Overall, the Aspen features plastics quality which is so much better than that in the Durango that you'll think you're in a completely new machine. This
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| An upscale feature that is sure to delight backseat drivers is the addition of temperature controls for rear passengers, attached to the rear of the centre console. |
is a big surprise actually, not that Chrysler wasn't capable of doing so before, mind you. Just take a look at the Pacifica, which is as good as many premium CUVs and SUVs inside. But when the automaker introduced its latest Grand Cherokee, with downgraded dash plastics, and then the Commander showed up with the same less-than-premium pickup truck-like interior surfaces, and, well, the Durango's interior is less than inspirational from a dash plastic quality perspective too, the fact that the new Aspen's cabin is extremely impressive is refreshing to say the least, with soft-touch plastics just about everywhere. This higher quality fortunately comes when (of all automakers) GM is bringing a new Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon pairing to market featuring its best interiors to date, soft-touch plastics and premium-like switchgear to boot. And now with Chrysler picking up its game in this respect with the new Aspen, there are few vehicles wearing the winged-brand that offer anything less than a premium experience - important to those of us who rely on our kinesthetic sense as much as our visual one.
An
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| Cruise control buttons, which are normally used less often, neatly fit into the front of each top spoke. |
upscale feature that is sure to delight backseat drivers just like the aforementioned second-row seat heaters is the addition of temperature controls for rear passengers, attached to the rear of the centre console.
Another set of switchgear that benefits only the driver is steering wheel mounted audio controls, these among the best to operate in the industry because they're situated on the rear sides of each upper steering wheel spoke, leaving the front sides less cluttered and allowing for more natural actuation while hands are positioned properly, at 9 and 3 o'clock on the wheel. Cruise control buttons, which are normally used less often, neatly fit into the front of each top spoke.
