2011 Dodge Durango Citadel. Photo by David Arnouts.
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2011 Dodge Durango Citadel. Photo by David Arnouts.
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2011 Dodge Durango Citadel. Photo by David Arnouts.
NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: What an upgrade this 2011 Dodge Durango is. From its overly curvy, awkward predecessor to this bold, in-your face henchman of an SUV, the new Durango delivers. It's luxurious, powerful and imposing. The only drawback is that the gas mileage is not great. But remember, you're driving a Hemi-powered fortress.
The updated Durango now feels like a utility-vehicle version of the Ram. That's a good thing. The pickup is one of the best-driving in its class, and this Durango now shares that dynamic. The V8 power is exactly what one wants in a vehicle this large. The 360 horses come on smooth, and this five-speed automatic is effective and efficient. Dial up more than 5,000 rpm, and this ute blasts off. Power from launches is impressive yet civilized, and the Hemi growls and purrs depending on what it's being called upon to do.
The steering is light, similar to that of the Ram, but adds satisfying feedback into maneuvers. The chassis is all-conquering, and I annihilated a pothole on the expressway without even blanching. This trench was the kind of obstacle that would have ripped the bottom off a smaller car. The Durango was unflinching.
The styling is beefy and taut. I like the way the sheetmetal fits yet still has some attitude. Whereas the old version was almost cartoonish, this one is well-tailored and sharp. The headlights are perfect, and the wheels are simply huge.
Inside is a smart black and caramel layout, and the white-and-red-accented gauges present well. You sink into these seats, and there's a commanding road view. The Citadel package marks the summit for the Dodge Durango. I'd take one for our long-term fleet in seconds. I like this muscle ute even more than I like our long-term Infiniti QX56, which is a tank in its own right. But the Dodge is pretty much just as blinged-out, looks better to my eye and costs $24,030 less than our long-term Infiniti. That's high-protein food for thought.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: I would agree with Greg on liking this better than our long-term Infiniti QX56. Actually, I was stunned at just how good this new Durango really is. Think of this as a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a third row. I actually had two different people come up and ask me about the vehicle, what it was, etc. Both commented that it looked so good that they were surprised it was a Durango. That's a good thing, because the old Durango was, well, let's just say it didn't have anywhere near the refinement this one has.
I loaded this up with seven passengers for a trip to Michigan State University for my daughter's graduation, and a trip after to dinner. Even those in the way-back seats had nothing to complain about. I like the black and caramel two-tone treatment, and the seats are very comfortable. The Hemi underhood is strong and made no complaints as we loaded the thing up.
The Chevrolet Suburban/Tahoe is probably still the leader in the clubhouse when it comes to full-size sport-utes. But there is nothing wrong with this new Durango. It is so much better than the vehicle it replaces it probably should have had a new name. It is that good.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: Add me to the chorus singing the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango's praises. I think Dodge should have just dropped the link to past vehicles and used that Citadel moniker as the vehicle's new brand name. It's that different, and good, compared with the old Durango. The old truck was barely competitive, while this one offers a ton of Hemi grunt, sharp styling, a superb interior, and top-notch ride and handling for a 5,400-pound, four-wheel-drive beast. As much as the Grand Cherokee, with which this shares its platform, is a great vehicle, the Durango's three rows and Hemi power might put it a step above the Jeep. And looking at Roger's observed fuel-economy numbers, posting nearly 20 mpg is certainly livable.
I like this truck--a lot.
2011 Dodge Durango Citadel
Base Price: $44,645
As-Tested Price: $48,530
Drivetrain: 5.7-liter V8; AWD, five-speed automatic
Output: 360 hp @ 5,150 rpm, 390 lb-ft @ 4,250 rpm
Curb Weight: 5,397 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 15/18.7 mpg
Options: 5.7-liter Hemi V8, dual rear exhaust with bright tips, two-speed on-demand transfer case, heavy-duty engine cooling and 220-amp alternator ($1,895); customer preferred package 25j including rear DVD entertainment, video entertainment system, satellite radio and TV ($1,695); inferno red crystal pearl coat exterior paint ($295)
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