2011 DODGE DURANGO

2011 Dodge Durango models

by Bruce and Bradley Hubbard

Auto Advisor Group

Auto Channel

The six models of the 2011 Dodge Durango show that the Chrysler Group is very serious about the SUV market. With its sleek exterior design, modern, spacious interior, world-class suspension dynamics and intelligent and fuel-efficient and powerful powertrain options, the all-new Dodge Durango SUV’s deliver driving excitement and refinement combined with the interior flexibility of a three-row SUV.  After a two year hiatus the Dodge Durangi is back and Dodge dealerships are excited to have the important SUV back. This new Durango offers seating for seven in certain models. Those Dodge Journey buyers that want more in seating, cargo and towing capacity  can now move up to the Dodge Durango. Before if a Dodge dealer did not have the larger SUV customers would walk out the door to Ford or Checrolet/GMC or other manufacturers. I had a family follow me in Grosse Pointe for twenty minutes until I stopped in the Durango. They had to see the Durango I was testing. I had the base Express model and told them “bang for the buck” the e base model was superb. 

The Express had cloth seats that were manually adjusted. Worked well and the special materials held firmly in place. Chrysler is proud of the stain and water resistant cloth.

Trailer tow hitch installed that is part of the towing package.  The rubber seen on the rear bumper prevents most of the scratches many bumpers get when loading heavy items.

If they could not buy the Durango they were going for the AWD Dodge Journey. They loved the extra room, power and the ability to tow that the Durango offered. They came by my home later in the month and stated they bought the high end luxurious Citadel Durango that gave them 36,000 miles no maintenance cost bonus!  Dealers had told me they needed the Durango back.  Just as stated above customers love the Journey but when they needed more room, towing ability the Durango models were the way to go.

Dodge design chief Mark Trostle says the handsome new body of the 2011 Dodge Durango was shaped by the same “passionate” designers who did the muscular 2011 Dodge Charger. “It’s all about proportions,” he asserts, and its purposeful but pleasing proportions begin with a 10-inch-longer body on a five-in. longer wheelbase vs. the Grand Cherokee’s.

Designers of the 2011 Dodge Durango sculpted a forward-leaning, deeply recessed new interpretation of the Dodge-signature crosshair grille, browed headlamps, a sculpted hood and standard four-inch fog lamps. Its side profile has a powerful coke-bottle shape (like the new Charger’s), accented by aggressive fender arches. The greenhouse of the 2011 Dodge Durango blends seamlessly into the body, and a body-color rear roof spoiler contributes to a low 0.35 drag coefficient that improves both fuel efficiency and interior noise. The rear fascia of the 2011 Dodge Durango is sculpted around twin-3.5-in. exhausts on V8 models, a single three-in. outlet on V6s.

Folding roof rails keep wind noise down when folded. In the winter I usually kept them up for snow and ice can often prevent folding them

I drove at the media event in Northern California the Durango R/T and the Citadel. Both handled well with the HEMI under the hood and the 5-speed automatic transmission  with the All-Wheel-Drive configuration. I also drove a base model with the new Pentastar V-6 with the 2 –wheel rear wheel drive.  All were superb on the roads I encountered. Until I arrived back in Michigan and tested the Durango Express AWD model over a week I did not encounter snow, ice or rain, slippery surfaces. In the weather I encountered in Michigan the All- Wheel- Drive model with traction control, electronic stability control kept me on the straight and narrow.

One reason the Durango handles so well on the highway is that unlike the previous Durango the all-new Durango has a unibody structure is more than 25 percent stiffer than the vehicle it replaces, making it a driver’s SUV that delivers impressive on-road handling. The unibody structure Dodge states has 52 percent of   high-strength steels that improve driving dynamics by integrating the suspension with the body reducing flex. They also state that 5,500 welds and more than 4,100 mm of arc welding contribute to torsional rigidity levels greater than the Mercedes-Benz GL.

An all-new short/long arm front suspension and isolated multi-link rear suspension features isolated front and rear cradles for improved on-road handling and comfort. Aggressive shock and spring rates plus large sway bars keep body roll to a minimum in aggressive driving. 

