Rental Review: 2025 Durango GT

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Did a trip to Alaska for Memorial Day, got this as a rental from National. First person to rent it, had 12 miles on it when I picked it up (returned with just over 600). Reserved an Explorer...supposedly this is an upgrade for having executive status with National. Didn't have a chance to take a ton of pics of it, but they've only made them since 2011, so I think most people know them lol. Updated interior in 21 and then 24 or 25+ have the new Uconnect.

Specs: GT trim, AWD, 3.6/8speed ZF. Looks like it stickered for $42k according to dodge's site.

Drivetrain: I like the 3.6 and 8 speed combo, same as my JLU Wrangler. Averaged about 24 MPG. It's interesting though, it didn't feel as peppy as my Wrangler, even with that having 35s. I'd assume the Durango weighs a bit more, and maybe this one ended to break in more, but it didn't have the same snap my Wrangler has. Definitely has less engine/exhaust noise than the wrangler - I missed that actually, I love the snarl of the 3.6. More on noise later. Never got to use the AWD...seems like it's the same unit as a WK/WK2 (maybe WL?) with Quadra Trac I has. My WK had it and was great anywhere you didn't need low range.

Driving: Tight and responsive steering, takes turns well. Great turn radius. Ride quality is good, pretty average. The worst part is the horrible road noise from the tires. Some type of Bridgestone, sounded like it had some badly feathered old all terrains on it. All my way more aggressive all terrains I have on stuff is way quieter.

Interior: Ergonomic, and Uconnect works great. Sits pretty low, feels more crossover like than a WK2 Grand Cherokee. Seats aren't great, I've long held the belief that cloth seat Mopars have worse seats than the leather ones, in terms of support and construction/comfort, surface material aside and these affirmed that for me. Very roomy and good visibility.

Exterior: The Dodge thing is either your cup of tea or not. I prefer the WK2s or WLs, and felt like this gen Durango looked too crossover and soft compared to the previous ones. You can tell the tooling isn't as sharp 14 years later.

Overall: It's a nice enough vehicle but I don't know who is buying these besides rental fleets. For $42k new, you could easily get a similarly equipped WL with a third row, or a super nice one slightly used, and that'd have even more features plus being on the newer platform (and greater off road capability, I'm not sure if you can get these with tow hooks/skid plates even with an RT with low range and the Hemi). I get back when the Grand Cherokee was 2 row only that these had a niche, but now, I'm not sure.
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Did a trip to Alaska for Memorial Day, got this as a rental from National. First person to rent it, had 12 miles on it when I picked it up (returned with just over 600). Reserved an Explorer...supposedly this is an upgrade for having executive status with National. Didn't have a chance to take a ton of pics of it, but they've only made them since 2011, so I think most people know them lol. Updated interior in 21 and then 24 or 25+ have the new Uconnect.

Specs: GT trim, AWD, 3.6/8speed ZF. Looks like it stickered for $42k according to dodge's site.

Drivetrain: I like the 3.6 and 8 speed combo, same as my JLU Wrangler. Averaged about 24 MPG. It's interesting though, it didn't feel as peppy as my Wrangler, even with that having 35s. I'd assume the Durango weighs a bit more, and maybe this one ended to break in more, but it didn't have the same snap my Wrangler has. Definitely has less engine/exhaust noise than the wrangler - I missed that actually, I love the snarl of the 3.6. More on noise later. Never got to use the AWD...seems like it's the same unit as a WK/WK2 (maybe WL?) with Quadra Trac I has. My WK had it and was great anywhere you didn't need low range.

Driving: Tight and responsive steering, takes turns well. Great turn radius. Ride quality is good, pretty average. The worst part is the horrible road noise from the tires. Some type of Bridgestone, sounded like it had some badly feathered old all terrains on it. All my way more aggressive all terrains I have on stuff is way quieter.

Interior: Ergonomic, and Uconnect works great. Sits pretty low, feels more crossover like than a WK2 Grand Cherokee. Seats aren't great, I've long held the belief that cloth seat Mopars have worse seats than the leather ones, in terms of support and construction/comfort, surface material aside and these affirmed that for me. Very roomy and good visibility.

