Test drive Dodge Durango 1997 - 2003 SUV

Dynamic heavyweight

Dodge Durango is an impressive appearance, impressive size, impressive capacity and impressive craving of an impressive motor. The question is how impressive the price will seem.
 
The fashion for large American SUVs seems to have passed. Which was quite logically affected by our society’s perception: it suddenly came to everyone that they were intended not at all to demonstrate social status, but to go to nature with the whole family and with a yacht on the trailer.
 
Dodge Durango is just very suitable for this. True, Dodge cars are not officially supplied to us. But when and whom did it stop? Go through car dealerships, and you will find a lot of the fact that, according to the plan of manufacturers, you should not cross not only the borders of Russia, but even the oceans.
 
It is not necessary to go to the gray sellers for this: as practice shows, the official dealers of automobile companies often can find unofficial models. Besides here. Most likely, they will be offered a normal guarantee (for Durango they promised us as much as 4 years!) And they will provide the best conditions for maintenance and repair - do not forget about the unification between models and even stamps within one concern.
 
Let us explain the last thought with an example. Three engines can be installed on Dodge Durango: 3.7-liter V6 (210 hp, 319 N.M); 4.7-liter Magnum V8 (230 hp, 393 N.M) and grandiose 5.7 hemi Magnum V8 (335 hp, 509 N.M). But in one form or another, all these engines are present in Chrysler and Jeep models, which are quite officially supplied to Russia. Approximately the same picture with transmissions automans and many components.
 
Traditional virtues
 
According to the long -standing American tradition, the car should be large, strong, relatively inexpensive and not too demanding on food. Durango satisfies these requirements in full: with a length of more than 5 meters, almost 2 wide, weighs more than 2 tons (and with a load almost 3), it takes 7 people with the proper expanse and can tow up to 4 tons - depending on the modification and its own loading. And with all this, it feeds on 87th gasoline (we have 92nd). The prices in the USA for the cheapest Durango ST with a 3.7 -liter engine and the rear wheels begin with $ 27,000, and on all -wheel drive - with 30,000.
 
We received for acquaintance the most expensive Dodge Durango Limited, besides with the Hemi Magnum engine and an almost complete set of additional equipment. Such a car would cost an American buyer about $ 40,000. Alas, crossing the ocean, the border of Russia (with the payment of appropriate fees) and the threshold of a car dealership, the dream of a large yachtsman is getting more expensive to $ 70,000. But other advantages remain.
 
The previous Durango also had three rows of seats, while there were fewer than Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition, but more than Blazer and Explorer. He looked rustic, but harmonious - a sort of modest, but not without attractive truck, lean and always hurrying about his business. The current one looks much more grandiose, but not only because it has been heard in all dimensions, safely caught up with Tahoe and even Expedition. It's all about the proportions: the window sill rose so that the windows look low, like a hot-rod, and a massive front, it seems, is about to outweigh the rest of the car. The radiator grille makes an indelible impression, especially on those who sees it in the rearview mirror: the road in front of you is freed with amazing speed.
 
Inside Durango is a completely American car - electric drives of everything and everything, skin upholstery and an Infinity audio system with a CD changer are adjacent to not the most expensive plastics. By the way, aluminum pads are also made of plastic. But we must pay tribute, the designers did not hack: everything looks very good, especially the front panel, outlined by geometric lines. Only the speedometer stands out somewhat in size, recalling the truck tachograph.
 
A typically American set of adjustments (steering wheel - only in height) is supplemented by a pleasant stake - adjusting the pedals, which, however, did not have to use: everything was already convenient. Only a little lack of side support was not enough - again, traditionally for many Americans. Well, the passengers were extremely satisfied - the doors that open almost 90 degrees, with special handrails at the racks that facilitate the landing in a high car, the expanse in all three rows of seats and, of course, an abundance of cup holders.

GREAT AND MIGHTY
 
The fact that Hemi Magnum is great, you will feel at once - by the way the body will swing when it starts it. And the fact that it is mighty is during acceleration: 2.5 tons of mass of the machine rise jokingly. True, at this moment the engine declares rather loudly about its ambitions, and Durango, like most Americans, is not the most outstanding. But you are ready to forgive him for this - for mobility, with which a hefty car rushes forward.
 