“The Dodge Durango was designed, developed and built with quality as a top priority at every stage of the process,” said Doug Betts, Senior Vice President, Quality  at Chrysler Group.  “For example, we have increased the precision and the number of evaluations of fit-and-finish, making adjustments starting with the early digital design phase. Our engineers benchmark hundreds of criteria to set and achieve aggressive targets for performance against competitors.” Chrysler Group has adopted new manufacturing quality processes from its global alliance partner Fiat. The 2011 Dodge Durango is built along with the Jepp Grand Cherokee at the Jefferson North Assembly plant in Detroit. One of my aerial photos shows the facility in Detroit. New at he facility is the Metrology Center which is a new 20,000-square-foot space within the body shop dedicated to verifying the fit of each body component and how well it conforms to the design requirement. The Chrysler Group knew quality was an important issue and it shows in all their new products for 2011.

The Dodge Durango’s great exterior design, spacious and flexible interior, Pentastar V-6, V-8 and optional HEMI for certain models and two excellent transmissions make the Durango models perfect SUV’s for the consumer.

The new Durango pricing starts at $29,195 / $31,195  for the V-6–only Express, which includes 18-inch wheels, cloth seats, and some surprising features like remote start, three-zone climate control, a fold-flat front passenger seat, trailer-sway control, and hill-start assist. If you order the All-Wheel-Drive model you can order optional skid plates. Another option is the Sunroof which I would order. I would also order the TrailerTow II package that comes heavy duty cooling and load leveling shocks. With the Express you cannot order the V-8 Hemi legendary engine.

The $34,045 Crew model adds a 28-gig infotainment system with a nine-speaker Alpine audio and 6.5-inch touchscreen, keyless entry and start, a power liftgate, a roof rack, and the option to add the $5000 CrewLux package that nabs 20-inch wheels, a Garmin-powered navigation system, leather seating with heaters for the first two rows, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic high-beams. As with the Express you can order the Sunroof as an option. You can also order the trailer tow package for either the V-8 or the V-6 models.

The high end  Citadel is priced at $41,795/  $43,795, bringing ventilated front seats, nappa leather upholstery, 20-inch chrome-clad wheels, parking and blind-spot assistance, rear cross-path detection, and adaptive cruise control. The Ciadel also gets free maintenance for 36,000 miles.  

The R/T is equipped much like the Crew, with its racier bits adding a reasonable $2000 or so, putting it at $33.195/ $35,195. All-wheel drive is available on the Crew models for a $2000 premium.

A drag coefficient of approximately 0.35 enables an aerodynamic improvement of more than 14 percent compared with its predecessor, contributing to quiet interior and improved fuel efficiency.

The Dodge Durango R/T’s exterior features a unique fascia with fog lamps, a body-color grille surround with black texture and xenon high-intensity discharge  headlamps.  The R/T model also is equipped with a color-matched body kit, wheel lips, light bar and rear fascia with integrated dual chrome exhaust outlets. Additionally, the Durango R/T offers an exclusive “Redline Red” exterior paint color.

Inside, the new Durango boasts 28 different seating configurations according to Dodge, with as much as 85 cubic feet of cargo and storage areas, leaving plenty of legroom for passengers and gear. With second- and third-row seats folded flat, the Durango can fit a lot of cargo.

Optional passenger seat folds flat so I could carry the ten and twelve foot treated lumber. Rear hatch had to use rope and carpet to keep hatch closed.

I drove the Durango R/T  throughout Northern, California  through the best roads imaginable. The HEMI can handle any of the mountain passes I found.   On the highway the passing ability was nothing but great.  Steering was very good thanks to the new electro-hydraulic steering system.

Visibility over the third row was another thing that the engineers and designers were proud of. When the third row is empty with the push of a button the headrests on the third row fall down to increase visibility.

Besides laminated glass that comes standard in all models the Durango features a double wall separating the engine compartment and the vehicle cabin to limit the amount of under-hood engine noise to occupants.

