Introduction

Dodge Durango -- 2004 Review: Welcome to the spring of 2004. Fuel prices continue an upward spiral, approaching record levels that have some Americans spending nearly as much money in fuel on a monthly basis as they do on their car payments. Criticism of SUVs is escalating, with new scrutiny on car/truck compatibility in crashes and formal review by legislators of the federal definition of a light truck in establishing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Plus, there’s plenty of focus by the automotive industry on hybrid powertrains; Ford, Honda, Lexus and Toyota are rolling out new models that get twice the miles per gallon but with no discernable impact on acceleration.

Ranting and Raving

Meanwhile, Dodge runs advertising featuring a thirty-something schlub teaching his young son that in America’s consumer society, bigger is better, especially when it comes to the fuel-slurping Hemi V8 under the hood of the redesigned 2004 Dodge Durango.

Wait! Don’t go. This isn’t some anti-SUV rant disguised as a 2004 Dodge Durango road test. The new Durango is an excellent vehicle for people who need one, and we’d recommend it.

Original Recipe Dodge Durango

Before explaining why we like the new 2004 Durango so dang much, let’s review the pros and cons of the original version. The Dodge Durango debuted in mid-1997 as a 1998 model, based upon the ruggedly handsome Dakota pickup truck. It was one of the first mid-size SUVs to offer seating for seven passengers and, miraculously, adults could find a modicum of comfort in the standard third-row bench seat. With its true off-roading capability, roomy cabin, and comfortable seats, the original Durango was a hit. But like most cars and trucks, it wasn’t perfect. The interior was constructed of marginally acceptable materials, the ride was pickup truck stiff, the optional 5.9-liter Magnum V8 guzzled fuel, and the Durango was no crash-test star.

New and Improved Durango Goals

Given the Durango’s history, it comes as no surprise to learn that the goals of the team charged with creating the redesigned 2004 Dodge Durango were to better the ride quality and handling, refine comfort, add modern conveniences, improve safety, and increase fuel efficiency.

Forming the foundation upon which these advances are built is a fully boxed, hydroformed ladder frame designed specifically for the 2004 Dodge Durango. This new frame is engineered for optimum body stiffness and reduced assembly complexity, resulting in ride quality gains, increased handling responsiveness, improved safety, and reductions in noise, vibration and harshness.