2004 Dodge Durango 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.

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.

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.

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.

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Dodge also wanted to make the Durango larger and more capable than before, able to compete against large suvs such as the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition and Toyota Sequoia. The 2004 Dodge Durango is significantly longer, wider and taller – by seven, three and three inches respectively – sized like the big boys but looking far more svelte.

The new 2004 Dodge Durango is offered in ST, SLT and Limited trim levels, with three available engines transferring power through two different transmissions to the rear or all four wheels.

The standard engine is a 3.7-liter V6 that generates 210 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 235 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. A four-speed automatic transmission is the only choice with this V6, which is rated by the EPA to achieve 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway, and it is not available on models equipped with 4WD or with the Limited trim level. Durangos equipped with the V6 receive a 6,400-pound Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and can tow up to 3,700 pounds. Obviously, this is the choice for people who need maximum fuel efficiency.

An updated version of the 4.7-liter Magnum V8 from last year’s Durango is the volume engine for 2004. Standard on the Limited 2WD and all 4WD Durangos, this capable motor offers lots of mid-range power and will suit most buyers’ needs most of the time. The 4.7-liter Magnum V8 makes 230 horsepower at 4,600 rpm and 290 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm. It’s hooked up to a five-speed automatic transmission, notable for a reverse gear ratio that matches first gear and an alternate second gear ratio for tough towing and difficult grades. This transmission also provides a Tow/Haul mode that holds lower gears longer for less transmission hunting and provides crisper gear changes under load. The EPA rates this powertrain to achieve 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway with 2WD and 14 city/18 highway with 4WD. The maximum that a Durango equipped with this engine can tow is 7,400 pounds, and it receives a 6,600-pound GVWR. Looking for the 2004 Dodge Durango that can carry the most payload? It’s the 2WD Durango ST equipped with the 4.7-liter V8, which can safely tote 1,780 pounds of passengers and cargo.

More powerful than ever, the 2004 Dodge Durango’s top engine offering also gets better fuel economy than the motor it replaces. According to Dodge, the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 gets 10 percent better fuel efficiency while providing a 40 percent improvement in horsepower and a 12 percent improvement in torque over the old 5.9-liter Magnum V8. The Hemi makes 335 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 370 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm, and uses the same five-speed automatic that changes gears for the 4.7-liter V8. Optional only on SLT and Limited models, the Hemi is EPA-rated at 14/19 with 2WD and 13/18 with 4WD. The Hemi V8 cranks out plenty of muscle to haul seven adults around town or the boat to the lake. Combined with the optional 3.92 axle ratio, a Hemi-endowed 2004 Dodge Durango 2WD can tow 8,950 pounds (max. towing with 4WD is 8,700 pounds), better than any other model in the lineup.

Because the 2004 Dodge Durango is a real SUV and not a wimpy crossover vehicle, two optional 4WD systems are available. When ordering the 4.7-liter V8, an electronic single-speed transfer case offers full-time 4WD that varies power depending on conditions and can be locked to provide an even split of power to the front and rear axles. If you require low range gearing for the really gnarly stuff, you’ve gotta getta Hemi. Minimum ground clearance at the rear axle is 7.9 inches for every 2004 Dodge Durango.