2002 Dodge Durango - Different? Oh yeah, Baby!
With all the SUV's on today's market, honing the choice down to one is a difficult task. The popularity of large sport utilities hasn't faded much despite high fuel costs, and the small and midsize segment increases its offerings every year. Dodge's Durango however, stays true to the company's previous marketing slogan - Different. Weighing in slightly less than its heavyweight full-size pickup based SUV competitors, yet beefier than the multitude of bantam and lightweight contenders, the Durango fills a niche of its own.
Distinguished. Make no mistakes about it. This is no car based SUV. From its imposing highway truck grille and swooping front fenders, to its muscular flanks towering over a meaty wheel and tire package, the Durango's work-ready appearance screams machismo. And it's not all looks. The Durango is one tough truck, with class leading payload and towing capacities and real four-wheel drive.
Details. You have a choice of either full or part time shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive. Engage the 'bull' low gear ratio and literally crawl over most obstacles unfortunate enough to get in your way. This feature isn't anything new, as 4x4s have had extra low gearing since pre-WW2. What's different is that most new sport utilities don't, making them fairly useless off the beaten path. Hang up the Durango in a snowdrift? No worries. Drop it into low and you'll literally pop out of the mess you're in. The same goes for mud, sand and almost any other traction reduced surface. And remember, almost is the key word here. The Durango is a very capable 4x4, but it's even possible to get a Hummer stuck.