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Review: 2011 Dodge Durango

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Dodge, Reviews

Finding Redemption Through Repetition, Groundhog Day Style

2012 Dodge Durango

2011 Dodge Durango – Click above for high-res image gallery

Two years ago, on a lark, my girlfriend and I clambered aboard a new Dodge Durango Hybrid and motored from Detroit to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to take in the kitschy phenomenon known as Groundhog Day. The idea was to do a combined road trip story and vehicle review, but Chrysler didn’t even wait for us to return home before it killed off production of the gas-electric SUV. In fact, it wasn’t much more than two months after its initial announcement that production was cancelled at the truck’s Delaware plant.

Blame Chrysler’s then-dire financial condition, but the hybrid Durango barely made a dent on the Pentastar’s production charts, lasting one model year and moving just 224 copies. Hold your belated “Who Killed the Electric SUV?” shrieks, though. Despite a nearly 25-percent increase in claimed fuel efficiency, the Durango Hybrid wasn’t a particularly good vehicle. This wasn’t wasn’t really its fault, of course, as the already aging second-generation Durango upon which it was based wasn’t a terribly refined piece to begin with.

Fast-forward to 2011, and we’ve commandeered an example of Dodge’s all-new third-generation Durango to make our second-ever pilgrimage to see Punxy Phil. More importantly, we’re using the trip as an opportunity to see if Chrysler has finally gotten around to building a better Durango.

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Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango: Review

2011 Dodge Durango

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Review: 2011 Dodge Durango originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2011: 2011 Dodge Durango Heat lights our fire

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Crossover, Dodge

2011 Dodge Durango Heat

2011 Dodge Durango Heat – Click above for high-res image gallery

Dodge has lit up its new Durango Heat at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show. The mighty crossover wears the fancy dress of the R/T model, but comes without thirsty 5.7-liter Hemi V8 under the hood. Instead, buyers can expect to find the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 behind the headlights churning out 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. That’s an extra five ponies over the typical V6 Durango, and combined, Dodge says that the machine should be capable of 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. That’s a jump of two and three mpg, respectively, over the Hemi-powered R/T.

Outside, the Durango Heat wears the same front fascia, side skirts and monochrome treatment as the more powerful crossover, and it even comes packing the same low-slung suspension and 20-inch wheels. Don’t expect to find seating for seven indoors, though. Dodge has ditched the third row to save a few pounds to increase both performance and fuel economy.

If you like what you see, expect to shell out $30,295. All-wheel drive guise will set you back an additional $2,000.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango Heat: Chicago 2011

2011 Dodge Durango Heat

Chicago 2011: 2011 Dodge Durango Heat lights our fire originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2011: Dodge brings 2011 Durango some Heat

2011 Dodge Durango Heat – Click above to enlarge

Dodge is lighting a figurative fire under its entire lineup of vehicles these days, and one vehicle that’s igniting the match is the redesigned-for-2011 Durango. Perhaps it’s fitting, then, that the automaker has just announced the new Heat package for the 2011 Durango, which is basically an R/T minus the Hemi V8 engine.

In place of the brawny V8 beast is a version of the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine boasting 295 horsepower (up five ponies from other V6 Durangos) and 260 pound-feet of torque. Naturally, the main benefit is improved fuel efficiency, with the Heat earning EPA ratings of 16/23 (city/highway) for the rear-wheel-drive model and 16/22 for the all-wheel-drive model. That’s up from 14/20 with the more powerful V8.

Besides the engine, most everything about the Heat matches that of the R/T. Included among the changes over less sporting models is a body kit that includes a monochromatic front fascia with a lower air dam, suspension lowered by 20 millimeters, 20-inch wheels with all-season performance tires and a dual exhaust system. Dodge saves a bit of weight by ejecting the third row; the Heat is available as a five-passenger model only.

Pricing for the 2011 Durango Heat begins at $30,295 ($32,295 with all-wheel drive). Want to know more? Click past the break for the full press release.

[Source: Dodge]

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Chicago 2011: Dodge brings 2011 Durango some Heat originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge announces 3/36 no-cost maintenance on select Durango and Journey models

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Chrysler, Dodge

Dodge Durango Citadel

Dodge Durango Citadel at SEMA 2010 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler has unveiled a new no-cost maintenance program for certain Dodge Journey and Durango models. Buyers who opt for the Durango Citadel or the Journey Lux will be treated to free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles that includes oil and oil filter changes every three months or 3,000 miles as well as scheduled and recommended maintenance at 6,000 mile intervals. The program also throws in $1,000 worth of trip-interruption coverage, towing and roadside assistance up to $100 and $35/per day car rental should you get into an accident. All told, Chrysler says that the program has a retail value of around $1,100.

