2005 Dodge Durango Limited Test Drive

To my eye, the Durango's outer shell is well-proportioned and quite appealing, despite its dainty nose job. At 5,100 mm (200.8

The Durango's outer shell is well-proportioned and quite appealing, despite its dainty nose job. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

in) in length, the Durango slots between the slightly smaller Ford Explorer and the marginally larger Toyota Sequoia. Large expanses of glass add to the Durango's welcoming mid-size appearance and provide excellent outward visibility. They also treat occupants to a sense of openness in the bright, airy cabin.

For 2005, the folks at Dodge haven't altered the clean lines that defined the appealing interior of the 2004 version. The large, white-faced instrumentation remains highly visible and easy to read, day or night. The uncluttered, symmetrical two-tone dash in my tester incorporated a center stack accented with brushed aluminum. Here, Dodge located the audio head just above the controls for the HVAC system. And although the layout is both attractive and functional, I would prefer to find a set of

The uncluttered, symmetrical two-tone dash in my tester incorporated a center stack accented with brushed aluminum. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

good-sized dials in place of the buttons that control the climate settings.

DaimlerChrysler did a great job of using four matching dials in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The functionality of that system completely outguns the Durango setup, which requires too much driver attention when the windscreen begins to fog or the tootsies get chilled.

While bemoaning the use of buttons over dials, let me add salt to the wound by mentioning the large expanses of hard plastic that comprise most of the dashboard. Although extremely durable, a softer tactile reception would greatly enhance the perceived quality of the well-constructed interior.