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OK, so Dodge has figured out how to make a sport-utility that turns some heads. For that it deserves kudos.
The new enlarged Durango carries that bold Dodge nose with lowered front fenders to reflect the PT Cruiser and Dodge Ram looks. Folks comment on this ute and the test truck, the upscale Limited, was an attractive metallic blue, which didn't hurt either.
And yes, it had a Hemi in it.
What that means is that not only is the Durango a looker, but it boasts the most horsepower of any of the huge utes, 345, with plenty of pulling power too at a torque rating of 375. In fact, Durango has a towing capacity of 8,900 pounds, a class leader.
So will this baby pull your snowmobile trailer? You bet.
Plus because it's larger, it will carry more passengers comfortably. Durango pioneered that third row seat in utes, but now those rear seat folks will fit and not find knee or headroom lacking. The 2004 Durango is seven inches longer than its predecessor, two inches wider and three inches taller. I carried five adults with ease and no one complained about cramped quarters.
That increased space also means more room for cargo, if you aren't carrying more than five people. Total cargo space for snow gear, suitcases and such is up 15% from the earlier model, but with that third row seat folded down Durango claims more cargo space than Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition or Toyota Sequoia, and none of those is short on space.
Overall the truck drives pretty well. Handling is decent although adding that three inches to its height didn't make it feel any less top-heavy. Still, Durango is easy to control and felt stable on the highway.
And the Hemi, which creates 115 more horsepower than the other Magnum V-8 available in Durango, is strong. However, despite what those TV commercials show, this is not a racer and won't burn away from stoplights to leave smaller vehicles in its dust. In fact, due to its weight, 4,671 pounds, Durango is anything but quick from a stop.
Ride is good for a big truck, likely due to the new hydroformed frame that allows for better suspension tuning up front, where a multi-link system is used. There's a solid axle in back though and there's still some bounce on railroad tracks and large bumps.
Braking from the large four-wheel discs is darned good, plus Durango has an anti-lock system. The test truck also added the $300 traction control, a plus on snowy roads.
Durango is one of the first trucks to offer a five-speed automatic transmission, too, and this one works well. Also note that V-8 powered Durangos (a 210-horse V-6 is standard) also include a Tow/Haul transmission feature. Its aim is crisper shifts and the ability to downshift more smoothly when driving downhill.
The truck's four-wheel-drive system also is easily controlled with a dash knob that can be set on all-wheel-drive if you don't want to bother switching as weather changes.
Inside, Dodge continues to offer sharp-looking and highly functional cockpits.
This one had a gray leather interior with silver trim on the dash console. It looked good but could cause some nasty reflections on sunny days. The radio and climate control areas mid-dash are black and everything had big, macho knobs and buttons. Those are great if you're driving with heavy winter gloves. In addition, the dash gauges are white-faced with black numbers, creating a sporty look.
The Limited features an Infinity stereo with a six-disc CD player that sounds great. There also is an automatic climate control system (not dual up front) with a second set of controls for the back seats. In the same vicinity is a knob to turn on the rear wiper. That seems a bit oddly placed and took me some time to locate.
This one also added heated front seats for $250, another plus in winter.
Durango's seats are comfortable too, with mildly contoured units front and rear, plus the front seats are both powered. Dodge opts for a manual lumbar support, which is fine and also includes power-adjustable accelerator and brake pedals and a tilt, but not telescoping, steering wheel.
Overhead is a trip computer and temperature gauge, standard Dodge features, plus good lighting. The big visors have lighted mirrors, but no extenders, which is too bad, since the sun can hit you at some odd angles during winter.
Between the seats the Durango has a big open storage tray and two cup holders. There's also the requisite giant storage box and this one adds a tray, below which two headphones can be stored. Those are used for the rear-seat video system, which adds $1,150, and aims to keep the kids or other passengers quiet on a long drive.
Naturally there's a huge step-up into the truck, it being taller and riding on 17-inch tires too. An off-road tire upgrade boosts the cost $135 and adding running boards for easier mounting tacks on another $445.
Other goodies include the usual power windows, mirrors, key fob, automatic lights, fog lights and cruise and radio buttons on the steering wheel hub.
Gas mileage? I got 13.6 miles per gallon while the computer was telling me I was getting 15. The EPA says to expect 13 mpg city and 18 highway.
Cost? Less expensive versions exist, but the Durango Limited starts at $34,255, a reasonable cost for this size ute. The test truck climbed to $38,765, which isn't bad, considering all it comes with.
If you want to haul a load of kids or pull a load of snowmobiles, ATVs or other gear, Durango will do the job - big time.