The third-generation Dodge Durango is literally the oldest passenger car currently on sale. It went into production way back in 2010 for the 2011 model year, and hasn’t really shown any signs of slowing down until now. Stellantis has just outlined its plans for a massive $15 billion investment in the US (which you can read all about on The Morning Shift), and part of those plans is – finally – a next-generation Durango. Oh, happy days.
Don’t worry too much, Gen Three Durango Heads. That SUV isn’t going away anytime soon. Dodge says production of the fourth-generation Rango isn’t expected until 2029. That’s a long time ago, and it means that the current Durango will ultimately have been in production for at least 19 years. Sure, it’s taken a few knocks and knocks along the way, but it’s essentially the same car as when it launched during Barack Obama’s first presidential term.
In preparation for this new truck, Stellantis is expected to dump approximately $130 million into its Jefferson Detroit Assembly Complex. That’s the same place where the current Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee are produced, but I imagine this will require some refurbishing and modifications exciting new model.
Still a strong seller
So far, the third-generation Durango has been on sale for about 15 years, and in that time it has only received a few updates. The biggest change actually came quite early in the production run. In the 2014 model year, the Durango received new front and rear styling, an eight-speed automatic transmission and an updated interior that brought it more in line with the Charger of the day.
Aside from that, there have been a few trim level reshuffles and, of course, the addition of the SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat. Both engines have taken the Durango from a sensible family car to a seven-seat machine for lunatics…crazies like me.
Despite the fact that the Durango is much older than its competition, it’s still a pretty strong seller. In 2024, Dodge moved 59,357 Durangos in the US. Sure, that was a 14% drop from the previous year, but it was still Dodge’s best-selling vehicle. In fact, it accounted for about 42% of all Dodge sales through 2024. I don’t know if that’s a testament to the SUV or an indictment of the rest of the brand’s lineup, but the ball doesn’t lie.
By my count, Dodge sold a total of 916,545 third-generation Durangos in the US in the third quarter of this year. Who knows where it will end up when all is said and done?
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