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2016 - citadel vs RT? (Assuming v8 awd for both)

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NorCalAthlete

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Update - I bought an RT!

- better suspension
- 2 speed transfer case with low range
- blacktop looks way better than chrome
- has everything the citadel has in a tighter sportier package...for about $4000 less.

=================================
Original post:

Aside from the lack of roof racks (which, btw, does anyone use them for snowboarding?), is there somewhere I can find a list of differences broken down bit by bit? Can roof racks be added by a dealership to an RT?

So far all I've seen pointed out is:

Citadel:
- higher ride height
- roof racks
- more chrome bits on the trim

RT:
- lower ride height
- no roof racks
- fewer chrome bits on the trim

So....wtf am I missing here? The only options I plan on ordering are the tow package and maybe the skidplate for the Citadel...for the RT, towing and blacktop. I don't want the captain's seats (might get in the way when hauling stuff with seats folded down), definitely don't want the Beats audio, don't want the tech package, etc.

I can get the RT about $4k cheaper looks like, after incentives and such.

I like snowboarding, camping, occasional towing of a motorcycle trailer with dirtbikes or track bikes at some point, a bit of hunting and fishing. I don't do any serious offroading (especially not the stuff where the road is more of a destination than the campsite). At the same time I'd also like to not get stuck in deep snow, and I really like the look of that 2.5" lift people are doing with the Jeep GC's kit. Anyone done that lift to an RT yet? Or a Citadel? Anyone lifted an RT at all? Or taken one in some deep snow ala northeast or northwest / colorado weather?

Oh and I couldn't care less about the chrome bits, I'm more worried about things like maybe one has LED headlights and the other doesn't, or one has fog lights and the other doesn't, etc. I don't know.
 
#3 ·
NorCalAthlete said:
Aside from the lack of roof racks (which, btw, does anyone use them for snowboarding?), is there somewhere I can find a list of differences broken down bit by bit? Can roof racks be added by a dealership to an RT?

So far all I've seen pointed out is:

Citadel:
- higher ride height
- roof racks
- more chrome bits on the trim

RT:
- lower ride height
- no roof racks
- fewer chrome bits on the trim

So....wtf am I missing here? The only options I plan on ordering are the tow package and maybe the skidplate for the Citadel...for the RT, towing and blacktop. I don't want the captain's seats (might get in the way when hauling stuff with seats folded down), definitely don't want the Beats audio, don't want the tech package, etc.

I can get the RT about $4k cheaper looks like, after incentives and such.

I like snowboarding, camping, occasional towing of a motorcycle trailer with dirtbikes or track bikes at some point, a bit of hunting and fishing. I don't do any serious offroading (especially not the stuff where the road is more of a destination than the campsite). At the same time I'd also like to not get stuck in deep snow, and I really like the look of that 2.5" lift people are doing with the Jeep GC's kit. Anyone done that lift to an RT yet? Or a Citadel? Anyone lifted an RT at all? Or taken one in some deep snow ala northeast or northwest / colorado weather?

Oh and I couldn't care less about the chrome bits, I'm more worried about things like maybe one has LED headlights and the other doesn't, or one has fog lights and the other doesn't, etc. I don't know.
Click to expand...
Both come with HID headlights, both should have fog lights. R/T has a louder exhaust than the citadel, but nothing obnoxious.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#4 ·
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#5 ·
That list is for the 2016 model year which is now out of production. Also, the Citadel is not available with a V-8 (though there has been some discussion about that on here). You have to be a fan of black or red (very rare) leather as brown or tan are not available in the R/T though most other features are available. You can place an order for 2017 now which has a few, mostly minor, changes. There another thread here with links to this information.
 
#6 ·
Pappy35 said:
That list is for the 2016 model year which is now out of production. Also, the Citadel is not available with a V-8 (though there has been some discussion about that on here). You have to be a fan of black or red (very rare) leather as brown or tan are not available in the R/T though most other features are available. You can place an order for 2017 now which has a few, mostly minor, changes. There another thread here with links to this information.
Click to expand...
The Citadel IS available with the V8 as long as you get the highest trim level of it.
 

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#7 ·
You can get the V8 in an AWD Citadel, but not a RWD Citadel.
 
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#8 · (Edited)
Like I said, there's been discussion here about it. I wouldn't write a check based on info on the on-line builder. For example: The link above doesn't show it as an option in any trim level except the R/T despite it being an option in the builder.

There were folks on here early in the 2016MY who reported that the V-8 was NOT an option when they went in to order one and some later on that say they did order it with a V-8. I don't take any of that as fact because, with dealers being the way they are, who knows if a) are competent, or b) lying for their own purposes...all I'm saying is that you may or may not be able to get a V-8 in a Citadel.
 
#9 ·
Correct, it was not an option when the 2016's launched. When I was ordering back in Nov 2015, I was sitting with the sales manager, flipping through the order screens, to see all the available options. We checked on a V8 Citadel, and it wasn't an option in the ordering system.

