The Dodge Durango offers the choice of two satisfying engines, decent cargo and towing capacity, and a comfortable, well-designed cabin. The Dodge Durango SRT is a fast, good-handling muscle-ute that provides a dynamic driving experience while handling everyday chores. The Dodge Grand Caravan provides minivan ride and space at an attractive price, but it falls short of more modern rivals in most areas.
The Dodge Journey provides budget pricing and a decent amount of space for people and cargo, but most rivals best it in comfort and convenience features. The Challenger SRT Demon is even mightier than the Hellcat version, boasting up to horsepower and exclusive drag-racing equipment. The Grand Caravan's main selling point is generous space for people and cargo at a cut-rate price, but it's outperformed by rivals in most areas. The Challenger is a rowdy, retro-themed muscle car that excels in a straight line but is bested by rivals in the twisties.
The Charger is a throwback full-size, rear-drive sedan that's part muscle car and part family hauler. Bold, muscular styling and an optional Hemi V-8 make the Durango the bad boy of the SUV world, but it has a family-friendly side, as well. The Journey is a practical choice for families on a tight budget, but rival crossovers beat it in most key areas.
While fifth-generation Viper ended production in , we thought an all-new model would debut in , but the iconic nameplate is dead until further notice. Despite a thorough update in , the Avenger has become less competitive as it nears the end of its life cycle— was its last year in production.
This is the wagon version of the 10Best-winning rear-drive Chrysler , and it oozes with swagger. New Cars. Buyer's Guide. Type keyword s to search. Starting at. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. To engage the transbrake, you pull on both of the shift paddles simultaneously. You then hold the brake and apply some revs. At this point, you can creep up to engage the lights if you want. You then release the right paddle to basically signify you're ready to launch. At this point, you can take your foot off the brake pedal, too.
Finally, you release the left shift paddle to launch the car, mashing the throttle at roughly the same time. In the heat of the moment at the strip, with the Christmas tree looming in your peripheral vision, it's all too easy to flub one of those steps.
And even if you do it right, there's still a fair bit of timing and finesse required to disengage the transbrake and apply just the right amount of throttle.
But when you do, when you get it just right, it's almost indescribable. The surge is instantaneous and strong enough to blur your vision, your internal organs suddenly feel like they'd rather be external and it's all you can do to keep your hands on the wheel and your right foot to the floor. But your right foot will stay on the floor, because this sensation is addictive, and lifting means slowing down sooner.
It's easy to forget, but important to remember, that this is a machine you can take on the street. To get the full horsepower, you'll need race gas, but the car will still do hp on whatever high-octane you can find down at the corner. A push of a button on the dash toggles between the two. There's also an Eco setting and a password-protected Valet mode for those moments when you have to turn over the keys to someone you don't entirely trust.
Like the hp Hellcat, the Demon also comes with two keys that trigger different power levels. The black key is limited to horses -- the same number of ponies you get in Eco mode -- and the red key unlocks the car's full potential. On the street the car is surprisingly docile with a light right foot along with the Auto setting for looser steering and more compliant behavior from the Bilstein adaptive dampers.
There's more supercharger whine and a louder exhaust note than the Hellcat, while the wide Nitto NT05R drag radials stay surprisingly quiet around town and on expressways. Even though SRT engineers say they've gotten 5,miles out of a set of Nittos on the road, owners looking to do a lot of regular driving would be best served getting a dedicated set of street tires for better longevity and wet weather performance.
Around turns, the Demon feels like a Challenger with noticeable body roll, but with way more grip. Punching up the Sport detent tightens steering and suspension for sharper reflexes, while maintaining livable ride quality.
Opting for the front passenger and rear seats further ups daily driving credentials, and commuters will appreciate the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.
A two-speaker sound system is standard, but a rocking speaker Harman Kardon premium setup is optional. Safety features likes a backup camera, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring are also standard. So, the Demon is comfortable and capable of flying under the radar when tip-toeing around town, returning 13 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway according to the EPA.
However, at half-throttle and beyond, all hell breaks loose. Speed limits are quickly blown and the engine soundtrack is mad as you hang on for dear life wondering how a car like this is available to the public that can dust anything on the road short of a superbike -- or a Bugatti Chiron.
Even though it is perfectly fine there, spotting a Demon on the street is likely to be a rare treat. Most of the 3, models planned for the US and examples earmarked for Canada will likely live their days either being trailered to and from drag strips or secreted away in a collection, only to be rubbed with a diaper and tethered to a battery tender until their value increases enough to contemplate selling at auction.
This version, however, can be stripped down by removing the passenger-side and rear seats and swapping some luxury amenities, such as the power-adjustable steering wheel and complex audio system, for simpler alternatives. The sound system and several other creature comforts—such as a power sunroof, heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front seats—can also be added for those who opt for the tamer package.
New Cars. Buyer's Guide. Type keyword s to search. By Eric Stafford. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. More From Dodge.
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