Test Drive Dodge Durango since 2004 SUV

Dynamic heavyweight

Dodge Durango is an impressive appearance, impressive sizes, impressive capacity and impressive thrust of an impressive motor. The question is how impressive price will seem.
 
Fashion for large American SUVs we seem to have passed. That it was quite logical to affect the perception of their society: until everyone suddenly came that they were not intended to demonstrate social status, but to leaving the nature of the whole family and with a yacht on a trailer.
 
Dodge Durango for this is just very suitable. True, Dodge cars are officially not supplied to us. But when and whom it stopped? Follow the car dealerships, and you will find a lot of things that, according to the plans of manufacturers, should not cross not only the borders of Russia, but even the oceans.
 
It is not necessary to go for this to gray sellers: as practice shows, official dealers of automotive companies can often find both unofficial models. Besides here. Most likely, they will offer a normal guarantee (on Durango we promised as much as 4 years!) And ensure the best conditions for maintenance and repair - do not forget to unify between models and even stamps within one concern.
 
The last idea is explained by the example. Three motors can be installed on Dodge Durango: 3.7-liter V6 (210 hp, 319 N.MM); 4.7-liter Magnum V8 (230 hp, 393 N.MM) and Grand 5.7 HEMI Magnum V8 (335 hp, 509 N.M). But in one form or another, all these engines are present in the CHRYSLER and JEEP models, quite officially supplied to Russia. Approximately the same picture with automatic transmission and many components.
 
Traditional advantages
 
According to the old American tradition, the car should be great, strong, relatively inexpensive and not too demanding food. With these requirements, Durango satisfies full: more than 5 meters long, almost 2 widths, weighs more than 2 tons (and with a load of almost 3), lucky with due space 7 people and can be towed up to 4 tons - depending on the modification and its own load. And with all this eating 87th gasoline (we have 92th). Prices in the United States for the cheapest Durango ST with a 3.7-liter motor and the drive to the rear wheels begin with $ 27,000, and on all-wheel drive - from 30,000.
 
We received for dating the most expensive Dodge Durango Limited, and also with the HEMI Magnum engine and an almost complete set of additional equipment. This car cost about $ 40,000. Alas, crossing the ocean, the border of Russia (with the payment of relevant fees) and the threshold of the car dealership, the dream of a large yachtsman is becoming more expensive to $ 70,000. But other advantages remain.
 
Previous Durango also had three rows of seats, while it was smaller than Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition, but more than Blazer and Explorer. It looked rude, but harmoniously - a modest, modest, but not deprived of the attractiveness truck, wasproy and always hurrying in his affairs. The current looks look much more, but not only because it rang out in all dimensions, safely gave Tahoe and even Expedition. It's all about the proportions: the windows line rose so much that the windows look low, as if hot-kind, and the massive front, it seems, is about to overweigh the rest of the car. The radiator grille produces an indelible impression, especially on those who sees it in the rearview mirror: the road in front of you is exempt with the striking speed.
 
Inside Durango - the car is absolutely American - electric drives and all, skin upholstery and infinity audio system with CD changer adjacent to not the most expensive plastics. By the way, aluminum lining is also plastic. But it is necessary to pay tribute, the designers did not healurili: everything looks very good, especially the front panel, outlined by geometric lines. Only a speedometer is somewhat allocated by dimensions, reminding the tachograph of the truck.
 
A typically American set of adjustments (steering wheel - only height) is supplemented by a pleasant delight - adjusting the pedals, which, however, did not have to use: everything was comfortable. Only a little lack of lateral support - again traditionally for many Americans. Well, the passengers were extremely satisfied - doors opening almost 90 degrees, special handrails on racks that facilitate landing in a high car, a space on all three rows of seats and, of course, abundance of the cup holders.

GREAT AND POWERFUL
 
The fact that HEMI Magnum is great, you will feel right away - by how it starts the body swings. And the fact that it is mighty, - when overclocking: 2.5 tons of mass of the car rose joking. True, at that moment, the engine claims quite loudly about their ambitions, and Durango's noise isolation, like most Americans, is not the most outstanding. But you are ready for him to forgive it - for the mobility with which a hefty car rushes forward.
 
