A regular sedan won’t cut it for some people. They crave an adventure vehicle, something that can help them traverse bumpy environments far from the safety of city driving—but not all off-road vehicles are created equal. Some are the best in class and others just look the part.

In this article, we’ll review key factors like ground clearance and tires, and offer some alternatives if the Durango isn’t to your liking.

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How to save on Dodge Durango insurance costs

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Can the Dodge Durango go off road?

Yes, the Dodge Durango is built to withstand unpaved roads and has the power to overcome hills and bumps. The Durango has many of the traits that off-roading enthusiasts look for in a vehicle and a reasonable price point.

Starting at $35,475, the Durango combines the ruggedness of other Dodge models with further off-roading capabilities. While it’s far from the best off-roading SUV on the market, it walks the line between everyday car and off-roading beast fairly well.

What else makes the Dodge Durango a good choice for your unpaved adventures and what are some areas where it comes up short? Let’s look at some of the key specs.

Ground clearance

Ground clearance is easily one of the most important factors to understand. The Dodge Durango’s minimum ground clearance is 8.1 inches—close to the ideal range, yet not quite there.

You want your vehicle to be between 8.8 and 10.8 inches to achieve proper off-roading ability. Ultimately, the higher your vehicle’s minimum clearance, the less worried you’ll be about damaging the undercarriage of your car (which can be rather expensive to repair).

When stacked against the 2021

Jeep Wrangler’s

9.7 inches of minimum clearance, the Durango doesn’t quite hold up. That said, it can tackle trails pretty well.

Torque

To go off the road without issues, a car needs a good amount of low-end torque. Since turning power outweighs speed when off-roading, low-end torque helps create an ideal trail experience where no hill or uneven terrain will sideline you.

The Dodge Durango’s V6 cylinder engine produces 297 PS and a maximum torque of 353 @ 4800 RPM. This is a decent amount of power and if you can access it all at a lower rpm, you should have no trouble driving on roads that aren’t really roads.

Tires

The Dodge Durango comes with P265/60TR18 tires. These are not the best the market offers for off-roading but they should be able to handle a range of trails.

All-terrain tires

are perfect for drivers who want to go adventure driving with the same vehicle that they drive to work. The downside is that they won’t last as long as standard all-season tires, so you’ll have to pay to replace them more often. That said, they are designed with an aggressive tread pattern and are more open, letting them achieve greater traction and steadiness. Drivetrain

All-wheel drive is a necessity for safe off-road driving. The Dodge Durango typically has rear-wheel drive,but some trims have an 8-speed automatic gearbox that can transmit its power to all-wheel drive.

Angles

Another factor that can make or break an off-road vehicle is its approach angle and departure angle:

The approach angle is the maximum angle at which the vehicle can ascend with no interference

The departure angle is the maximum angle at which the vehicle can descend with no interference

The Dodge Durango has approach and departure angles of 58 and 29 degrees. That means it can climb and descend terrain of varying steepness. This is one area where the Durango beats several rival SUVs.

Off-road rating: Rough and ready

Jerry

uses the ultra-technical DIRT rating system, which breaks down as follows:

Rating	Meaning	Description
D	Don’t Try It	Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I	In a Pinch	Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R	Rough and Ready	Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T	Trail Boss	True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain

The Dodge Durango gets an R rating. It’s can handle a lot of off-roading but there are some trails best avoided. Tackle all the dirt roads you want but choose your trails carefully.

MORE:

The best old-school off-road vehicles

The best off-road alternatives to the Dodge Durango

The Dodge Durango should fit the bill for a lot of passionate adventure drivers. Of course,not everyone can cough up the $37,295 it costs to buy one. Or maybe you want an off-road SUV that won’t leave as much of an environmental footprint.

Check out these alternatives to the Dodge Durango:

Alternative	Model	Price	Description
Best affordable alternative	2021 Chevrolet Traverse	$29,800	This vehicle offers a lot of the same off-roading capabilities as the Durango but costs around $8,000 less.
Best eco-friendly alternative	2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee	$38,325	A Jeep that offers 25 miles of all-electric range and 11.3 inches of ground clearance.
Best alternative for serious off-roading	2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L	$38,085	With its 290-hp, 3.6-liter, V6 cylinder engine, and 21 MPG, this version of the Cherokee trumps the Durango as an off-roading champ.

MORE: Cheap off-road trucks

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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

Here’s the deal: if you want an off-road vehicle, it’ll cost you more to insure. The bottom line is that every provider will charge you more for driving in risky situations, knowing there are higher odds of having to pay out a claim.

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