The all-new Durango is available with two powertrains that provide rear-wheel-drive performance and fuel efficiency.
The 3.6-liter V-6 engine is an all-new design, featuring double-overhead camshafts and a high-pressure die-cast aluminum cylinder block in a 60 degree configuration. Contributing to best-in-class V-6 towing for Durango, the engine delivers 290 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 lb.-ft.  of torque at 4,800 rpm, providing customers with more than 14 percent improvement in fuel economy Dodge stated to me at a press event. They also stated that a 38 percent increase in horsepower and 11 percent increase in torque over the engine it replaces. The EPA fuel economy miles per gallon  (City/Hwy) are 16/23 for rear-wheel-drive models, 16/22 for all-wheel-drive models.

This performance  Durango R/T version features a unique suspension tuning, load-leveling rear shocks, performance steering for improved response, a tuned exhaust system, 20-inch wheels with all-season performance tires, 20 mm lower ride height and a modern sports interior that holds you in your seat, all of which add another level of dynamic capability.

The R/T has a HEMI as standard but it is available on the Crew and Citadel is the  5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with fuel-saver mode in certain models. The 5.7-liter delivers 360 horsepower  and 390 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,250 rpm and also features VVT. The EPA fuel economy mpg (City/Hwy) is 14/20 for rear-wheel-drive models and 13/20 for all-wheel-drive models. Durango R/T’s  interior has suede seats for seven passengers and “R/T” embroidered sport front seats with red stitching accents on seats; console lid and door trim armrests. The power driver seat features four-way lumbar adjustment. Owners will grip a leather wrap steering wheel and shift knob. Also, R/T owners will enjoy a 506-watt Alpine audio system with 10 speakers, including a subwoofer. Additional electronics include a 30 GB hard drive radio, remote start, power lift gate, Uconnect with Voice Command and passive entry with push button start. Available features include leather seats, Blind-spot Monitoring, adaptive cruise control, Forward Collision Warning and navigation.

The 2011 Dodge Durango features two automatic transmissions and two available full-time all-wheel-drive systems (V-6 and V-8 versions). The drivelines provide smooth operation of the vehicle over a variety of road conditions. Soon we will see six-speed transmissions move over to Durango. Maybe even later could we see the 8 – speed from ZF?  The transmissions are already available on the Dodge Challenger.

 

The Durango’s all-new interior is wonderful and another plus for those who want the Dodge Durango. Created by the same interior design studio that designed the  interior in the Ram trucks and the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Durango’s upscale interior materials and thoughtful design will impress owners.  Everywhere you touch, from the steering wheel all the way back to the soft third row armrest, Durango passengers will feel materials that are refined. Durango’s interior is extremely comfortable even in the great cloth seating surfaces that are standard on the Express.

The instrument panel features a beautifully crafted monotone or two-tone appearance with a dark upper and lighter lower color and premium soft-touch materials for all price classes.

Dodge PR states that Durango has 45 safety and security features, including standard electronic stability control  that delivers three security features to improve overall vehicle stability both on- and off-road: electronic roll mitigation  reacts and applies brakes during extreme situations, while available Hill-start Assist (works with standard Trailer-sway Control  to enhance off-road and towing capabilities. You must read the options and package plans to know exactly which vehicles offer all the electronic based safety features. Only the Crew and Citadel get certain ones.

Other safety and security features available on the 2011 Dodge Durango include Blind-spot Monitoring  and Rear Cross Path  detection, which aid drivers when they’re changing lanes or in parking lot situations. In addition, Durango features standard seat-mounted air bags in the front row. A side curtain air bag extends protection to all three rows. Durango also includes standard front-row active head restraints.

From families taking a long road trip and needing to keep the kids entertained, to sports enthusiasts who don’t want to miss the game and teens who can’t live without on-line gaming, the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango offers the latest high-tech features to keep driver’s eyes on the road and passengers connected. Drivers can communicate, navigate and select entertainment options with advanced voice-recognition controls. Passengers can stay entertained with the latest available features, including, SIRIUS Satellite Radio™, SIRIUS Backseat TV™ and Uconnect® Web. The SIRIUS Backseat TV is amazing and will continue to offer more stations. Of course all these systems require a fee to use.

