2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid Lockhart TX

November 18, 2009   By Alison Lakin, Associate Editor



2009 Dodge Durango
DriverSide Overview
Chrysler has launched two big gambles into the automotive world: the 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid and the Chrysler Aspen Hybrid . With SUV sales plummeting and hybrids growing ever larger in their appeal, the manufacturer hopes to take advantage of this turn of events by mating a HEMI V-8 with the two-mode hybrid system, developed in conjunction with GM, Mercedes-Benz and the BMW Group, to create a more efficient SUV. The underbellies of these giants are essentially the same, but the Durango is the more rugged of the two, putting an aggressive exterior design on display and finishing the interior with industrial edginess. With more than a 25 percent increase in fuel economy over their gas-powered relations and a price tag thousands less than comparable hybrids, the gamble should pay out nicely.








What's to Like
Three rows of seats and V-8 power are combined with livable gas mileage at 19 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. The starting price, very close to the standard Durango, will appeal to consumers. A sophisticated instrument gauge displays your engine and hybrid battery usage so you can keep your fuel economy in check.

What's Not to Like
Gas mileage may be improved, but it still doesn’t beat a passenger car. The cabin materials feel cheaper than you’d hope in an SUV topping $45,000. Like most vehicles this large, you’re aware of its size every moment during the drive. 

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
Most people buying an SUV hybrid aren’t going to expect a sedan -like ride. And it’s a good thing they don’t get their hopes up. With a high command position, huge dash and thick pillars, driving the Durango feels a bit like taking the Queen Mary out for a spin. Cornering is dull and the weight of the car - including the heft of the added hybrid batteries - lends itself to slight body roll, but the Durango’s suspension smoothes out bumps more efficiently than some of its competition. The two-mode hybrid can propel a car forward up to 25 mph without having to use the gas engine. When turning the ignition, the absence of the fuel engine firing up makes the vehicle so quiet that they’ve added a “Ready” light below the speedometer so you don’t keep turning the key. Having as much mass as it does means it doesn’t take a lot of throttle to force the engine to kick in though, and unless you feather the peddle from a stop, you’re going to feel and hear the engine helping much sooner than 25 mph.

Engine and Drivetrain
When a vehicle uses both a gas engine and electric motors, it is difficult to put the power output into horsepower and torque terms. The numbers are only estimated, but a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine and electric motor that deliver roughly 345 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque sounds pretty good to us. The Durango has stan...

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