Reviews

The Durango is classy, with a muscular nose and boxy profile with soft edges, conservative flat sheetmetal. From the rear, you wouldn’t say it looks like a truck, although you won’t mistake it for anything else. Monochrome trim and a twin exhaust give it some sport.

The R/T and SRT are wider and lower, with sharper front fascia with a lower valence to house a new cold-air duct, and LED fog lamps. It’s a three-slot hood scoop, with a center air inlet duct flanked by heat extractors.

Interior

Inside, there are no hints of its truck past at all. The tightly sealed cabin is rich but subtle, quiet and refined, feeling like a luxury SUV, like its foreign ancestor the Mercedes ML. The flowing dash is covered in soft-touch materials and displays metallic-ringed gauges and a bright 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen on most models (SXT uses a 5.0-inch touchscreen). The R/T shows off leather upholstery with woven red inserts and red stitching.

Front passengers have it good, with well-bolstered cloth seats and a driving position that works for all sizes. The leather seats are flatter than the cloth, so if you like sporty driving that’s something to consider.

Three adults fit comfortably in the second row, with available captain’s chairs for two individuals, with a low console with one cupholder between them. It’s minimalist. There’s an optional larger console with two cupholders, 12-volt outlet and USB port. We suggest getting it.

Either way, there is a hump on the floor, over the rear-wheel-drive’s driveshaft.

The third-row seat is eminently usable compared to others. It actually fits two adults, although it’s a bit difficult to climb back there. It’s split 50/50 and folds, although not into the floor like the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, which might be a better option if it’s a people-carrier you need more than a tow vehicle. But when the Durango’s second row is folded there’s 84.5 cubic feet of space, room enough for a six-foot couch and a coffee table, or a stack of 10-foot-long two-by-fours.

The rear visibility is hindered by wide roof pillars, so with the SXT, the rearview camera option is a must.

As for the new SRT, it seems to deserve its available high-performance Demonic Red Laguna leather upholstery with carbon-fiber trim.

* The advertised price does not include sales tax, vehicle registration fees, other fees required by law, finance charges and any documentation charges. A negotiable administration fee, up to $115, may be added to the price of the vehicle.

* Images, prices, and options shown, including vehicle color, trim, options, pricing and other specifications are subject to availability, incentive offerings, current pricing and credit worthiness.