Although it's not overtly sporty, the Durango's rear-wheel-drive platform lends an athletic feel to the Durango, and its muscle-car persona shines through in everyday use.

The Dodge's suspension walks the fine line between sportiness and comfort, but the steering feel and braking performance remind you that you're driving an SUV. The Durango with the V-6 managed a 7.4-second zero-to-60-mph run the V-8 did it in 6.2 seconds. We tested both the V-6 and V-8 engines with the standard eight-speed automatic and optional all-wheel drive. The Durango's fuel economy doesn't beat that of its four-cylinder rivals, of course, but the trade-off for the more entertaining V-8 and its burly towing capacity might be worth it for some buyers. The Durango's optional 360-hp V-8 provides a significant boost in towing capacity (up to 8700 pounds), while the 295-hp V-6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission are the more efficient pairing. We'd be interested in upgrading from the standard 8.4-inch infotainment system to the 10.1-inch unit, though, which also adds in-dash navigation and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. After all, if you're looking for a performance SUV, the Durango SRT or the limited-edition Durango SRT Hellcat (both reviewed separately) are more likely to please. The mid-range GT model is the best value of the bunch, and we'd stick with the standard V-6 over the thirstier V-8 engine.

Dodge durango crossover