At the  2011 Chicago Auto Show the Dodge Durango received before even revealing the new Durango Heat Motor Weeks Drivers’ Choice Award. “The Dodge team is truly honored that MotorWeek has selected the Dodge Durango for a Drivers’ Choice Award,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO—Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “The Durango represents where the Dodge brand is going with its six new or refreshed products for 2011 — striking vehicles that are thoroughly engineered and fun to drive. It’s always rewarding when third party sources recognize that we’re creating quality products that will delight our customers.”

 “The team that worked on Durango really put their hearts into creating an SUV with a soul,” Gilles added. “When consumers get behind the wheel, they’ll experience a performance-tuned SUV that has the interior spaciousness of a crossover, still delivers best-in-class towing and starts under than $30,000. It’s a tremendous package.”

At a media event in San Francisco I tested the V-6– and V-8–powered Durango’s on the roads of Northern, California. The Durango models I  drove performed well on the highway and the great roads of that area including those of Napa Valley.

Slide into the new cabin of the 2011 Dodge Durango and you find premium soft-touch materials front-to-rear regardless of trim level. Interior design chief Klaus Busse calls it “friendly all the way back to the third row, with nice, soft edges throughout.” An interactive Electronic Vehicle Information Center  provides a variety of useful information, and the new instrument panel offers a choice of monotone or two-tone trim with dark upper and lighter lower colors.

Dodge states that the Uconnect  System is Chrysler's user-friendly approach to today's connected technology. From music to travel destinations.  Advanced Uconnect Media Center radios let you store thousands of songs, select playlists, play videos, view photos and more. Certain Durango models can be equipped to let you listen to SIRIUS Satellite Radio and navigate. And if equipped with Uconnect  Phone, the radio accepts voice commands. The system has received awards for it’s innovations.

The Durango’s six  trim levels and $12,000 to $14,000 base-price spread give it a huge competitive set. The base Express and mid-grade Crew models will provide stiff competition for other large three rowers like the Ford Flex, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, and Mazda CX-9, all of which are V-6–powered with output and fuel-economy figures similar to the Durango V-6’s. None of them, however, offers a V-8 or rear-wheel drive.  Those looking at the Ford Explorer  (that also has a unibody frame) or the Chevy Tahoe should take a look and test drive of the Dodge Durango.  So many great things about the new Durango’s. Sure they share a lot with the great Jeep Grand Cherokee that helps both members of the Chrysler Group share certain parts. But, the Chrysler Group has made a big splash bringing the Durango back.

I am a boater and appreciate the towing abilities of the Dodge Durangos’. In the photo attached Dodge gave us numerous trailers to tow including the boat you see. The power of the V8 4 -Wheel Drive models (R/T, Crew and Citadel only) that gives 7200 pound capacity. The HEMI-powered, all-wheel-drive Durango features a low-range transfer case for light off-road recreation and to ease maneuvers while towing, such as pulling a boat out of the water from a high degree launch or backing up with a trailer attached. The Pentastar V6 offers with their towing package 6200 pounds. All models have standard  sway control system that helps keep the trailer on the road when you order the trailer package. With the trailer tow package you get premium load leveling rear shocks.

These load leveling shocks mechanically pump up when the vehicle has added rear payload. When the payload is initially added the car will squat like standard suspension, but as the shock is stroked (during normal driving), the gas pressure will increase until the shock reaches the level design height.

The base Express and Durango Heat you cannot add some of the options that are standard on the R/T or high end Citadal. That includes the entertainment system that is nearly $1600.00 and includes rear screens on the rear heat rests, wireless head sets, and even SIRIUS TV.

The fancy Durango Citadel V-6  model’s competition is the Buick Enclave and/or the  Lincoln MKT in V-6 form. The Durango offers more than those in style and performance/handling at a better price.  The Durango Citadel V-8 competitor may be the GMC Yukon Denali and again price for the Citadel V-8 is better. The Citadel I drove had standard a sunroof. All other models it is optional at nearly $650.00. The Citadel has standard an electric telescoping and tilt steering wheel as standard as does the Crew and  Crew Lux and R/T when the leather group is added. If you order the “equipment Group and Entry Navigation Cummuter Group you can get what is standard on the Lux and Citadel a Park View rear backup camera. It includes the 6.5 inch display that displays a rear view image when the vehicle is shifted in reverse.

