What was the first year of the Dodge Durango?
The Dodge Durango’s first model year was 1998, with production beginning in 1997 to support its launch. This article explains how the debut year is defined and what it signified for Dodge’s SUV lineup.
Defining the debut year
In auto industry terms, the first year of a vehicle is typically its model year. The Durango was introduced as a 1998 model year, and assembly began in 1997 to enable distribution and early shipments.
Key facts about the Durango's inaugural year:
- Introduced as the 1998 model year
- Production began in 1997 to support the launch
- Launched as Dodge’s entry into the growing mid-size SUV segment
- First generation spanned the late 1990s into the early 2000s
In short, the Durango’s first year on sale was 1998, even though manufacturing work began the year before.
Context within Dodge's lineup
The Durango arrived as Dodge expanded its SUV roster, leveraging a platform relationship with the Dakota pickup and sharing components with other Dodge sport-utility models. Its introduction helped Dodge establish a foothold in the competitive midsize-SUV market at the tail end of the 1990s boom.
Early milestones
The following quick facts outline the early milestones tied to the Durango's debut period.
- Unveiled to the public around 1997 for the 1998 model year
- Introduced to compete in a rapidly growing mid-size SUV segment
- Built on a platform related to the Dodge Dakota pickup
These milestones reinforce that 1998 was the official starting point for consumer sales, with production activity beginning in 1997.
Summary
The Dodge Durango’s first model year was 1998, with production beginning in 1997 to support the launch. This marked Dodge’s entry into the midsize SUV market and set the stage for the Durango’s ongoing presence in its segment.
