Introduction

Dodge Durango looks tough but rides smoothly. Big and bulky, it handles like a truck, but it's quiet, roomy, and comfortable, with a host of available technology. Properly equipped, Durango is rated to tow up to 8,950 pounds. A new hybrid gas-electric powertrain joins the lineup for 2009, allowing a 40-percent improvement in fuel economy in heavy traffic. The Durango Hybrid model is a durable vehicle with strong towing capacity that gets decent fuel economy in commuter traffic. This second-generation Durango, which first appeared as a 2004 model, fits between the Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition in exterior dimensions. It's larger than midsize SUVs, such as the Ford Explorer, and has the room and feel of a full-size SUV, such as the Expedition and Tahoe. Durango offers seating for five, seven or eight, depending on the model; for example, optional second-row bucket seats provide seven-passenger capacity on a three-row model. With all seats folded, there's more than 100 cubic feet of cargo space. You can slide full-size sheets of plywood in back. A V6 is standard, but two V8s are available and both are superb. The 4.7-liter V8 is a Flex Fuel engine that can run on gasoline or up to 85 percent ethanol (E85). It's smooth and powerful, but drivers who want or need more can opt for the celebrated 5.7-liter Hemi, which gains 30 horsepower for 2009. Both V8s come with a five-speed automatic transmission that's smooth, refined, and responsive. This transmission includes a Tow/Haul feature we like that holds lower gears longer when towing to reduce gear searching. The biggest news for 2009 is the addition of a Hybrid model that utilizes the Hemi V8 and two electric motors. Dodge says the Durango Hybrid gets a 25-percent fuel economy boost in combined city and highway driving, and a 40-percent boost in the city. New for 2009, the available rear DVD entertainment system gains Sirius Backseat TV. Dodge's MyGIG hard-drive radio is now called UConnect GPS in the Durango and its hard-drive grows from 20 to 30 gigabytes. The base SXT model has also been replaced by an SE model and last year's Adventurer model is gone.

Walkaround

The Dodge Durango offers an imposing presence in rearview mirrors, with its big crosshair grille and shotgun headlights that have become a Dodge signature. The Durango features a high beltline that suggests great mass. The short front and rear overhangs, not typical of a full-size SUV, contribute to Durango's forceful expression. The short hood and flared fenders give the Durango the look of a big-rig truck. That short hood leads into a steeply raked windshield and sloping roof. The front fenders make the hood look as narrow as it is short. The windshield is aerodynamically efficient and offers good visibility. SLT models come with 18-inch aluminum wheels, and 18-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels come standard on Limited; 20-inch chrome-clad wheels are optional. All of these big rims are framed nicely by Durango's bold wheel arches. The large (6x9-inch) rearview mirrors are heated and folding on all models. The roofline dips slightly at the rear, and the liftgate window curves in to meet it, which keeps Durango from looking entirely like a box. Afterburner tail lamps are another Dodge hallmark. The center high-mounted stop lamp is integrated smoothly into the rear roofline. A wide chrome applique accentuates the rear liftgate and features a centered, three-dimensional ram's head. The Hybrid model does not have any exterior modifications, unlike the GM two-stage hybrid vehicles that tout their green powertrains. Despite its modern aerodynamics, the Durango takes styling cues from the 1946-68 Dodge Power Wagon, essentially a World War II T214 military truck with a longer wheelbase and a civilian-style, fully enclosed cab. In the immediate postwar era, when the Willys Jeep owned the quarter-ton utility-vehicle market (and mainstream pickups didn't yet offer four-wheel drive) the 3/4-ton Power Wagon was the first choice of rural contractors, firefighters, and forest rangers who needed serious off-road capability and more load capacity than the Jeep could provide. It was popular for hunting and fishing for the same reasons. Today's Durango is far more refined than those old Power Wagons, and the Durango offers better capability.

Interior Features

The Dodge Durango feels spacious inside. Large amounts of glass contribute to that feeling along with lots of cargo space. The Durango is officially classified as a midsize SUV, like the Ford Explorer, but it's bigger than that and inside it feels like a full-size SUV. It straddles the segment. The front seats are comfortable, neither too soft nor too firm, and the four-spoke steering wheel is nice. The cloth upholstery in SLT models is said to be stain, odor, and static-resistant. Dog hair might be another matter, though. The SLT and Hybrid models have orange-hued wood trim, while the Limited presents a cleaner look with its brushed aluminum. And that trim is real wood and real aluminum, not plastic. Second-row bucket seats are available to replace the standard 40/20/40 bench. A second-row floor console is part of the bucket-seat package. And if you order the optional heat for the front bucket seats, the second-row buckets get it, too. As a compromise for customers who need to carry five adults, the 40/20/40 bench has a recline feature on all but SE. Separate rear-seat climate controls are standard on all but SE, a useful feature when carrying dogs to say nothing of rear-seat passengers. Details are carefully thought out, including convenient grab handles cleverly molded into the stubby rear leg of the second-row seat, which ease climbing back to the third row. Once back there, a small bubble in the ceiling provides additional headroom for third-row passengers. A one-piece third-row bench is standard on SLT. On Limited and Hybrid models, the third row is split 60/40 for additional convenience. The second and third rows are notably easy to access because the rear doors open an exceptionally wide 84 degrees. The second-row seat easily flips forward with the touch of one hand, and the seatback flops flat just as easily. This is no small virtue. Cargo capacity is quite impressive, making the Durango a great hauler. Behind the second row of seats is 68 cubic feet of cargo space, equal to the total for many SUVs. Put the second row down, and there's 102 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The distance between the wheel housings is 48 inches, so full-size sheets of plywood can be loaded flat. Speaking of loading cargo, this task is aided by the liftgate, which opens easily and is power-operated on Limited and Hybrid models. The cargo floor is relatively low, thanks to the rear suspension design, making loading and unloading easier. Instrumentation is clean, handsome, easy to read, and easy to operate. It is simple and utilitarian. We especially like the black-on-white gauges and rectangular black Venetian-blind style heating and cooling vents. The center console is deep, under a removable tray. On Limiteds and Hybrids, it is covered in leather. Forward of that is another important compartment designed to serve as a fast-food bin. Two integrated cup holders with removable neoprene for different sizes of drink containers are provided. We found the SLT's manual heating controls and the wiper controls fussy, and the high beams seemed a little lacking one wintry night. The Limited and Hybrid's high-tech climate-control panel with automatic temperature adjustment is better. And we welcome the availability of seat heaters. The Hybrid's gauge cluster replaces the tachometer with a power gauge that shows when the electric motors are aiding power or being charged. The power gauge has a green Economy zone that drivers can use to aim for the best fuel economy. The UConnect GPS system comes with a 6.5-inch touch screen, a navigation system with real-time traffic, and a 30-gigabyte hard drive to hold music and picture files, plus navigation map information. The navigation system can be operated with voice commands, which can be used to input destination information when the vehicle is in motion. The optional rear DVD entertainment system now has Sirius Backseat TV, which has three children's channels: Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network. DVDs and TV can be played on the front navigation screen when the vehicle is in Park.