The transmission supports active undertakings and works quite adequately proposed tempo, although small jerks occur sometimes when switching. The reaction to the kick-down is different: sometimes the delay is minimal, and sometimes the machine and thinks second. However, it is possible not only in the transmission. After all, the HEMI engine is equipped with a Mercedesian system for disconnecting a portion of cylinders at low load. And it is possible that it is the engine that does not always respond instantly to the prison - especially after movement in a calm pace. But we would not give up this system for anything, about what a little later.
 
Transmission control selector is the traditional American kocher under the steering wheel - is not too intended and is not too convenient for active work with the machine. Yes, apparently, and not calculated: although five, forced modes are only 1 and 2 - for severe movement conditions. So we will not remember the braking on the engine on the protracted descent, although it makes it very good. The brakes were left not the most joyful impressions: with intensive braking it seems that the pedal rests on the elastic wall that you have to be sold. And in fact, in emergency cases it has been pretty. But the intensity of braking should be recognized as sufficient, and the work of the ABS is correct.
 
Well, now about the shutdown of cylinders. Recall, the mass of the car during the tests - 2.5 tons, the working volume of the motor is 5.7 liters. Previously, we ourselves never believed that after a very active ride in the city and then in a winding, with a lot of climbs and turns, a suburban highway, the onboard computer of this beast will show a little more than 18 l / 100 km. And taking into account the subsequent photographing (when the engine is running) and the stopping on the sandy beach, where we were bogged down and dug out, 20.4 l / 100 km.
 
On roads and without them
 
Long-distance highway, everyone goes at one speed, the cruise control is holding public 100 km / h - this is a real American style of movement. Dungo solid carries its cargo through space, slightly swaying on small irregularities is his element. Even on uneven asphalt, it is stable on straight lines and in gentle arcs and does not make focus on management - this property is preserved to very high speeds.
 
But everything changes, if you suddenly decide to demonstrate your close meaning of expressing an active drive. For a quick turn of the steering wheel, Durango reacts with a delay, before choosing a decent roll. Tires are large, feedback on the steering wheel is not enough. And if irregularities are encountered in the turn, the body fluctuations are added to the roll.
 
But the unhurried movement along the dirt road or broken asphalt will be quite comfortable. Small irregularities of Durango almost does not notice, large overcomes depending on their type: it is rather indifferent to the protruding, and it is hard to shudder.
 
Neither drango nor his regular tires is not intended for the storming of serious off-road. Of course, blocking the inter-axis differential and the downstream will help you in some country situations, but it is not necessary to specifically hope on them, going to deep dirt or sand. Be careful on the stones and fractures: the apron under the front bumper hangs rather low, and therefore risks being the first part that you lose in the desire to know the unexplored.
 
American SUVs stopped buying those to whom the car serves as a means of self-affirmation - they moved to other cars. But there are still those whom a large roomy car with good traction abilities is needed for business. For trips to the holiday of a large company. To attach a heavy trailer. As a car accompaniment. And in this sense, Durango seems to be a fairly logical choice, especially with a 5.7-liter motor. Even despite the fact that the main competitors are applied to us formally and therefore have some advantage in price.
 
Specifications Dodge Durango
 
Curb weight, kg - 2304
Full weight, kg - 2994
Dimensions (length / width / height), mm - 5101/1930/1887
Base, mm - 3027
Maximum speed, km / h - 180 (OGR)
Fuel control, l / 100 km:
- urban cycle - 18
- Country - 13
Engine:
- Type - gasoline, V-shaped
- Working volume, cm3 - 5654
- Power, hp at min-1 - 257 (335) / 5400
- torque, NM at min-1 - 509/4200
- Power system - distribution. injection
Transmission - automatic., 5-speed
Tire size - 265 / 65R17
Wheel suspension: from Stub. cross. mouth.
- front - noos., Torsion., Double levers
- rear - hung., Springs, with a pale mechanism
Brakes:
- Front - disk, ventilated
- rear - disk
Price, $ - 70 000
 
Text: Dmitry Filonov
 

Source: Journal 5 Wheel [11/2004]