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Dodge Durango Road Test
This is not a Durango. This is
the new Durango. They have nothing in common. The old one was noisy, ill
handling, and tight inside. The new one is quieter, rides better, is roomier,
and is better handling. The only thing the two have in common outside of the
name is their thirst for gas. We were lucky to get 12 mpg with the 230
horsepower Ram engine and we would not want any less engine in our Durango. The
HEMI engine is much more powerful and gets the same gas mileage. Order that one
if you can afford the US$1400 extra on the two wheel drive model. We think you
will get that back at resale.
Built on a fully boxed steel frame with front torsion bar and rear coil-spring
suspension, the Durango rides quite well, although it certainly is not ready for
quick moves or tight corners. The 4.7 engine is hard pressed to provide even
adequate acceleration when loaded going up hills, so make sure you test drive
this model with that in mind. The really big story with the Durango is the
spacious interior and foldaway seats. We were easily able to get a student desk
into the rear compartment with room to spare. And, unlike some SUVs, we did not
have to take out the rear seats in advance. This is clearly a good design, but
it does make the third row bench seat feel flimsy to us.
Mom's view:
This is a large SUV. It is not a toy. First, check your garage to make sure the
200 plus inch Durango can fit. It is also over 74 inches high so don't forget
that factor. Interestingly, it is nearly as wide as it is tall at 76 inches. The
cargo room is impressive with the rear two rows of seats folded down. The silly
part is that despite all the room in the Durango, Dodge made one of the smallest
glove compartments we have ever seen for this giant SUV. Of course, you do get a
nice center console, plenty of side pocket storage areas, and a nice flat space
for sun glasses near the stereo controls.
Safety wise there are four-wheel antilock disc brakes, dual-stage front airbags
that have occupant sensors, and available side curtain airbags that cover all
three rows. All of this is nice, but the brakes are soft, almost to the point of
being reluctant to stop the two and a half ton SUV. This was especially
disserting, as the engine loves to move quickly at low speed thanks to the
optional 3.90 rear axle. I constantly found myself trying to rein in the Durango
on city streets with speed limits under 45. The fact that the five-speed
automatic tends to upshift whenever creates the need to pay attention to the
speedometer in town. On the highway the Durango rides quite comfortably, if
uncommunicatively.
Getting into the Durango with the running boards was, as usual, exasperating
when the car was dirty. Your outfit either drags over the running boards or you
had to climb onto the step, dock your head, twist your body, and somehow look
both graceful and decent in the process. Once inside the seats just never got
comfortable. The bottom pad was too short for me, and I am only 5'4," and the
steering wheel does not telescope making it difficult for me to get a good feel.
Fortunately, there is a nice option that enables you to adjust the pedals. With
gas prices at record levels I wasn't too eager to take this SUV on a long trip
so maybe I would have grown to like the seats better over time. The cupholders
are only average, which is sad for a newly designed truck. I think they needed
more female input on this vehicle.
Visibility to the side and back was good without people in the third row of
seats. However, the A pillars are very wide and they can hide a pedestrian or
object quite easily. Visibility of this SUV by others was high and we had a lot
of people ask about it. It was quite interesting to note that many owners of the
previous model were not pleased and wanted a more aggressive look for the
Durango. We only hope they test-drive it to see the wonderful improvement it is
over the old Dodge. We were pleased with the Durango's looks as it is not nearly
as assault styled as the pervious, leaner model.
The interior of the Durango is quite subtle and has some nice touches. I would
not call it attractive. There are three rows of seats in the new Durango. The
middle row of seats has good legroom, and the third row is just for kids. Our
test vehicle came with the optional rear entertainment center, which was nice
except for a major flaw; you can't control it from the front seat. Yep, the kids
are in total control. If you can handle that type of delegation of authority you
should not have any problem with this US$1100 option.
