2004 Dodge Durango
Good points: Pride, third row seating, towing ability, storage area
Needs improvement: transmission, gas mileage, wide A pillars, seats, glove compartment, brakes
This is not a Durango. This is the new Durango. They have nothing in common. The old one was noisy, ill handling, and tight inside. The new one is quieter, rides better, is roomier, and is better handling. The only thing the two have in common outside of the name is their thirst for gas. We were lucky to get 12 mpg with the 230 horsepower Ram engine and we would not want any less engine in our Durango. The HEMI engine is much more powerful and gets the same gas mileage. Order that one if you can afford the $1400 extra on the two wheel drive model. We think you will get that back at resale.
Built on a fully boxed steel frame with front torsion bar and rear coil-spring suspension, the Durango rides quite well, although it certainly is not ready for quick moves or tight corners. The 4.7 engine is hard pressed to provide even adequate acceleration when loaded going up hills, so make sure you test drive this model with that in mind. The really big story with the Durango is the spacious interior and foldaway seats. We were easily able to get a student desk into the rear compartment with room to spare. And, unlike some SUVs, we did not have to take out the rear seats in advance. This is clearly a good design, but it does make the third row bench seat feel flimsy to us.
Mom's view: This is a large SUV. It is not a toy. First, check your garage to make sure the 200 plus inch Durango can fit. It is also over 74 inches high so don't forget that factor. Interestingly, it is nearly as wide as it is tall at 76 inches. The cargo room is impressive with the rear two rows of seats folded down. The silly part is that despite all the room in the Durango, Dodge made one of the smallest glove compartments we have ever seen for this giant SUV. Of course, you do get a nice center console, plenty of side pocket storage areas, and a nice flat space for sun glasses near the stereo controls.
Safety wise there are four-wheel antilock disc brakes, dual-stage front airbags that have occupant sensors, and available side curtain airbags that cover all three rows. All of this is nice, but the brakes are soft, almost to the point of being reluctant to stop the two and a half ton SUV. This was especially disserting, as the engine loves to move quickly at low speed thanks to the optional 3.90 rear axle. I constantly found myself trying to rein in the Durango on city streets with speed limits under 45. The fact that the five-speed automatic tends to upshift whenever creates the need to pay attention to the speedometer in town. On the highway the Durango rides quite comfortably, if uncommunicatively.