Dodge Durango Ground Clearance: What To Know
Dodge Durango Command Vehicle by Lee Cannon — CC BY-SA 2.0
The Durango is a beast on traditional roads, the track, and trails and off-road environments. It might not be the first vehicle that comes to mind when thinking of driving up the mountains or river-like conditions, but the Durango is well equipped to handle the elements.
There are currently three different models (up from just two last year) and while the Durango’s ground clearance has varied slightly over recent years, it has been consistently over 8 inches and all three of the 2021 models sit at 8.1 inches of total ground height.
They also share the exact same length, vehicle roof height, width, and wheelbase which has been consistent across all manufacturers lately and make narrowing down the option right for you a bit easier.
Not the most mainstream SUV out there, but a great option for someone looking for size, power, and versatility. The Durango’s ground clearance is one of the highest in its class, so what does that mean for car owners?
What is Ground Clearance?
Ground clearance is an extremely important part of the car buying process that many new or less experienced buyers can often overlook. It can be the difference between maintaining your car for years or having unexpected damage and repair issues pop up unexpectedly.
Seasoned car buyers know the importance of this, and the Durango’s ground clearance is higher than most other SUVs in the mid size/crossover class.
Ground clearance is essentially the distance between the lowest point of the vehicle’s underbody and the gap of the tire’s contact with a level surface. This is also known as ride height, and is basically how much your vehicle is separated from pavement, gravel, or other surfaces you’re driving on.
It’s one of the most fundamental and important dimensions to research when looking at a vehicle if you’re planning on going off-road.
The lowest hanging part of a car, such as the chassis, is used to determine ride height. In other terms, it’s how much space you have between the bottom of the vehicle to the road.
The higher that the vehicle sits off the ground the less likely the undercarriage and mechanical area is to be damaged by rocks, pavement, and other road debris. It’s also helpful for wintery conditions when snow builds up on the road and can get jammed and stuck under the bumpers and tires.
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How Does the Durango Match Up to Competitors?
When hearing Dodge the first thing that might come to mind would be for their powerful trucks and towing capability or their vehicles with street racing power. Those features can be transferred well to off-roading when considering the sudden starting or stopping power and being able to climb descend elevated surfaces.
Most experts would recommend 8.5 ground clearance and above to minimize damage from true off-roading, but the Durango’s ground clearance at 8.1 should be considered high enough for most activities.
Boulder and rock climbing might be better left for more agile vehicles, but if you need something powerful and durable to handle hills, trails, and uneven paths the Durango is a great option.
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Most sedans have an average ground clearance somewhere between 4-6 inches, while SUVs have an average ground clearance of 6-8 inches. The Durango’s ground clearance is one of the highest for SUVs at the base level without custom kits, and it makes it a great option for driving through snow, mud, or taking it out for trail driving.
Having higher ground clearance is typically beneficial, but not always. Like many of the other vehicles in the Dodge family, the Durango is a performance based vehicle and can outmatch most of its competitors which comes into play for driving on uneven surfaces outside of urban areas.
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Off-road driving can take you along some exciting new scenic routes offering stunning landscapes and nature’s sheer beauty. It’s a fun way to truly test out the ability of your vehicle and break up the standard routine of urban driving.
The Durango has elements of a mid-size SUV and aspects of the Ram truck meshed together. It’s not only fantastic for driving around urban areas, but it is also fantastic for traveling around off-road environments. Off-roading can be a fun way to break up your everyday routine, and the Dodge Durango is a great option for it.
With only a few different model variants, buyers can choose either a 190-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 and a five-speed automatic transmission or a 5.7-liter V-8 with 360 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission. The Durango is a durable option to accommodate families and also add some variety with off-roading features.
Dodge has started to limit the total number of models they manufacture to focus on their core vehicles, and the Durango is currently the only SUV since the company made the switch to more muscle and performance based vehicles. Starting around $40,000, it’s an affordable and well-equipped option to consider
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