As sport-utilities go, the Durango is fun to drive. We spent a week with the big 5.9-liter Magnum V8 in the Washington area. It always feels willing to get down the road quickly, with excellent throttle response and quick acceleration.Prior to that, a daylong drive though the Texas Hill Country west of San Antonio gave us an opportunity to try the Durango on undulating highways and steep, rocky trails. The Durango handled well when driven briskly down narrow roads with tight corners and sweeping turns. Compared to other sport-utilities, the Durango feels sporty. Steering is precise and the suspension provides excellent transient response, crisply responding when turning quickly from left to right and back again. Shifting is smooth and responsive and transmission ratios are matched well to the healthy torque of the 5.9-liter V8.
(We have not tested the new 4.7-liter overhead-cam engine, but one of our correspondents loved it in the similar Dodge Dakota pickup; look for that review at newcartestdrive.com.)
Peeling off the pavement, we bounced down rocky, unpaved roads through the hills. Durango provided predictable handling in the loose stuff and, in spite of our best efforts, we never bottomed the suspension all day. Without stopping, we slid the silky transfer box into part-time four-wheel drive and the Durango never faltered as it bounded over deep rivulets cut through our steep, rocky path. We'd feel comfortable driving a Durango anywhere.
Durango's competent off-road capability and on-road handling response don't come as a free lunch, however. We found ride quality on downtown Washington's crumbling infrastructure a bit on the harsh side. The Durango should be fine for most folks, but it's something to note on your test drive. The standard tires will likely offer a softer ride than the big 31-inch tires designed for off-road travel that came as optional equipment on our Durango.
A part-time four-wheel-drive transfer case is standard. Shifting from two-wheel drive into part-time four-wheel drive is only appropriate for mud, snow and other low-traction situations; it's unsuitable for dry pavement as there is no slippage between the front and rear wheels, and the tires will hop and chatter in tight parking lot maneuvers. Durango's part-time four-wheel-drive system is a good choice for people who live in a dry climate but want to be able to shift into ultimate off-road mode. On really steep grades, it can be shifted into low-range four-wheel drive. Overall, it's the best choice for those who want serious off-road capability.
A more flexible option is the $395 full-time four-wheel-drive transfer case. It comes with everything above plus a planetary center differential. Shifting into the full-time mode allows the front and rear axles to turn at different speeds, so the wheels don't fight each other in tight quarters yet traction is assured under all but the worst conditions. Full-time four-wheel-drive mode is appropriate for torrential rain, light snow and ice or light off-highway travel. If conditions should get extreme, the driver can shift into part-time four-wheel drive or low range (described above).
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