Exterior: The Dodge thing is either your cup of tea or not. I prefer the WK2s or WLs, and felt like this gen Durango looked too crossover and soft compared to the previous ones. You can tell the tooling isn't as sharp 14 years later.

Overall: It's a nice enough vehicle but I don't know who is buying these besides rental fleets. For $42k new, you could easily get a similarly equipped WL with a third row, or a super nice one slightly used, and that'd have even more features plus being on the newer platform (and greater off road capability, I'm not sure if you can get these with tow hooks/skid plates even with an RT with low range and the Hemi). I get back when the Grand Cherokee was 2 row only that these had a niche, but now, I'm not sure.
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Not sure if it applies to a 2025 but quite a number of years of Durango with the fancy "racetrack " taillights have moisture/water ingress causing shorting out. The replacement parts are a little over $2k plus tax and installation.
 
Alaska is on my bucket list, especially to see Tuk Tuk and the arctic circle. Did you venture that far north?
 
Yeah, the cloth seats aren't great, the leather ones are MUCH better (and the SRT ones are even better still). The seats on my parent's WL Summit Reserve (GCL) are fantastic with the diamond stitching.
Exactly, I had a WL limited as a rental last year and those seats were great. Have had a couple wranglers with cloth as rentals and the seats are horrible. Even going back 20 years to my KJ Liberty, same deal back then.
 
Nice honest review, thanks for that. I've always enjoyed the 3.6/8spd combo; surprisingly good. Even in my old '19 Ram 1500, it did fine (unless towing).

Are they going to keep making these or are they on the chopping block?
 
Nice honest review, thanks for that. I've always enjoyed the 3.6/8spd combo; surprisingly good. Even in my old '19 Ram 1500, it did fine (unless towing).

Are they going to keep making these or are they on the chopping block?
I expect like with the DS trucks, they'll keep making them as long as they sell in sufficient volumes.
 
I had almost the exact Durango from National a few weeks ago except it was green, I agree with OP's analysis. I will say I was very impressed by the interior quality, the materials were great as were the fit and finish. It was also very quiet and rode great. Also loved the UConnect system.

I would have liked a little more power, and the front doors really had to be shut hard in order to fully latch.
 
Did a trip to Alaska for Memorial Day, got this as a rental from National. First person to rent it, had 12 miles on it when I picked it up ....
Wow, that sure beats the Hyundai Santa Fe I had last month, with 224 miles on it, my new personal record low. I'm still thinking of writing a review on it.

For awhile, I think they were saving the high-mileage beaters especially for me! Gross!
 
Wow, that sure beats the Hyundai Santa Fe I had last month, with 224 miles on it, my new personal record low. I'm still thinking of writing a review on it.

For awhile, I think they were saving the high-mileage beaters especially for me! Gross!

National seems to have the newest stuff...the highest mileage thing I've had from them was an Audi A3 and a Mazda CX5 that had like 45-50k on them! Off the top of my head, this Durango had 12 miles on it, I had a Compass with like 300 miles on it, a Q5 with 900 miles on it, had a JLU Wrangler with like 1000 on it...gotten pretty new stuff. Everything besides the A3 and CX5 has had under 10-15k miles.
I had almost the exact Durango from National a few weeks ago except it was green, I agree with OP's analysis. I will say I was very impressed by the interior quality, the materials were great as were the fit and finish. It was also very quiet and rode great. Also loved the UConnect system.

I would have liked a little more power, and the front doors really had to be shut hard in order to fully latch.
I noticed the same thing about the doors, I always had to close them again.
 
Thanks for the review. I realize this is a rental and not top of the line Durango. I was considering this if it comes time to replace my 2007 Grand Cherokee. I think I'll stick with the Jeep.
 
Thanks for the review. I realize this is a rental and not top of the line Durango. I was considering this if it comes time to replace my 2007 Grand Cherokee. I think I'll stick with the Jeep.
Definitely would! I had an 09 Grand Cherokee, same as your 07. the WL 2 row reminds me a lot of that generation in a good way. Very smooth and quiet, but still feels somewhat rugged and capable.
 
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