Kevin Mio: The stories dominating the automotive headlines these days are all about fuel efficiency, smaller cars and even electric vehicles.
And that is probably how it should be given the state of the environment, the ever increasing price of fuel and the decreasing amount of real estate being allocated to vehicles in some urban areas.
But there is still – and probably always will be – a need for a vehicle that can haul around up to seven passengers and have excellent towing capability.
That’s where a sport utility vehicle like the 2012 Dodge Durango comes in – a vehicle segment that also includes the likes of the Chevy Traverse, Ford Explorer, Toyota 4Runner and others.
The third generation of the Durango was re-introduced to the market as a 2011 model after a short hiatus from the market. The new Durango also shares some of its underpinnings with the Jeep Grand Cherokee, another revamped model from the automaker that made a good impression on me last year.
The seven-passenger Durango comes in four trims, starting with the SXT at $37,995, the Crew Plus model at $46,195, the R/T trim at $47,195 and the top-of-the-line Citadel trim, which starts at $50,195.
The tester was a decked-out Citadel model that topped out at $57,045 once all the extras and charges were added up.
Among the options was something every family can appreciate: a rear DVD entertainment system, which runs for $1,300 but is probably worth its weight in gold for keeping the little ones from asking “are we there yet?” every 10 minutes.
The tester was also equipped with the $300 Skid Plate Group for improved off-road capability and a $750 Trailer Tow Group IV.
Buying a larger vehicle like the Durango also adds a $1,000 Federal Green Levy because of the amount of fuel the vehicle burns. There’s also the $100 air conditioning excise tax and $1,400 destination charge added in.
Standard equipment on the Citadel tester includes Nappa leather-faced seating with perforated inserts, ventilated front seats, Media Centre with enhanced GPS navigation, 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels, sunroof, blind spot monitoring system, rear cross path detection, rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning.
Design: The 2012 Durango is nothing like the original model that appeared in the mid-1990s, which looks very much like the Dodge pickup trucks of that era.
The new model is a much sleeker and more attractive model.
The tall front end is dominated by the massive crosshair grille that is also seen on other Dodge models. The wide placement of the headlights and fog lights enhance the overall appearance.
The side view features some nicely contoured sheet metal and the 20-inch wheels on the tester definitely stand out.
Wraparound tail lights lead the eye to the rear hatch, which is dominated by a large chrome bar, a look similar to that of the Grand Cherokee.
