miles we have owned it...... though pretty much everyone is pretty much just bringing junk engines to the market anymore