While this last claim, "Chrysler Aspen offers more for less," is difficult to backup without any information about its purchase price, the
Aspen does offer a pretty sophisticated top-line powerplant, and both engines come standard with Chrysler's sophisticated five-speed automatic transmission, a gearbox that incidentally is derived from the unit which currently harnesses turbocharged V8 and V12 power from Mercedes-Benz's supercar-like AMG models.
Four-wheel drive will be standard, just like it is with the Durango, unless you happen to be reading this from south of the border, where a rear-wheel drive version is sold as the base model. Chrysler is making two 4x4 systems available, designed to tackle varying road and/or trail surfaces.
These are all-wheel drive electronic-shift transfer cases. The first, standard with the 4.7-litre V8, is a single-speed transfer case, capable of four-wheel-drive "high" operating modes only, and the second, a two-speed transfer case, standard with the 5.7-litre HEMI V8, features an all-wheel drive high mode plus a four-wheel-drive low mode, for tackling more challenging terrain. Both transfer cases incorporate a 48/52 torque split between front and rear axles in AWD mode.
While the Aspen isn't small, if it indeed measures up to the Durango when in
production trim, it will extend beyond the length of Chevy's new 2007 Tahoe by about 50 mm (2 inches). It will do so with three rows of seats, the rearmost of which can actually carry two adults in reasonable comfort when fitted to Dodge's version of the big sport utility, carrying up to eight occupants when optioned with the second row bench seat.
Actually, Chrysler states that it has more passenger room and the largest cargo volume in its class, equaling 1,937 litres (68.4 cu-ft) behind the 40/20/40 split flat-folding second row of seats. Whether choosing the second row buckets or bench, their seatbacks recline by 11 degrees allowing a relaxing environment even for those in the rear.
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| Chrysler is making two 4x4 systems available, designed to tackle varying road and/or trail surfaces. |
Four-wheel drive will be standard, just like it is with the Durango, unless you happen to be reading this from south of the border, where a rear-wheel drive version is sold as the base model. Chrysler is making two 4x4 systems available, designed to tackle varying road and/or trail surfaces.
These are all-wheel drive electronic-shift transfer cases. The first, standard with the 4.7-litre V8, is a single-speed transfer case, capable of four-wheel-drive "high" operating modes only, and the second, a two-speed transfer case, standard with the 5.7-litre HEMI V8, features an all-wheel drive high mode plus a four-wheel-drive low mode, for tackling more challenging terrain. Both transfer cases incorporate a 48/52 torque split between front and rear axles in AWD mode.
While the Aspen isn't small, if it indeed measures up to the Durango when in
 |
| Chrysler states that it has more passenger room and the largest cargo volume in its class, equaling 1,937 litres (68.4 cu-ft) behind the 40/20/40 split flat-folding second row of seats. |
Actually, Chrysler states that it has more passenger room and the largest cargo volume in its class, equaling 1,937 litres (68.4 cu-ft) behind the 40/20/40 split flat-folding second row of seats. Whether choosing the second row buckets or bench, their seatbacks recline by 11 degrees allowing a relaxing environment even for those in the rear.