Technical
There are two V8 engines available for the Durango. The base engine is the 4.7L first introduced in 1999 in the Grand Cherokee. It churns out 235 hp at 4 500 rpm and 300 lb/ft of torque at 3 600 rpm. The second is Chrysler's much adulated Hemi 5.7L. In the Durango, it develops 335 hp at 5 200 rpm and 370 lb/ft of torque at 4 200 rpm. The only available transmission is the 5-speed automatic. It has a tow/haul feature that
modifies the transmission's behaviour when pulling a large load. All Durangos have standard part-time all-wheel-drive with a single-speed transfer case as standard. A similar set-up with a 2-speed transfer case is optional for those who plan to go on some off-road adventures. Four big discs handle stopping duty on the Durangos.
On the road
The big Hemi is as monstrous as ever but the significant weight increase of over 800 pounds of the Durango compared to the 300C is felt immediately. The transmission works seamlessly. It never hesitates when comes the time for a quick downshift and upshifts are effortless. The AWD system works faultlessly. There is no delay between the front and rearwheels on slippery road surfaces. The 4-wheel disc brakes work quite hard to coax this behemoth to come to a stop. The spongy brake pedal lacks the reassurance that is needed to feel when attempting to bring the truck to halt. I will assume that this sensation of powerlessness goes away once the driver becomes accustomed to the braking system. Steering is a little vague and over assisted but not unusual for such a large vehicle.
The ride is sometimes floaty and is over sprung: Dips in the road will makethe big truck's suspension work very hard to stabilize the up and down movement. During lane changes and other transitions, the Durango displays much body-lean. The electronic stability system program struggles when trying to balance grip, slip and power to keep control of the truck. It does take command of the situation soon enough to avoid any disasters.
Cruising at speeds of around 120km/h created a fair amount of wind noise. On some occasions, pockets of wind would actually make their way into the cabin from the doors; almost as if the doors were being sucked out. This truck is also very sensitive to crosswinds. This comes as no surprise given the size of the lateral surfaces of the Durango.
Safety
The truck has standard dual front and optional side air bags, available ABS brakes, available traction control, and seatbelt pre-tensionners. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) awarded the truck 5 out of 5 stars (a perfect result) in a frontal impact for both the front passengers. The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has not yet rated the Durango.
There are two V8 engines available for the Durango. The base engine is the 4.7L first introduced in 1999 in the Grand Cherokee. It churns out 235 hp at 4 500 rpm and 300 lb/ft of torque at 3 600 rpm. The second is Chrysler's much adulated Hemi 5.7L. In the Durango, it develops 335 hp at 5 200 rpm and 370 lb/ft of torque at 4 200 rpm. The only available transmission is the 5-speed automatic. It has a tow/haul feature that
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On the road
The big Hemi is as monstrous as ever but the significant weight increase of over 800 pounds of the Durango compared to the 300C is felt immediately. The transmission works seamlessly. It never hesitates when comes the time for a quick downshift and upshifts are effortless. The AWD system works faultlessly. There is no delay between the front and rearwheels on slippery road surfaces. The 4-wheel disc brakes work quite hard to coax this behemoth to come to a stop. The spongy brake pedal lacks the reassurance that is needed to feel when attempting to bring the truck to halt. I will assume that this sensation of powerlessness goes away once the driver becomes accustomed to the braking system. Steering is a little vague and over assisted but not unusual for such a large vehicle.
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Cruising at speeds of around 120km/h created a fair amount of wind noise. On some occasions, pockets of wind would actually make their way into the cabin from the doors; almost as if the doors were being sucked out. This truck is also very sensitive to crosswinds. This comes as no surprise given the size of the lateral surfaces of the Durango.
Safety
The truck has standard dual front and optional side air bags, available ABS brakes, available traction control, and seatbelt pre-tensionners. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) awarded the truck 5 out of 5 stars (a perfect result) in a frontal impact for both the front passengers. The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has not yet rated the Durango.