Seven Seats And A V6 – CarBuzz Thinks You Don’t Need Anything Else
Industry: Transportation & Logistics
Old-school SUVs have their charms
New York, NY (PRUnderground) November 18th, 2021
Crossovers and SUVs may be the most popular family cars right now, but to stay relevant, they have to keep up with the latest trends. This means replacing those robust V6 and V8 engines with low-displacement turbocharged four-pots. However, the car enthusiasts at CarBuzz aren’t quite ready to let go, and take a closer look at one of the few remaining naturally aspirated crossovers.
Both bark and bite
Obviously, it goes without saying that Dodge Durango performance is one of the first things people notice. While turbocharged rivals may be able to keep up with, or even fly by, the Durango, they will never feel or sound this good. This is thanks to the 3.6L V6 under the sleek hood, which can even be upgraded to a more boisterous V8. Outputs for each are 295 horsepower and 360 hp, respectively. This means the portly crossover SUV can sprint to 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds, although gas mileage figures are better left unmentioned.
Spacious and practical
A defining characteristic of a successful crossover, no matter the size, is how well it accommodates people and their stuff. The Dodge Durango interior shows a clear bias towards the former, with seating for up to seven being offered. The third-row seats are not exactly ideal for larger passengers, however, which may be why they don’t come as standard on the base model. When they are folded down or absent, you are left with a very respectable 43.3 cubic feet of cargo space.
Concerning safety
Midsize SUVs are all about morning school runs and family weekend getaways. So, when you consider your precious cargo, the Dodge Durango safety rating is a little disappointing. It only earned a four-star rating from the NHTSA, and it suffers due to its height, as shown by the three-star rating in the rollover crash test. The engine isn’t the only thing that hasn’t moved with the times, as not a lot of advanced driver-assistance features come standard. Thankfully, they are available, you just have to pay more.
Ol’ reliable
When they say they don’t make cars like they used, the Durango is what they are comparing all the new blood to. You can thank its age for this, as years on the market have helped Dodge iron out all the kinks. Unsurprisingly, the Dodge Durango reliability scores are excellent, and there are few complaints or issues on record for the latest model.
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