We’re guessing that no-cost maintenance is an effort to lure buyers to deeper ends of the Durango and Journey option pools. Of course, knowing that you won’t have to shell out a dime for routine work on your vehicle is likely to be a big selling point when either the newly reworked crossovers are lined up against their competitors. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: SEMA 2010: Dodge Durango Citadel “Black and Tan”

Dodge Durango Citadel

[Source: Chrysler]

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Dodge announces 3/36 no-cost maintenance on select Durango and Journey models originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: 2011 Ford Explorer vs. 2011 Dodge Durango – What’s your pick?

Filed under: Crossover, Dodge, Ford

Ford Explorer vs. Dodge Durango

The SUV is dead. Long live the SUV!

The 2011 Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer are big departures from the models that they replace. Aside from the usual styling and refinement differences, the biggest changes for these vehicle are that they both ditch the traditional body-on-frame sport-utility vehicle DNA in favor of unibody constructions. By our definition, these once-SUVs are now CUVs, though their respective parent companies continue to brand them as being traditional sport-utes through and through.

Both the Durango and Explorer offer available seating for seven and all-wheel drive, but that’s where the similarities start to taper off. Each vehicle offers a choice of two different powertrains, but while Dodge has opted to go a more traditional route with by fielding the Durango with both 3.6-liter V6 and 5.7-liter V8 engines, Ford has gone in the opposite direction by equipping the Explorer with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-four and a 3.5-liter V6. There are pros and cons for each – the Explorer may prove to be more fuel-efficient, but the Durango ought to tow more.

Each of these new crossovers tries to stay true to the traditional SUV mindset, just in different directions. Ford’s Terrain Management system will surely come in handy for people who need more off-road prowess, though the end result remains that the Explorer is arguably more of a tall wagon than an honest SUV. The Durango keeps things a bit more and has a strong, presence that we suspect will still be well-received by people who prefer honest-to-goodness sport-utility vehicles.

We could debate the pros and cons of each vehicle all day, and indeed, we’re still waiting for the Full Monty-worth of details and specifications, but we still want to know: What do you think? If you had to choose either the Explorer or Durango, which would get your pick? Cast your vote in the poll below and be sure to sound off with your thoughts in Comments.

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Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango

2011 Dodge Durango

Gallery: 2011 Ford Explorer

Poll: 2011 Ford Explorer vs. 2011 Dodge Durango – What’s your pick? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Dodge Durango name confirmed?

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Dodge

2011 Dodge Durango teaser site test

2011 Dodge Durango teaser site (test version) – Click above for high-res image gallery

Magnum? Durango? There’s been plenty of banter about which nameplate Dodge’s new unibody SUV will ultimately wear, but now it seems we can put the debate to rest. At least two Autoblog readers have stumbled across the test version of the forthcoming 2011 Dodge Durango teaser website. Not only is “Durango” in the test URL, but “2011 Durango” is in the page’s title tags, and the landing page of Dodge’s test site lists it as an upcoming model. (Note to Chrysler: if you want to keep this sort of thing under wraps, don’t use a public-facing test subdomain.)

The teaser site itself is fairly typical. Visitors can page through several close-up images, join a mailing list, and spread the news via social media. In fact, the Facebook share feature reveals the teaser site’s eventual production URL. Finally, the website appears to confirm that the Durango will be sold as a 2011 model and not a 2012 as has been speculated. Our favorite part of the test teaser site, however, is the embedded audio. The music currently being used as a placeholder/audio test is the Benny Hill theme.

With both the 2011 Dodge Durango and the 2011 Ford Explorer now on unibody platforms, it’ll be interesting to how consumers perceive the two vehicles. While Ford is pushing the Explorer as an SUV rather than a crossover, the new Durango’s Jeep lineage (it shares its basic architecture with the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, remember) could give it a significant advantage among those looking for a “real” SUV. Thanks to Matt and Bored for the tips!

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango Teaser Website

[Source: Dodge]

2011 Dodge Durango name confirmed? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Dodge Durango (or is that Magnum?) revealed on Twitter

Filed under: Spy Photos, SUV, Crossover, Chrysler, Dodge

Ah, the magic of the interwebs. Chrysler has yet to officially reveal the 2012 Dodge Durango (which could yet be birthed under the name Magnum), but we’ve come across this rather nonchalant camera phone photo taken by one of the Twitterati.

Judging from the Durango/Magnum spy shots that have come through our hands, the exterior design hasn’t changed much during the SUV-turned-crossover’s development. If we’re honest, the design is a little milquetoast, but we’d rather Chrysler be executing simple designs rather than unsightly messes. Expect the Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 and 5.7-liter Hemi V8 to be under the hood when the SUV hits the road in early 2011.

[Source: Twitter]

2012 Dodge Durango (or is that Magnum?) revealed on Twitter originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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