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Dodge Durango SUV wagon tackles work chores like a big truck
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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COMFORT, Tex. -- On a two-track trace deep in the Texas Hill Country, a hefty Dodge sport-utility wagon -- wearing a face that resembles the big Ram pickup -- flexes muscles to scamper over slippery limestone littering the trail.
Despite the rough and rocky surface, our wagon manages to glide over so many bumps and divots to deliver a smooth ride that, despite the absence of hard pavement, edges on the cushy.
It also puts a kick in the accelerator, thanks to a strong V8 standard engine along with a quiet and efficient new five-speed automatic transmission designed to handle all of the engine's torque.
But there's more: A humongous 5.9-liter V8 linked to a full-time electronic four-wheel-drive system becomes an option at any level in this wagon's trim chart.
Even the name of this wagon sounds tough: Durango.
Dodge's four-door sport-utility wagon derived from the mid-size Dakota pickup truck utilizes parts of the Dakota structure, various components and two engine options.
And it conforms to a practical size, neither too big nor too small for all in the family to ride around in comfort.
Durango measures larger than its compact-class SUV wagon competitors, particularly in wheelbase length by at least a two-inch margin. It provides powerful engine choices, contains seats for as many as seven passengers in the big cabin and brings home some massive tow loads.
Two different four-wheel traction modes are available in Durango's 2002 lineup, as is a rear-wheel-drive version, plus the five trim designations of base Durango, SXT, SLT, SLT Plus and a racy R/T.
Durango SXT is a new Durango trim for 2002 as fitted with graphite fixtures for fenders and bumpers, plus standard interior elements such as the five-speed automatic transmission, power windows, air conditioning and a CD deck.
Durango SLT and the SLT Plus apply plush equipment in progressive steps up to six-way power front bucket seats for SLT Plus with an Infinity audio kit and eight speakers.
Durango R/T amounts to a high-performance SUV with sport-tuned suspension and the Magnum 5.9-liter V8 Dodge truck engine ripped to 245 hp at 4000 rpm plus torque of 335 lb-ft at 3200 rpm.
Transmission for this plant is a heavy-duty automatic with four forward speeds.
Durango's standard engine -- a 4.7-liter Magnum V8 -- comes close to the 5.9-liter in power, generating 235 hp at 4800 rpm and 295 lb-ft of torque at 4200 rpm.
It appear in all trims except for R/T and links to the new five-speed electronic automatic that has smoother and quieter shift points plus better fuel economy figures.
New gear on 2002 issues of Durango includes optional side-curtain air bags for first and second rows of seats, the new five-speed automatic transmission and a standard audio package with AM/FM radio and cassette player.
A DVD-based video entertainment center designed for use by rear-seat riders is also available on 2002 models as a stand-alone option.
Despite so many comfort perks available, the overall attitude of Durango is, in a word, macho.
Evidence of that trait begins up front with the aggressive exterior styling but extends to powertrain performance and Durango's prowess when surging on pavement or scaling some off-road obstacle in four-wheel-drive.
All trim issues offer the four-wheel-drive option, by the way, whether part-time or full-time like on Durango R/T. The part-time system with electronic shifting has a 4WD Low lock, 2WD at rear wheels and 4WD High also locked. The full-time 4WD adds a planetary center differential with high and low 4WD locking as well as unlocked 4WD for highway cruising.
Durango's designers deliberately focused on the wagon's heritage as derived from a truck.
That starts with the Dakota truck frame and the same front-end exterior treatment that extends in-your-face sheetmetal shapes with lines reminiscent of the full-size Ram pickup. Design cues from the bold prow trace to streamlined Dodge workhorse trucks of the 1940s and modern stepped-hood styling of a big-rig Peterbilt.
Behind the windshield pillars, all shapes of Durango vary from Dakota. The roofline rises toward the rear to bring more headroom for riders on second and third tiers of seats, and at the back the tail sweeps around in curvy corners with a forward-canted tailgate effecting a sporty and progressive look.
Because a wagon consists of far more mass than a pickup, Durango's chassis needed to be stronger and stiffer than Dakota to perform agile maneuvers, so side rails were boxed to maximize torsional rigidity and lightweight cross beams were attached to craft a rigid platform. Then the floor was dropped by an inch to carve out more cabin space.
Drawing from Dakota's suspension components, Durango gets upper and lower control arms in front with a live rear axle, plus gas-charged shocks at all points and a stabilizer bar in front and back. Yet modifications were made to components like springs and shocks and torsion bars in order to tame Dakota's truckish ride quality and minimize lateral roll to create a more maneuverable vehicle. Also, the suspension ride height was lowered for better handling and so riders could step aboard easily.
Steering, through a rack and pinion device, feels tight but reacts fast to movement due to quick ratios for the variable effect.
Road tests over rugged ground in Texas Hill Country reveal that Durango can romp with an easy-driving attitude on pavement, but it gets serious on dirt.
As rain turns Texas dust into mud, a Durango rigged with part-time 4x4 traction tackles a rugged off-road path that climbs a stone-cluttered slope rough and lumped and jagged in stair-step sequence. This is a daunting incline, far too steep for a conventional vehicle, but evidently not too steep for our Durango.
Inside, driver and passengers feel cozy in the spacious cabin with an arrangement that brings more than adequate space for an adult in any seat position.
Durango's standard seat layout installs twin front buckets separated by a center console and followed by a second-row bench divided 60/40 in sections.
The second bench folds and tumbles easily from either side to access rear quarters, where a two-person third row bench works for the top three trims with second-row bench split 40/20/40 for custom adjustments.
Current price points for Durango stretch across a broad band from about $25,000 up to $39,000.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2002 DODGE DURANGO Specs |
| Description: |
Mid-size 4-door SUV wagon
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| Model Options: |
Mid-size 4-door SUV wagon
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| Wheelbase: |
2WD: 116.0 inches
4WD: 116.2 inches
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| Overall Length: |
193.5 inches
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| Engine Size: |
OHV 4.7-L V8
OHV 5.9-L V8
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| Transmission: |
4.7-L: Manual/5
Auto/5
5.9-L: Auto/4
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| Drive: |
2WD / 4WD
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| Braking: |
Power disc/drum/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 (front)
+ opt. 2 (side-curtain)
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| Gross Weight: |
2WD: 6050 pounds
4WD: 6400 pounds |
| Towing Capacity: |
2WD: 1670 pounds, 4WD: 1770 pounds |
| Gas Mileage: |
2WD 4.7-L: 14/19 mpg
4WD 4.7-L: 13/18 mpg
4WD 5.9-L: 12/17 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 25,000 to $ 39,000 |
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