The transmission supports active undertakings and works quite adequately proposed pace, although small jerks occur during switching. The reaction to Kick Dawn is different: sometimes the delay is minimal, and sometimes the machine will think for a second. However, the matter is possibly not only in the transmission. After all, now the Hemi motor is equipped with a Mercedes system of disconnecting part of the cylinders at low load. And it is possible that it is the engine that does not always instantly react to spur - especially after moving at a calm pace. But we would never give up this system for anything, which a little later.
 
The transmission control selector - a traditional American poker under the steering wheel - is not too intelligible and not too convenient for active work with a machine gun. Yes, apparently not calculated for that: although there are five steps, forced modes only 1 and 2 for difficult traffic conditions. So we will not remember about the engine braking on protracted descents, although it does it very well. The brakes did not leave the most joyful impressions: with intensive braking, it seems as if the pedal is resting against the elastic wall that you have to be served. And in fact, in emergency cases you have to lean pretty. But the inhibition intensity should be recognized as sufficient, and the operation of the ABS should be correct.
 
Well, now about turning off the cylinders. Recall that the mass of the car during tests is 2.5 tons, the working volume of the motor is 5.7 liters. Previously, we ourselves would never have believed that after a very active ride around the city and then on the winding, with a large number of climbs and turns, the suburban highway, the on -board computer of this beast will show a little more than 18 l/100 km. And taking into account the subsequent photography (with the engine running) and the skiding on the sandy beach, where we got bogged down and dug up, 20.4 l/100 km.
 
On the roads and without them
 
The intercity highway, everyone goes at the same speed, the crucifixion holds public 100 km/h - this is the real American style of movement. Durango solidly carries his load through the space, swaying slightly on small irregularities - this is his element. Even on uneven asphalt, it is stable on straight and in gentle arcs and does not force to focus on control - this property remains to very high speeds.
 
But everything changes if you suddenly decide to demonstrate the meaning of the expression to your loved ones an active drive. Durango reacts to a fast turning steering wheel with a delay, before choosing a decent roll. The departments of the tires are great, the feedback on the steering wheel is not enough. And if irregularities are found in the bend, then the body fluctuations are added to the roll.
 
But leisurely moving along a dirt road or broken asphalt will be quite comfortable. Durango almost does not notice small bumps, large ones overcame large depending on their type: it is quite indifferent to the protruding, and trembles heavily on potholes.
 
Neither Durango nor its full -time tires are intended for the assault on serious off -road. Of course, the blocking of the center differential and the reducing gear will help you in some summer sites, but you should not really rely on them, gathering in deep dirt or sand. Be careful on stones and fractures: the apron under the front bumper hangs quite low, and therefore risks being the first detail that you will lose in an effort to know the unknown.
 
American SUVs stopped buying those who serve as a means of self -affirmation - they moved to other cars. But there are still those who are a large spacious car with good traction abilities for business. For travel to rest with a large company. For towing a heavy trailer. Like an escort car. And in this sense, Durango seems to be a rather logical choice, especially taking into account the 5.7-liter engine. Even though the main competitors are officially supplied to us and therefore have some advantage in price.
 
Technical characteristics of Dodge Durango
 
Equipped mass, kg - 2304
Full mass, kg - 2994
Dimensions (length/width/height), mm - 5101/1930/1887
Base, mm - 3027
Maximum speed, km/h - 180 (ogr.)
Control consumption of fuel, l/100 km:
- City cycle - 18
- Zagorod - 13
Engine:
- type - gasoline, V -shaped
- working volume, cm3 - 5654
- Power, L.S. at MIN -1 - 257 (335)/5400
- Torque, N.M at MIN -1 - 509/4200
- The power system is a distribution. injection
Transmission - automatic., 5 -speed
Tire size - 265/65R17
Wheel suspension: from stub. cross. mouth.
- Front - non -SOS., Torsion., Double levers
- rear - hover., springs., with the mechanism of Watta
Brakes:
- front - disk, ventilated
- rear - disk
Price, $ - 70,000
 
Text: Dmitry Filonov
 

A source: Magazine 5 wheel [11/2004]