# Buy One Before Its Gone: 2023 Dodge Durango Hellcat
The 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat is a unique and exclusive vehicle, with a limited production run and an impressive 6.2-liter V-8 Hellcat engine. This supercharged SUV is a true performance beast, with a distinct “supercharger whine” and an enhanced dual-exhaust system that showcases its power and hunger for speed. The 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat not only offers exceptional performance but also boasts premium features, technology, and a refined interior with Nappa leather seats, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and driver-assist features.
The popular midsize SUV remains a rarity among performance enthusiasts for the simple fact that its limited run makes it a unique and exclusive vehicle. The 2023 model returns with the fan-favorite 6.2-liter V-8 Hellcat engine, as well as updated systems and features that put it a step above the 2021 Durango SRT. With more horses than one could ever need, the 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat puts Dodge’s muscle car attitude on full display while surrounding the big V-8 with premium features and technology to add not only to its overall performance but longevity and road manners under varying conditions.
The 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat features aftermarket parts including large Brembo brakes and the optional Harmon-Kardon sound system, but the real star of the show continues to be the supercharged V-8. The undeniable “supercharger whine” is ever-present in the Durango even at cruising speeds. This SUV hungers for speed, and the enhanced dual-exhaust system doesn’t plan on hiding it.
The 710 Horsepower Hellcat Engine Returns For 2023
Dodge took a hiatus with the Durango SRT for the 2022 model year but decided to bring back the supercharged SUV for the 2023 model year as the 2021 Durango SRT Hellcat sold out and Dodge began experiencing an influx of orders for it. The 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat features the monstrous supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 Hellcat engine that puts out 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed transmission carries the behemoth while the standard Pirelli all-season tires, or optional Pirelli P Zero three-season tires, ensure maximum grip when unleashing the Hellcat. The supercharged SUV boasts an 8,700-pound towing capacity, while featuring selectable tow mode, allowing the Durango to go from tow to track without breaking a sweat.
2023 Durango SRT Hellcat Performance Specs
– 0-60 MPH: 3.5-seconds
– 1/4 Mile: 12-seconds
– Horsepower: 710
– Torque: 640 pound-feet
– Curb Weight: 5,534-pounds
– Layout: Supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, All-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic transmission, six-passenger SUV
The 2023 Durango features large Brembo brakes, 15.75-inch front rotors with six-piston calipers, and 13.8-inch rear discs with four-piston calipers, able to bring the 5,534-pound SUV from 70-0 MPH in 165-feet. Specially tuned suspension and adaptive dampers give the 2023 Durango SRT impeccable road manners, with optional drive modes including track, sport, auto, snow, tow, and eco-mode. When tested, Car And Driver reported the 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat was able to reach 60 MPH in 3.6 seconds, on par with the previously tested Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye. The supercharged Durango was also able to devour a quarter-mile drag strip in 12.0 seconds, crossing the line at 115 MPH. As for towing, the Durango SRT can haul up to 8,700 pounds.
2023 Durango SRT Hellcat Features Premium Interior Amenities
The supercharged Durango SRT Hellcat is by far the most powerful midsize SUV on the market, and with the base model starting at $93,605, it also holds a spot among the most expensive SUVs on the market, with its high-end trim starting at $104,810. With the option of the three trim levels: Base, Plus, and Premium, the 2023 Durango SRT offers an upgrade in interior features, upholstery, and aftermarket parts the higher the trim level. The Premium Durango SRT Hellcat features Nappa leather and micro-suede seats with a black and carbon fiber design scheme that carries throughout the interior layout, custom accented stitching, and embossed SRT logos add to the refined and commanding interior atmosphere. The premium trim also includes a leather-wrapped dash and forged-carbon fiber interior accents. The large 10.1-inch touchscreen displays Dodge’s latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard on the 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat, as well as the popular subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot feature. The Amazon Alexa function adds to the voice command capabilities of the 2023 Durango SRT’s infotainment interface, which features Bluetooth connectivity able to support two devices at once. The console offers plenty of storage space with two cupholders and a wireless charging station. And though the 2023 Durango features a 10.1-inch touchscreen, the climate control panel below the screen includes rotary knobs that manually control the infotainment interface, for those that prefer to keep the screen free of fingerprints. Amenities include heated and ventilated front seats, steering wheel, and heated rear seating. The dual-zone climate control allows for more passenger comfort settings, with room enough for six and a foldaway third row for more cargo space. With all the seats folded down, you get 85.1 cubic feet of storage space. The Premium Durango SRT offers an optional rear entertainment system that adds two 9.0-inch screens mounted on the back of the front seats for a premium passenger experience.
Notable Driver Assist Features:
– Rear automatic emergency braking
– Automatic high-beam headlights
– Available front automatic emergency braking
– Adaptive cruise control
The 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Looks As Good As It Sounds
The exterior design of the 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat carries much of the sensibilities over from the 2021 model, with the trademark Dodge hood scoop and aggressive muscle car-inspired contours the American performance manufacturer is known for. The exterior features, as well as the interior design layout, is highly driver-centric, much like the Charger and Challenger. Exterior vent accents on the hood and bumper of the Durango aren’t just for looks, their functional purpose is to help the supercharged V-8 breathe. When driving the Durango SRT, the distinctive whine from the supercharger is audible inside the cabin, along with the roar of the enhanced exhaust. For some buyers, the constant engine feedback is an annoyance, but for most buyers in the market for a 710 horsepower V-8, that roar is music to their ears.
Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Remains An Exclusive SUV
The SUV segment, midsize and full-size, is largely populated by economic-forward models and consumer-based features. The 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is one of the few models to throw out the playbook in exchange for a unique and segment-bending vehicle. MoparInsider reports a production run for the 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat of roughly 3,000 units, placing it among the rarest vehicles in the manufacturer’s lineup. It’s no secret that the supercharged SUV has sparked a keen interest among performance enthusiasts, but they’ve also gained traction in the rare car community, as the V-8 Hellcat turns heads at every corner, and its limited production ensures its exclusivity.
Performance-wise, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat doesn’t really compete with the more mainstream models and is leagues above the competition. Having said that, lesser variants of the Durango go up against other three-row mid-size SUV models like the KIA Telluride, and Jeep Grand Cherokee, but in terms of fuel economy, the Durango SRT obviously struggles to match the segment favorites. The same applies to the price range of the supercharged SUV, as it starts at roughly double its midsize competitors’ prices.
Popular Midsize SUVs:
– KIA Telluride
– Hyundai Palisade
– Chevrolet Traverse
– Hyundai Santa Fe
– Jeep Grand Cherokee
– Mazda CX-90
The few drawbacks of the supercharged Durango don’t seem to phase its popularity, as orders continue to come in for the 2023 model, signifying a strong niche interest in the idea of a supercharged SUV. The fact is, Dodge does muscle and power better than most other manufacturers, and when they do what they do best, the results are desirable, no matter the model.