Park sense is available on all models but standard on the Lux and Citadel. If an object comes near the rear of the vehicle the sensor alerts the driver.

One safety feature only available on the R/T and standard on the Citadel is the adaptive cruise control system. A system that you set with cruise control and can select from three preset distance settings. This allows you to stay behind vehicles at set distance. If that distance changes the brakes will hold the car back to avoid an accident. After the cars in front speed up and allow distance preset to be met then the vehicle will automatically drive to your preset speed. Included in the package is Forward Collision Warning that wars the driver if a potential collision is possible. This is included in the Adaptive Cruise Control package.

Standard on all models is traction control and electronic stability control with roll-over mitigation plus brake assist, and four-channel anti-lock brakes.

 The 2011 Dodge Durango front seats offer four-way lumbar adjustments and can be warmed or cooled with heating and ventilating options.

Back in Michigan I drove the base Express model.

Although the R/T package entices with performance bias styling and handling, the R/T Durango maintains SUV capability with room for seven passengers and 84.5 cubic feet of cargo space.

Arriving in U.S. dealer showrooms in Spring 2011. Dodge states that the R/T model will appeal mainly to customers who have driven a performance sedan, but need the flexibility and functionality of a minivan and are looking for a vehicle with superior handling and agility.

The 2011 Dodge Durango R/T model has a starting U.S. MSRP of $35,465 (excluding $850 destination).

Complimenting the Durango lineup will be the Durango Heat. This is the performance Sport Utility Vehicle that customers will love. The full-size SUV segment, introducing a new affordable performance package for the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango SUV – the Dodge Durango Heat. Designed to complement the performance-tuned Durango R/T, the new Heat package delivers aggressive styling, the high-performing 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with 295 horsepower and a surprisingly affordable price. With a starting U.S. Manufacturer’s Retail Price (MSRP) of $30,295 (excluding destination), the Dodge Durango Heat will be available at dealerships across the country in the Spring of 2011.

“Durango Heat is about handling performance and a street presence that puts the sport in sport- utility,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge Brand – Chrysler Group LLC. “The unibody rear-wheel-drive (available all-wheel-drive), two-row exclusive seating configuration makes this the lightest Durango model. A world-class double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension make Heat a handling champ that moves out smartly with 295 horsepower, a dual-exhaust, tuned air induction, custom 20-inch Satin Carbon finished wheels while delivering ultimate utility with more storage room at 50 cubic feet than anything it competes with. The Durango Heat also is among the most efficient in its class at 23 miles per gallon on the highway. For the money, there’s truly nothing like it on the market.”

From the outside, the Durango Heat and the R/T have a striking resemblance. Both feature a unique fascia with fog lamps, a color-matched grille and dark headlamp bezels. The color-matched body kit, wheel lips and rear fascia with integrated dual chrome exhaust outlets, give the Heat a lower stance.

Aggressive suspension tuning, performance steering, unique 20-inch wheels with all-season performance tires (three-season high-performance tires for even greater grip and response also are available), a 20-mm lower ride height, tuned dual-exhaust and a modernized interior that holds drivers in their seats.

Chrysler’s Fred DePerez , who heads up Dodge Durango, Grand Caravan and Journey marketing  states “The Dodge Durango represents where this brand is going.”.    “It’s youthful and fun, with good ride and handling and connectivity.”

Just a few days ago the 2011 Durango Hybrid was cancelled. Chrysler, GM and BMW have been working together to develop Hybrids.  Since they have moved away from the Hybrid I would  like to see them offer a diesel version of the Durango. At the Geneva show they already announced more diesel versions of the Chrysler Group Jeep Grand Cherokee. VW, Mercedes, Audi, BMW have all done well with the clean Diesels presently on the roads of North America. It is a rumor but Jeep may be bringing a diesel to the North American market. Look at what RAM just did with the Super Duty and Cummins.  The Moab crawlers would love a Jeep that had as much torque as a diesel could deliver. Not to mention the fuel economy and the engine longevity.  Jaguar is bring a diesel to the USA very soon. If Jag can do it Dodge and Jeep Certainly can.

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To view other aerial photos  and landscapes by Bruce Hubbard visit   Brucehubbardphotography.ifp3.com