Dodge Durango test drive since 2004 SUV

All photos Dodge Durango since 2004

Ranch in addition

This car cannot be called historically important, but it contributed its contribution to the formation of our idea of \u200b\u200bthe large American SUV. The first generation car was unexpectedly expressive thanks to the developed muscles of the body, which was reinforced by the power of eight -cylinder engines. At the same time, she was spacious, taking on board up to eight people.

The last two years have passed under the sign of the expansion of American brands in the European market. At least attempts at expansion. Lexus came to the Old World, Cadillac pulled behind him with a whole series of Europeanized models. The sales of Hummer H2 unfolded, great reviews of the press received the latest Corvette. American Callaway shines on racing tracks. Lincoln, alas, abandoned plans to replace the Ford Scorpio with his medium -size LS sedan. But in 2005, the debut of the Infinity brand is planned, which will first appear in Russia and China, and then in European countries. Rumor has it that the Dodge brand may also be on this list. It is assumed that it will be worn by sports versions of Chrysler cars.

The new Dodge Durango does not take part in the discussion on the topic of sports, but he always has something to say. This car cannot be called historically important, but it contributed its contribution to the formation of our idea of \u200b\u200bthe large American SUV. The first generation car was unexpectedly expressive thanks to the developed muscles of the body, which was reinforced by the power of eight -cylinder engines. At the same time, she was spacious, taking on board up to eight people. Since then, the individuality is even brutality of design, V-shaped eights and the spaciousness of steel in this class requirements for any new recruitment. The second Durango could not bypass them, which had to encounter a whole host of competitors: 65 SUV models are sold in North America, 16 of which pose a direct threat for our hero.

The key requirements of potential buyers were to improve the quality of the finish, increase the frequers of salon, and increase reliability and economy. In general, nothing new. Target groups are thoroughly known: 30-40-year-olds burdened with young children and no longer burdened with children, 40-50-year-olds. Absolute news was the intention of Kraisler marketers to change the gender of the owners of the machine: according to their calculations, up to 55% of all Durango will now buy women.

For what? It is believed that for Minivan, family, proportions, lightweight steering and the interior embellished with false -core inserts. And for seductive options. Like remote opening of door locks and a wireless Bluetooth telephone. And for the multimedia DVD center with wireless headphones, which will entertain the noisy offspring of the family.

Although, in truth, Durango is rude for the fair sex. The peasant. Truck truck. Outwardly, it really resembles a mixture of Voyager minivan with a giant RAM pickup. Even 17-inch wheels in its bottomless niches seem small. The most powerful front end with embossed wings and the chrome cross of the radiator grille suddenly passes into a highly tilted windshield, and the feed is crowned with double lanterns, designed to resemble nozzles of jet fighters. Longing for aerospace fifties? All this looks in cerebetroly monumental and eclectic.

In the calculation on the feeded Americans, the doors are made as wide as possible, going on the frames of the body and the roof, and the front doors open as much as 82 degrees. The main layout in the cabin is a fixed -fixed middle row of seats, which does not allow freely modulate the space. There is only adjustment of the angles of inclination of the backs. As for the front ones, there are more than enough space here. The chairs are not devoid of lateral support, but they are so wide that they are simply not able to fix the body. Although there are no complaints about their profile. The front panel is so extensive that it is impossible to reach the driver's seat to the lower part of the windshield. The steering wheel is quite convenient, the devices are flaunted with contrasting white dials. For low -growing drivers, an adjustment of the node in the longitudinal direction with an electric drive is provided. Review through the salon mirror is useless, but huge external mirrors remove all issues. I also liked the thoughtful organization of buttons on the central console. And I did not like the quality of plastic: in Europe, such a primitive-fierce material is considered a sign of bad tone.

Dodge Dakota, on the basis of which the second -generation Durango was built, was updated by 2005 by 2005, receiving more sharp body contours. It is unlikely that such a fate in the near future expects Durango.

