2011 Dodge Durango Unveiled
The next entry in the Chrysler Group's 2010 product offensive was introduced today when the automaker took the wraps off the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango. The short story here: If you're looking for a three-row vehicle that offers significant levels of interior versatility and a surprisingly engaging driving experience, the Durango will be an excellent choice.
The completely redesigned Durango is built on the same high-quality platform that underpins the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but the Dodge forgoes the kind of extreme off-road capabilities offered by its Jeep sibling. Instead, the automaker boasts that the Durango has been "performance-tuned to thrill anyone who truly loves to drive," and that the vehicle's "stiffened unibody structure is engineered with the driving enthusiast in mind."
On the other hand, all-wheel drive remains an option, and Dodge was careful to ensure the 2011 Durango could post "exceptional" towing numbers. With trailer-sway control as a standard feature, the V-6 powered Durango can pull a best-in-class 6,200 lbs. and with a V-8, that gets upped to 7,400 lbs. Providing the motivation for the Durango will be either the standard Pentastar V-6 or an optional 5.7-liter HEMI with Chrysler's multi-displacement system (MDS) four-cylinder mode for improved efficiency. Official EPA ratings are not yet available, but for comparison's sake, the V-6 Grand Cherokee is capable of 16 mpg city/23 mpg highway/18 mpg combined; the Durango, which should be a bit lighter than the Jeep, should do a bit better at the gas pumps, too.
The interior should be light years ahead of that in the 2009 Durango, since it received the same kind of attention provided to the critically acclaimed interiors of the Dodge RAM pickup and the Grand Cherokee. Durango occupants can expect plenty of high-quality, soft-touch materials, along with plenty of room, even in the third row, and world-class flexibility. According to Dodge, the Durango offers 22 separate seating configurations, allowing drivers to tailor the vehicle's interior for the optimum mix of cargo and people space.
There's a long list of safety features as well, including standard side-curtain air bags that protect occupants in all three rows of Durango seating and a lengthy roster of available safety technologies, like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection and forward collision warning.
On the outside, the Durango doesn't really break any new ground, although the updated Dodge grille gets revised for a less trucky, yet still aggressive, new appearance. The subtle sheet metal curves that mimic the Durango's wheel openings are another nice touch.
If the Durango's driving dynamics live up to Dodge's marketing materials'”and gas prices don't start spiking'”the company should have another modest winner on its hands when the vehicle goes on sales in the fourth quarter of this year.