The Dodge Durango is a far cry from the first-generation models. It's smooth and quiet, quite different from the relatively noisy, rough-riding pre-2004 models. Both V8 engines are good choices.
The 4.7-liter engine is really good. It's powerful and really smooth. The 4.7-liter V8 is rated at 230 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque. But it only gets 14/18 mpg in 4WD, using 87 octane, and the more we looked at that versus the 5.7-liter Hemi, the more we gravitated to the bigger engine.
The 5.7-liter Hemi is rated at 335 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque. That's a lot more power than the 4.7-liter while providing almost the same economy, 13/18 mpg with 89 octane recommended, 87 acceptable. For $895 more, the Hemi seems like a no-brainer; plus, it can tow up to 8,950 pounds with the optional 3.92 rear axle, compared to 7,400 for the 4.7. And the two-speed transfer case is standard with the Hemi 4x4, optional with the other engines.
Hemi, by the way, refers to the overhead-valve, hemispherical combustion chamber design, and harkens back to the late '60s when the 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Dodge Hemi Ramcharger ruled. Chrysler modernized the design last year after it had been gone (but not forgotten) for decades.
Still, it didn't feel like 335 horsepower to the seat of our pants. The 5.7-liter felt a little more powerful than the 4.7-liter, but it wasn't a night-and-day difference. The double overhead-cam, 5.6-liter, 305-horsepower Nissan Armada feels like it has more oomph than the 5.7-liter Durango, which feels solid, but heavy.
For its part, the 3.7-liter V6 is rated at 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque and 16/21 mpg. It's rated to pull a 3700-pound trailer and comes with a four-speed automatic.
We were most impressed by the five-speed automatic transmission that comes with both V8s. The shifts were incredibly smooth. Shifting up or down between third and fourth gears is undetectable. The transmission features a Tow/Haul mode, which holds the gears longer and will even downshift under deceleration, as might be needed with a trailer. It's cool when you come toward a turn at high speed and back off, and your automatic transmission drops a downshift for you.
When you need to use the brakes to slow down or stop, they'll be there. They're big vented disc brakes with twin-piston calipers in front, just the thing for slowing down this heavy beast. ABS helps the driver maintain steering control by eliminating wheel lockup, while electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) balances braking forces front and rear for more stable stopping. We slammed on the brakes several times from 70 mph and found the Durango stopped steady and true.
The current Durango represented a clean-sheet design when it was introduced as a 2004 model, with nothing borrowed from the Ram pickup (as before). New manufacturing processes resulted in a more rigid chassis, which benefits from hydroformed boxed frame rails, a new independent front suspension and innovative adaptation of a Watts link rear suspension with coil springs. Cornering and handling are excellent, maybe even superb, for a big SUV.
The ride quality is quite good, way better than the old Durango. There's a lot more travel in the suspension. The rack-and-pinion steering provides a 39.9-foot turning circle, very good for a vehicle of this size.
We had a chance to toss the Durango around more than 100 miles of remote twisty roads in the Texas Hill Country, and it stayed on an even keel through some very hard cornering. The engine sits farther back in the chassis resulting in better balance. We drove 4.7-liter and 5.7-liter models. Driving a 5.7-liter Durango SLT around Detroit in January backed up our earlier impressions. It felt very secure in icy conditions.
We drove the Durango off-road and didn't hit bottom even when driving aggressively over rough terrain. Crawling over irregular terrain in 4 Low reveals the suspension is set up more for on-road handling than off-road flex. On a great 4x4, the suspension articulates to let wheels droop to the ground. That's fine for severe off-highway use, but makes good handling on pavement problematic. In the Durango's case, Dodge has traded some extreme off-road capability for superior on-road handling, which more people will appreciate on an everyday basis.
We towed a 5,950-pound trailer for about 30 miles, and decided you should get the 5.7-liter Hemi if you need to tow something that heavy. That's what we had hooked to the trailer, and the 4.7-liter wouldn't have been enough motor.
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