If you ask, what do I remember the most, I will answer right away: an audio system. It includes a CD/MP3-chamber for 6 discs, an amplifier with a capacity of 384 W and eight speakers of the Infinity II series. The sound is magnificent: dynamic, clear, with dense bass and without resonant sizes. In principle, typical of large American SUVs, whose music, according to our observations, are not able to replay European and Japanese premium sedans with audio systems standing thousands of euros.

Crosslera engineers made a lot to ensure the safety of the driver and passengers. Their main achievement of a closed frame made by hydraulic forming by hydraulic forming. In the front part, it has the shape of an octagon, which allows it to redistribute and absorb energy in a frontal collision. The standard equipment includes front airbags, ABS and distribution system. Inflatable curtains, with a lateral collision, covering all three glasses on each side, are attributed to options. Really made a lot, but not all. On Durango you will not find either side pillows or ESP. And this is by car for $ 60,000! However, in their native America, Durango costs completely different money. The price of the base machine with a 3.7-liter V6 and the drive only on the rear wheels is about $ 26,500, and the top version of the LTD with the 335-horsepower Hemi engine and all-wheel drive with a decreasing side can be bought for $ 36,500.

Our all-wheel drive Durango C 4.7-liter eight Magnum, despite its solid technical characteristics, is calm and obedient. A kind of good -natured bog. The machine briskly breaks from the place in the quarry, but then acceleration becomes apathetic-measured. In any case, it seems like that from the inside. The machine operates softly and lazily. And the brakes match: soft, with a long -flowing, failed pedal. Nevertheless, very effective with emergency slowdown.

An attempt to cheer up the car with a kik-dowan requires to push the accelerator pedal almost to the floor, but after that acceleration does not become impressive. But the testimony of an on -board computer, ruthlessly demonstrating fuel consumption, frighten. It is pleased that Durango is not particularly demanding of the quality of gasoline. It can eat, as they say, pasture. The 92nd is almost a delicacy for him.

Durango holds the road perfectly. By the way, initially it was planned to be equipped with an independent rear suspension. But this design turned into an increase in the mass and unstable behavior when towing heavy trailers. As a result, the car received a dependent scheme with the springs and thrust of Watt, centering the bridge in corners and on bumps. As for the bumps, only the largest pits are able to remove this giant out of balance, and at strict joints, the vibrations of the unsubstantiated masses are felt every now and then. And so Durango represents our difficult roads by autobahns. The steering is very light, because of this reaction of the car they seem fast, despite three and a half turning from the stop to the stop. Feedback is present as a fact, but its level is low, so that the driver needs an heightened sense of the machine. Durango's turns are funny. Funny, but not dangerous. The car performs the commands of the steering wheel through the clearly felt lateral departments of the tires. One has only to twist how the tires begin to squeak piercingly, and the car slides to the outer edge. Relatively small bodies of the body help to quickly find the correct trajectory, after which the passage of the turn is no longer difficult. This is also facilitated by the almost equal distribution of torque along the axes (48:52 in favor of the rear wheels). And you should praise Durango for maneuverability: in the parking lots an analogy with the mooring of the ocean liner rarely comes to mind.

The name of the car has nothing to do with the neuromantics from Duran Duran. It comes from English Durable, which means durable, hardy. It is these qualities that are appreciated by American buyers the most. No wonder the presentation of the car took place in Texas, and its crown number was a test trip around the neighborhood with a full passenger compartment and a two -ton trailer for transporting horses behind their backs. The car demonstrated an inexhaustible 5.7-liter engine thrust supply, starting starting and gear switches under load, control lightness and body rigidity, which had never creaked when moving along country roads. If you provide Durango with a similar habitat in Russia, then its existence, as well as its purchase, will undoubtedly become meaning.

Autography
Dodge Durango II
Predecessor
Durango (1996)
Prototype
Durango Hemi R/T (2003)
Platform
Dodge Dakota
Body
5-door station wagon
Premiere
autumn 2003
Engines
3.7-5.7 l (210-335 l.
Production
USA
Expected replacement
2010/11

The car is provided by Aurore Auto, the official dealer of Chrysler/Jeep.

Text: Kirill Brevdo
Photo: Roman Ostanin