eCar Brief

2017 Dodge Durango: The SUV that Checks a Lot of Boxes

11.10.16 - Dodge Durango

One of the longest running and most admired SUVs on the market today is the Dodge Durango. This SUV has been around for a long time and fits in a class that’s practically all its own. When you’re looking for an SUV that gives you the capability of a Chevrolet Tahoe but drives more like a Honda CR-V the Durango is the right choice. The Durango continues to be the SUV you want when you need something capable and with a larger size, but want it to drive like a smaller and more agile vehicle.

Riding on a build that lets you enjoy the size the Durango offers a suspension tuning that makes a difference in the feel of the ride. When you get behind the wheel this SUV doesn’t feel as lumbering as others of similar size, although it can give you the power you want to be able to haul as much as 7,400 pounds behind the vehicle. This SUV offers a sportier suspension to let you feel more confident on the road as this SUV rides just right. When you take a listen inside the cabin, you’ll notice this is one of the quietest cabins you’ve ever stepped inside.

Under the hood of the Durango you’ll find that there are two engines you can choose from in order to have the power you want. The base engine is a 3.6-liter engine that makes 293 horsepower with the single exhaust or 295 horsepower with the dual exhaust along with 260 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine and the one that’s more powerful are both attached to an eight-speed automatic transmission to give you 19 city/26 hwy mpg in the RWD model and 18 city/25 hwy mpg when equipped with AWD. This powertrain can tow as much as 6,400 pounds behind the Durango.

Moving to the larger engine you get to experience the classic and loved engine of the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that can produced a full 360 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine does use the cylinder deactivation system to shut down four cylinders when needed to ensure the engine can be as efficient as possible. This is the powertrain that can tow up to 7,400 pounds and comes with full time AWD and it also gives you a reasonably enjoyable fuel efficiency of 14 city/22 hwy to keep you driving down the road.

Why would you want to purchase the Durango? You want this SUV when you need a vehicle that offers great towing capacity and has the drive you want to be more like a much smaller vehicle. The Durango fits this need and much more. For 2017 the Limited model has disappeared from the lineup and has been replaced with a new GT trim level. The interior has been upgraded with soft touch features and chrome accents to give you an upscale look on a hard working SUV that’s ready for you to take a ride.

The features offered on the Durango start with the standard offerings of an Uconnect infotainment system that can support an MP3 player, Bluetooth, Sirius satellite radio and an auxiliary input jack. This SUV also comes with 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, fog lights, heated power side mirrors, a tri-zone automatic climate control and a tilt/telescoping steering column. The different trim levels offer you a variety of standard equipment for you to enjoy the ride in this SUV which can include the top of the line model with a power liftgate, a sunroof, a navigation system, Nappa leather seats and much more to give you the vehicle you want.

When it comes to options the Dodge Durango is full of them. This SUV can be set up with a third row of seats or second row captain’s chairs, you can enjoy the benefit of 4WD or let the SUV ride in RWD, you can also upgrade with an 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system with a navigation system included, an LCD multifunction display in the gauges, a Blacktop package, a Brass Monkey appearance package that lets you enjoy 20-inch bronze wheels, a rearview camera, parking sensor, blind spot monitoring, a power sunroof a power rear hatch, automatic dimming high beams, and much more. The Durango is the SUV that can make a huge difference in your driving enjoyment, let it be your next great ride.

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