Dodge Durango 5.7 (AWD Limited)

A happy compromise between full SUV and a car-like crossover, the Dodge Durango is a longer and more road- and family-oriented cousin to the more off-road focused Jeep Grand Cherokee. Built on a unibody frame with all-independent suspension that it inherited from the now defunct Daimler-Chrysler era, the Durango shares much of its platform with and the Mercedes ML-Class and larger three-row GL-Class. An affordable cousin to the Mercs, the Durango undergoes a mid-life re-fresh for 2014, which brings a subtle restyle, an updated infotainment system, improved suspension rates for better dynamics and an all new gearbox for noticeably improved performance and efficiency.

First introduced in 2011, the third generation Durango’s aesthetically pleasing wide, long and somewhat low shape, restrained but muscular flanks, sculpted bonnet and uncomplicated three pane window profile go little altered. Moody and menacingly aggressive, the Durango’s charismatic fascia undergoes subtle changes, with its gaping wide grille shrinking vertically and receiving a revised split crosshair corporate face and new honeycomb background, while the slim headlights feature redesigned and more assertive elements with a “hockey stick” shape and LED running lights. The rear now features stylised wraparound lights with a red “race track” LED outline, and a hidden tow hitch within the bumper.

Generous quarters 

Comfortable and spacious inside, the Dodge Durango features well-adjustable and re-designed three-spoke steering wheel and seats with leather upholstery on the driven mid-range Limited spec version driven. Front visibility is good while fit, finish and interior aesthetics are among the best in its segment, and include soft textured dashboard and uncluttered, user-friendly controls. Wide door swing angles allow easy access to the Durango’s interior, which with unibody construction is more space efficient than body-on-chassis SUV rivals. Head, leg and shoulder room is excellent in the front two rows and decent in the third row, while the three-seat middle row bench can recline by 18°.

With a classy rotary-style gear selector similar to the up-market Range Rover’s, the 2014 Durango features steering mounted gearbox shifters and sports a new customisable seven-inch TFT instrument display. The new Durango also receives a high tech and user-friendly 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment touch screen menu system, which accesses various settings, preferences, sat nav, climate control and entertainment systems. A clever system that accesses smartphones rather than trying to replace them, Uconnect features voice command for interacting with devices, Bluetooth and climate controls. USB, SD and auxiliary jacks are standard, while nine-inch rear DVD screens with HDMI connectivity and wireless earphones are optional for some trim levels.

Transformative transmission 

Powered by the Chrysler group’s familiar and brawny 16-valve OHV 5.7-litre V8 HEMI engine, the Durngo produces 360HP at 5,150rpm and 390lb/ft at 4,250rpm. Low-revving and muscular with progressively abundant output, the Durango’s 5.7 HEMI is however mated to an all-new ZF eight-speed gearbox, similar versions of which are used by BMW, Rolls Royce and Range Rover. Smoother, more responsive and altogether superior to the outgoing six-speed gearbox it replaces, the closely spaced eight-speed’s mix of lower and taller ratios better utilises the engine’s abilities and is transformative in the improved refinement, on-the-move-responsiveness, flexibility, fuel economy and performance gains it provides the Durango.

With brawny engine, four-wheel-traction and aggressive first and second gear ratios, the Durango 5.7 digs its heels into tarmac and launches briskly. Composed and refined, the Durango doesn’t feel dramatic as it launches, but is surprisingly quick, with 0-97km/h achieved in approximately 6.7-seconds. In auto mode the Durango’s gearbox drops gears responsively to effortlessly haul its 2.4-tonne mass effectively past slower moving traffic, while manual mode can hold gears from kicking down for better driver autonomy. Fuel efficiency is improved by 9 per cent to 14.7/100km on the combined cycle, while the engine can automatically deactivate four cylinders on level cruising speeds to help achieve this.

Striking a balance 

Built with stiff unibody construction and using sophisticated independent suspension-all round, the Dodge Durango has a refined a refined ride quality with terrific noise, vibration and harshness isolation, while its longer wheelbase aids its superb stability on highways, rough roads and through fast corners. With more traditional gas-charged dampers and firmer spring, damper and anti-roll bar rates than its air suspension Jeep Grand Cherokee cousin, the Dodge Durango has a distinctly more buttoned-down and connected feel on the road, which is most evident through winding routes and during sudden highway braking, where it feels more composed and less susceptible to body roll and brake dive.

Sportier than most competitors, the Durango isn’t an outright sports SUV like an Infiniti QX70, Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5, but feels like a well-sorted premium European SUV and, especially with the Limited version’s 265/60R18 tyres, strikes the right note between supple ride comfort and handling finesse and control. Taking bumps, lumps and cracks in its stride, the Durango’s rear-drive based drive-train layout and equal weight distribution make it surprisingly agile and poised through winding roads for a seven-seat SUV. Rear-biased power, restrained tyres and hydraulic power steering even more surprisingly provide a measure of intuitive steering feel alien to many SUVs. 

Rugged workhorse 

Balanced, fluid and controlled, the Durango happily hustles through successive corners, and with permanent four-wheel-drive traction and grip, the standard electronic traction and stability controls weren’t called upon to intervene during the test drive. Standard safety kit included trailer sway control and seven airbags, while optional kit includes adaptive cruise control blind spot monitoring and rear cross-path detection systems. Practical and rugged, the Durango can haul 650kg and tow 3,265kg. Luggage space is generous with its 487-litre minimum volume expands to 1,350 litres with rear sets folded and 2,392 litres with both rear rows folded. Flat folding rear and front passenger seats also provide a uniform loading bay.

The Durango may lack the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s extensive off-road hardware including raising air suspension, locking differentials, Selec-trac off-road electronic driver aid or the same clearance height and angles. However it uses the same four-wheel drive system and low ratio gearbox transfer case, 207mm ground clearance, and 16.3° approach, 18.1° breakover and 21.5° departure angles, is considerably more capable off-road than its front-drive derived crossover SUV competitors. Driven seamlessly through loose gravel, dirt, rocks, creeks and inclines on a test drive in Fujairah, the UAE, the Dodge Durango off-road capability more than meets the demands of most family-SUV clients, but isn’t as extreme as the Grand Cherokee.