That said, the V8 has always been available (since Day 1) in a Citadel for Canadians. And I believe Canada only gets the AWD version, with RWD not being an option for them.

So, a few months into production, the complaints of the flag ship Durango model not being offered with a Hemi must have made it's way into FCA, as they opened up the AWD version (which was been available in Canada form day 1) to US buyers sometime mid year.

After that, it was available in the dealer's ordering screens, and several folks on this forum have ordered them. Although if 2016's can no longer be ordered, it's probably a moot point anyway. Chances are they will be rare to find sitting on a dealer's lot as dealer inventory.
 
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Discussion starter · #10 ·
Fair enough. One dealer I visited tried to tell me the only difference between the JGC and Durango was the 3rd row seating. I pressed him about the optional air suspension, different audio packages (id love to have the Jeep's HK system put into a Durango), the fact that a Durango is a full foot longer, etc and he was like "uhhhhh what? Really? Huh..."
 
#11 ·
RT has Beats audio as standard, some believe the Citadel has more sound insulation then the RT. At the end of the day if you can live with a black interior the RT makes the most sense, It has better steering and handling and my guess is that somebody makes a trailer mounted snoboard carrier.
 
#12 ·
Rumor is the 2017 R/T is available with optional gloss black roof rails/rack.
 
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#13 ·
The R/T is lower? Handles better? Maybe it's just me, but my R/T is a 2016, and I can't tell that it's any lower. Has anyone else got an R/T that seems the same height as the rest? I'd like to lower mine about an inch and make it a bit stiffer, but so far have found no definitive answers...

As far as the R/T having the beats stereo. It's a terrible system even for OEM. I'm not sure it's worth anything over the standard system.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Yeah, I'm definitely not keen on the Beats system. I actually emailed HK asking if they would pretty please get a contract for the Durangos. And I really don't know if the HK system from the Jeep will fit a Durango, but if it does, I may try and order one from the dealership or something...

Yes, there's hitch mounts available for snowboard carriers.

I'm actually slapping together a handy visual chart of all the differences listed - there's quite a few more than I expected. One key difference of note - the RT has a fold-flat front passenger seat, the Citadel doesn't. Useful if you're planning on putting surfboards inside rather than on a roof rack...
 
#16 ·
I own both versions currently, so in addition to what has already been mentioned, there is definitely more sound insulation in the citadel. Wheel well have padded insulation behind them that the R/t does not. The steering has more assist in the citadel. Front seats are also slightly softer. I can only speak to differences between 14 and 15 versions - I can't speak to any of the new features that were introduced in 2016
 
#17 ·
NorCalAthlete said:
One key difference of note - the RT has a fold-flat front passenger seat, the Citadel doesn't. Useful if you're planning on putting surfboards inside rather than on a roof rack...
Click to expand...
The 2016 R/T do not have a fold flat front passenger's seat.

Durangos with a non-electric front passenger's seat fold flat, but the ones with the electric, 8-way front passenger's seat, do not fold flat; and the 2016 R/T's have the 8-way electric seat as standard.

You may be reading documentation from earlier year models of the R/T where the electronic seat was an option.

The R/T is supposedly 20mm lower than non-R/T Durangos. Although I had a 2015 Limited with the Raleye package as a loaner, and it was a bit lower than my 2016 R/T is.
 
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Discussion starter · #18 ·
stoopalini said:
The 2016 R/T do not have a fold flat front passenger's seat.

Durangos with a non-electric front passenger's seat fold flat, but the ones with the electric, 8-way front passenger's seat, do not fold flat; and the 2016 R/T's have the 8-way electric seat as standard.

You may be reading documentation from earlier year models of the R/T where the electronic seat was an option.

The R/T is supposedly 20mm lower than non-R/T Durangos. Although I had a 2015 Limited with the Raleye package as a loaner, and it was a bit lower than my 2016 R/T is.
Click to expand...
I'm going off of the links provided earlier in this thread, which appear to be currently live on Dodge's website...
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
boomer775 said:
I own both versions currently, so in addition to what has already been mentioned, there is definitely more sound insulation in the citadel. Wheel well have padded insulation behind them that the R/t does not. The steering has more assist in the citadel. Front seats are also slightly softer. I can only speak to differences between 14 and 15 versions - I can't speak to any of the new features that were introduced in 2016
Click to expand...
Interesting - care to share your decision to purchase both? After owning both, if you could only pick one going forward which would you choose and why?
 
#20 ·
NorCalAthlete said:
I'm going off of the links provided earlier in this thread, which appear to be currently live on Dodge's website...
Click to expand...
Dodge does a horrible job of providing accurate, timely info. For example: You can only order a 2017 now. Their site says nothing, anywhere, about it. No info on added features (supposedly adds lane-keeping, Limited is now called something else, upgraded Citadel interior, etc.). They are launching the ad campaign first of September but my point is basically that Dodge's website, ironically, isn't the best place to go to root out details of new model features.
 
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