2011 Dodge Durango Citadel, an AW Drivers Log Car Review:

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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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2011 Dodge Durango Crew V6 AWD Tested: Athletic, But Still a Comfortable Cruiser

2011 Dodge Durango Crew V6 AWD Road Test – Review – Car and Driver #pallet {margin:0;}#echoice li.category {margin:0;}Car and DriverIntelligence. Independence. Irreverence. VehiclesReviewsNewsFeaturesBuyer's GuideFollow UsSubscribeSearch Car and DriverHome › Reviews › 2011 Dodge Durango Crew V6 AWD - Short Take Road Test

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2011 Dodge Durango Crew V6 AWD - Short Take Road TestThe V6 Durango offers the R/T’s sportiness without the harshness penalty.BY JON YANCA , PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK M. HOEY
May 2011

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Photos (16)Highs and Lows

Highs:Attractive exterior, buttoned-down handling, efficient and handsome interior.

Lows:Late power delivery, transmission needs another ratio.

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What Is It?

It’s the third-generation Dodge Durango, and it marks the nameplate’s return from the sabbatical it took for the 2010 model year. Built on a lengthened version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s unibody platform—instead of the old body-on-frame underpinnings of its forebears—the Durango retains a rear-drive layout, but a full-time all-wheel-drive system as tested here is an option on each of the five trims. We’ve already tested an entry-level rear-drive V-6 Durango and an all-wheel-drive V-8, but this is our first go with the more-affordable all-wheel-drive/V-6 combo.

How Does It Drive?

The Durango’s chassis delivers very impressive dynamics. At 5068 pounds, the SUV tested here is far from light, but it handles twists and turns with a fluid ease, remaining flat and composed as it challenges the laws of physics. Unlike most others in this segment, the Durango’s steering offers a good degree of feel, and the same can be said for the brake pedal. Not only is the Dodge an agile machine, but the ride, even on this example’s optional 20-inch wheels, was comfortable and well damped. We noted some dissatisfaction with the 20s worn by the V-8–powered R/T we previously tested, but without the stiffened and lowered suspension of that model, the 20s were not a problem.

Our only real gripe came with the five-speed automatic transmission, which is in dire need of at least one more forward gear. The 3.6-liter V-6’s 290-hp peak coincides with the 6400-rpm redline, and the 260-lb-ft torque peak occurs at a similarly high 4800 rpm. The wide spacing needed to stretch the five ratios and the transmission’s eagerness to upshift can strand the engine at the low end of the rev range without any power on tap. Around town, Durango drivers need a heavy right foot to keep the tranny in a low gear and keep things moving.

How Does It Stack Up?

If it’s hot sheetmetal you’re after, then the Durango should be at the top of your three-row-crossover list. We’d make the same recommendation for those buyers seeking a quiet, well-crafted interior with nice materials and an efficient layout that doesn’t overcomplicate the simple tasks of changing the temperature or radio station.

If expediency—or towing, a more likely application of power in a truck—is a priority, though, the all-wheel-drive Durango V-6 is at the other extreme. It would have placed near the back of the pack in our last round-up of three-row, AWD crossovers, with its 8.2-second run to 60 mph slotting just ahead of the test’s slowest, the Ford Flex SEL (8.4 seconds). But the Durango’s brakes, as we’ve noted in previous tests, are excellent. Its 178-foot stop from 70 mph would have been just two feet longer than that of the Mazda CX-9, which stopped the shortest in that test and is a Car and Driver crossover favorite. Over our time behind the wheel of the Durango, we returned 19 mpg, smack in the middle of the estimated 16/22 city/highway figures.

What’s the Cost?

Of the five trims (Express, Crew, Citadel, Heat, and R/T) offered on the 2011 Durango, the Crew is the second rung up the ladder. It’s very nicely equipped at $34,270, and AWD is a $2000 premium on top of that. Standard features include upscale items like keyless entry and ignition, a power liftgate, a 6.5-inch touch-screen infotainment display with 30 gigs of storage, Sirius satellite radio, Bluetooth, power front seats, and a back-up camera. After adding $295 for the Inferno Red Crystal Pearl paint and $5000 for the Crew Lux package—leather seats (heated in rows one and two), 20-inch wheels, power tilt/telescope steering wheel, navigation, rain-sensing wipers—our all-wheel-drive Crew V-6 totaled $41,565, which is par for the course of a large, luxurious family hauler. With its comfortable yet sporty dynamics complemented by a strong equipment list, the Durango Crew has few shortcomings. If Dodge can find a modern transmission with at least one more ratio, there’s little else to improve.

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 5-door wagon

PRICE AS TESTED: $41,565 (base price $36,270)

ENGINE TYPE: 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Displacement: 220 cu in, 3604 cc
Power (SAE net): 290 hp @ 6400 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 260 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 5-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 119.8 in Length: 199.8 in
Width: 75.8 in Height: 70.9 in
Curb weight: 5068 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 8.2 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 22.9 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 8.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 16.4 sec @ 88 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 112 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 178 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.75 g

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 16/22 mpg
C/D observed: 19 mpg
*Stability-control-inhibited

 


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