EVEN THOUGH off-roaders are primarily interested in how capable a vehicle is on the trail, that doesn"t mean we don"t care about appearances as well. For instance, when the Dodge first revised the Durango"s rounded shape a few years ago in favor of a more angular frontal design, our initial reactions were mixed. Okay, let"s be blunt - we just didn"t like it all that much. (But then again, we didn"t warm up to the Ram"s big-rig lines at first, either.)
In any event, Dodge has revised the frontal area once again so that it"s now easier on the eyes, with a new grille, front fenders, hood and headlamps. Not only that, company stylists crafted new body-mounted front and rear fascias that eliminate the gaps seen in previous models. We feel the new nose treatment is aggressive and clean, creating a more integrated look.
Okay, now that we"ve got the aesthetic issues resolved, how does this Hemi-powered SUV stack up? The vehicle"s strong suit is its throttle response, along with smooth ride quality, ample cargo capacity, and most important, offroad competence.
Dodge excels at building vehicles with brawn and utility (the Hemi- and Cummins-powered Rams in particular, as noted in previous issues), and the 2007 Dodge Durango is no exception.
The standard engine for 2WD Durango SXT and SLT models is a 3.7- liter V6, delivering 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. Standard on Limiteds and all 4WD models is a 4.7- liter V8 with 235 horses and 300 lb./ft. For maximum towing and hauling power, an optional 5.7-liter V8 generates 330 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque. All three engines use automatic transmissions; the V6 runs through a four-speed gearbox, while the V8s have five-speed units with a tow-haul mode.
The much-ballyhooed Hemi lives up to its reputation, providing dramatically quicker acceleration than the V6 (but you knew that already, right?). Unfortunately, this power will cost you at the pump. On 2WD Durangos, the 4.7- liter V8 and 5.7-liter Hemi V8 get a disappointing 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway and 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway, respectively. Even with the MDS (Multi Displacement System), we observed 17 mpg in mixed driving with the Hemi.
On the other hand, the Durango is not intended to be an economical "cute Ute." This full-size SUV offers seating for up to eight passengers as well as a generous tow rating. The mid-sized Durango offers a maximum towing capacity of 8,950 pounds, which means that it can pull more weight than most full-size SUVs.
In spite of its generous proportions, the Durango manages to deliver both a smooth, composed ride and nimble cornering. Dodge"s SUV is similarly adept in off-road situations, offering plenty of wheel travel and a playful demeanor, as we found when attacking some dips and bumps at speed.
Returning to the aesthetics, the clean exterior design carries over into the cabin as well. While not designed to be in the same league as a Cadillac Escalade or Range Rover, the styling is certainly pleasing without becoming too precious for rough-and-ready trail use. The cabin is fairly roomy, except for the legroom in the second row"s available legroom is rather tight. A kid-friendly third-row seat is available as well.
Base models include standard features such as side-curtain airbags, stability control, one-touch up and down front windows, cruise control, remote keyless entry and a six-disc indash CD stereo. Optional upgrades include a navigation system and Bluetooth connectivity.
Moving forward from here, rumor has it that a gas/electric hybrid-power Durango will debut sometime in 2008, perhaps as an "09 model. The hybrid Durango uses a 5.7 Hemi V8 assisted by two small electric motors instead of one larger unit. Drive is to all four wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission. Dodge claims up to 25 percent better fuel economy than a regular Hemi Durango, plus more-responsive power delivery than "traditional" hybrids. The latter aspect will be interesting to evaluate in an offroad setting. A new 5.6-liter diesel V8 is also in the works, something we wanted to see in SUVs generally. Expected to produce some 260 hp, the diesel is a joint effort of Chrysler Group and engine specialist Cummins, which has long supplied a straight-six turbodiesel for Dodge"s big Ram pickups. So we"ll have plenty of drivetrain changes to cover in coming years, and hopefully we won"t have to dwell on visual appearances too much in the future.