Young working woman's view:
At a time when gas prices are at record highs it is difficult to be impressed by
a vehicle that gets 12 mpg. However, if a big SUV is what you need, this is a
nice riding one. There are three models, the ST, SLT and top-of-the-line
Limited. All of them come with good standard features such as power windows,
locks and mirrors; air conditioning; AM/FM/CD stereo; and cruise control. If you
move up to the SLT you get a power driver seat, rear air conditioning, interior
decorating items, fog lamps and the valuable third-row seat. The top of the line
SLT provides leather seats, automatic climate control, an upgraded stereo and
CD, auto-dimming mirrors, and memory systems for interior settings. There are
also adjustable pedals, alloy wheels, and a remote security system. Prices range
from just under $29,000 US to nearly $40,000.
Although I am not fond of SUVs, this one is among the best. It has a comfortable
ride on the highway, although over some rougher roads it does have a problem
acting dainty with its 5100 plus pounds fighting the physics of action reaction.
I encourage you to test drive this vehicle on rougher roads if you intend to use
it anywhere except highways. The ride is quite different as the pavement becomes
irregular.
Unemployed young male's view:
Driving the Durango is eerie. There is a lack of steering feel and with the
height of this Dodge you got the feeling that you were not really driving, but
floating over the road. It would be unfair to say that the Durango handles
poorly. As for all large SUVs, avoidance maneuvers take considerable thought and
driving ability. The roll over rate is better than the Lincoln Navigator, but
not as good as the Honda Pilot. You might want to check out the latest data at
http://www.safecarguide.com/exp/rollover/idx.htm
I felt that the five speed automatic transmission was slow to downshift and
certainly had difficultly in demanding situations with the limited power of the
4.7 engine. Daily driving is not a problem until you need a place to park. It
isn't that the Durango isn't easy to park; it is the size that makes it
difficult because you need a large enough opening.
I found the climate in the back of the SUV easy to control thanks to a set of
controls just for those of us in the aft section. I also was impressed by the
factory installed DVD system and monitor. It comes with wireless headsets, can
play MP3s, and is compatible with most video game systems. The Durango also can
be ordered with a 380-watt stereo system with rear subwoofer and Sirius
satellite radio. You have to order a variety of other options to get the
entertainment package so look to spend over $1200 US with another $300 for the
special radio. I personally like the MX satellite radio better than the Sirius,
but both are better than local offerings for the traveler.
Other technology offered on the Dodge was a hands-free communications system
with Bluetooth technology that recognizes certain cellular phones and responds
to voice commands. We didn't test this option, but it is a superior idea for
hands free communication when driving.
In terms of sales, I think the Durango is better than the competition. I would
go with the HEMI engine for sure, get rid of the useless side steps, and be
prepared to spend copious amounts of money every time you fill up the 27-gallon
fuel tank. Even with that significant reservoir of fuel the range on a tank of
gas is less than 270 miles.
Dad's view:
A building is only as good as its foundation, and the Durango is no exception.
It has a newly designed frame that is responsible for its kind ride and when
combined with the rack and pinion steering, provides an easy driving feeling.
Unfortunately for those of us who like to drive rather than aim our vehicles,
the steering too light and need time to adjust to the lack of feedback.
Connecting the sturdy frame to the road is a torsion bar front suspension and a
newly designed coil spring rear suspension with a Watts linkage to control
lateral axle movement. The result is notable in its quiet ride and easy
disposition.
With a tight turning radius, the ability to tow nearly 9000 pounds, and room for
seven, the new Durango is going to be a sales winner if gas prices are not a
concern.
Family conference:
We can never recommend a SUV unless the buyer is aware of their shortcomings in
terms of costs of operation and safety. These are trucks and react differently
than cars to dramatic inputs. With that in mind, The Car Family feels that the
Durango is probably the best of the large SUVs in terms of ride and room and
value. Engine wise the HEMI is the only way to go if you haul a family or tow.
For around town or general use the smaller 4.7 engine is adequate. Good job,
Dodge and note the five-years/60,000 miles powertrain warranty. For a complete
list of all vehicle manufacturers go to
http://www.reacheverychild.com/business/auto/index.html
Good points:
Pride, third row seating, towing ability, storage area
Needs improvement:
transmission, gas mileage, wide A pillars, seats, glove compartment, brakes
Written by The
Car Family |
