This is where the Durango R/T makes its money over the Durango Heat. Unlike the latter’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6
engine with an output of 295 horsepower and 260 lb/ft of torque, the Durango R/T is powered by the loaded 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine that produces an impressive 360
horsepower and 390 lb/ft of torque.
With the added power, the Durango R/T beats out the Durango Heat’s towing capacity, 7400 lbs to 6,200 lbs. On the flip side, the Durango Heat’s less powerful engine allows it to be more fuel-efficient compared to the R/T. The latter comes with an EPA rating of 14 mpg for city driving and 20 mpg for highway driving.
he R/T And then of course there's the 2011 Dodge Durango R/T. Like all 5.7 Hemi-equipped Durangos, the R/T has dual 3.5-inch exhaust tips (the V-6 a single 3.0-inch tip) and the sound that comes out of them is music. Dodge touts the silence of the Durango and we'll not argue with that. On the straight, level and constant, the 2011 Durango R/T is a four-wheeled smoothie, slicker than Bill Clinton pitching relief for Barack Obama.
Crack the throttle just a smidge, however, and the 2011 Dodge Durango R/T rumbles. Stomp on it and the R/T roars and backs it up with solid acceleration, the Hemi's torque leaning against the Durango's mass. We're not sure what it sounds like going by, but we do like what we heard from behind the wheel.
Arm wrestling Acceleration in a straight line, however, simply torque arm wrestling inertia. Cranking the Durango R/T through curves and over rough and rippled pavement is enough to fire up one's cognitive dissonance gland. It corners like an SUV shouldn't. Not only does the Durango stay level through the turn--or at least perceptively so--it feels secure and answers readily to the helm. It may not be a sports car--it's definitely not a sports car--but the 2011 Dodge Durango R/T has a pavement competence that's simply outstanding.
In a time when the true sport utility vehicle is more and more yielding to the car-based faux SUV, it's good to know that Dodge revives the tow-worthy seven-seater in a sleeker, slimmer package that's still strong and still fun to drive. It's called the 2011 Dodge Durango R/T.
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