The biggest surprise is inside: an interior befitting an upscale premium crossover. No longer awash in cheap, cheesy plastic, Chrysler's interiors have gone through an amazing makeover. Created by the same design team responsible for the much-acclaimed interior of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Durango's cabin is a study in well-crafted, premium materials. Seats are plush, Nappa leather, which is repeated on the fat, grippy steering wheel of our R/T tester. Dash and door panels are soft touch materials that meet with tight gaps and increase the sense of acoustic hush. Chrome trimmed air conditioning outlets are pushed into the dash skin for a tight finish.
The interior boasts 84.5 cu. ft. (2,393 litres) of cargo space, with a fold-flat front passenger seat and 60/40 split folding second row - which also has available heat.
Climbing the tightly spiralling trails through the Sonoma Mountains, we were impressed with the stiff and tightly sprung chassis on our R/T tester, which featured unique suspension tuning, 20" performance tires and a 20 mm lower ride height. There was little body roll to speak of, and the Durango felt planted and agile on the twisty roads.
The steering rack is solid mounted to the engine cradle, and although light, the steering is accurate with good feedback.
Overall, the Durango offers driving, handling and quality comparable to European crossovers priced tens of thousands higher.
Available in four trims, Express, Crew, R/T and top of the line Citadel, the Durango should reach Canadian showrooms at the end of November.
The interior boasts 84.5 cu. ft. (2,393 litres) of cargo space, with a fold-flat front passenger seat and 60/40 split folding second row - which also has available heat.
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| The biggest surprise is inside: an interior befitting an upscale premium crossover. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com) |
Climbing the tightly spiralling trails through the Sonoma Mountains, we were impressed with the stiff and tightly sprung chassis on our R/T tester, which featured unique suspension tuning, 20" performance tires and a 20 mm lower ride height. There was little body roll to speak of, and the Durango felt planted and agile on the twisty roads.
The steering rack is solid mounted to the engine cradle, and although light, the steering is accurate with good feedback.
Overall, the Durango offers driving, handling and quality comparable to European crossovers priced tens of thousands higher.
Available in four trims, Express, Crew, R/T and top of the line Citadel, the Durango should reach Canadian showrooms at the end of November.
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