BRAWNY HAULER
Aggressive styling, spacious seating, solid construction keep 2017 Dodge Durango Citadel competitive in three-row SUV segment
Matching brawny good looks with a roomy cabin that can seat seven, Dodge Durango has proven it has staying power in its familyoriented segment.
The current model was launched in the 2011 model year, making it one of the oldest among its three-row rivals. But year-after-year upgrades — and a solid design to begin with — have helped keep the Durango competitive.
With a SUV chassis design donated by Mercedes-Benz (during the years the German company owned Chrysler Corp.), the Durango shares most of its underpinnings with the Jeep Grand Cherokee, but in an extended format to provide room for that third-row seat.
In fact, the commodious split bench in the back is one of the Durango’s best features. A pair of full-size adults can sit comfortably there, unlike the tight confines provided by most of the competitors.
Unlike the muscular exterior design, the Durango is starting to show its age inside. There are some high points, particularly the 8.4-inch touchscreen that operates a well-designed system for accessing all the usual techy stuff (apps, nav, audio, phone, settings, etc.); and multizone climate (including heated/cooled seats and heated steering wheel). It’s easy to use, responsive and attractive.
Otherwise the general appearance of the cabin, although fitted with decent materials and carefully assembled, is a bit out of sync with its rivals. Still, the seats are quite comfortable, and there’s enough (optional) up-todate entertainment stuff to keep the kids in the back occupied.
The big Dodge is powered by the smooth-running 3.6-liter V-6 that appears in numerous Fiat Chrysler applications. Driving all four wheels through an excellent eight-speed automatic transmission, it motivates 5,100 pounds of heft, but falls behind the pack in fuel economy. All that weight does limit its cornering capability, but helps deliver a creamy-smooth highway ride.
Jam-packed with up-todate safety and convenience features, the Dakota overcomes its age through aggressive styling, quiet and confident road manners, generous towing capacity and overall solidity. It’s one tough SUV, with enough positives to merit close comparisons with its competitors.