- suv 123,317
- 1,138 below average
- 2,995 great
- Houston, TX
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- autoshopper.com
- 1,138 below average suv 123,317 silver
2002 dodge durango review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Not too big, not too small, and very rugged. introductiondodge durango is handsome, powerful, versatile, and refined. Based on the dakota pickup, durango is smaller and more maneuverable than the full-size suvs, such as the ford expedition and chevrolet tahoe. Dodge durango has found a comfortable niche that ford and gm missed. with theater-style seating that gives rear-seat passengers a view of the road ahead, and other interior creature comforts, the durango is a smart choice for large families. It's also a good choice for people who tow light to medium-sized trailers. For 2002, dodge has added a high-value trim level called sxt with unique graphite trim. Two engines are available: a 4. 7-liter v8 and a 5. 9-liter v8. five trim levels are available. Seventeen-inch wheels with 275/60r17 tires and a sport-tuned suspension improve handling, while body-colored wheel flares help set the r/t apart. walkarounddodge durango doesn't look like other suvs. It makes a bolder statement with its muscular styling. It looks sportier than the ford or gm competition and many of the imports. Durango shares its front end with the dakota pickup. The grille's prominent bull's-eye slats instantly identify this suv as part of the dodge family. interioreight people can fit in the durango (six comfortably), with theater seating designed to give everyone a view out the front. The back half of the roof is raised nearly two inches to increase rear-seat headroom and visibility. This raised portion is cleverly disguised with a roof rack. second-row seats are quite comfortable, offering plenty of headroom and adequate legroom. Stable cup holders and rear heating/air conditioning controls add to comfort. Third-row seats (standard in slt, slt plus, and r/t) are surprisingly comfortable for two people, who enjoy adequate legroom by tucking their feet under the second-row seats in front of them. Getting in and out of that third row is easy: flip a lever and the second-row seatback folds forward, then tumbles out of the way, allowing a quick entry or exit. durango's interior was re-designed for 2001, including a new instrument panel, interior trim, center and overhead consoles, carpeting and steering wheel. A dual-zone climate control system is standard, and slt and r/t models provide auxiliary heat for the third-row seats. when it's time to haul cargo, the tailgate lifts up and out of the way, and the two rows of seats easily fold down to provide a large, relatively flat floor. A trout bum could sleep back there. All durangos have a long, narrow storage compartment under the floor just inside the rear liftgate, with enough space for the jack, flares and other roadside equipment. overall, the interior design is executed well. Matching plastic trim provides an organic appearance. The seats appear plain, but they are comfortable. Carpeting extends to the backs of the rear headrests, which do not have to be removed when the seats are folded down. That's a convenient, timesaving feature. the driving position is comfortable, with good visibility over an attractive, rounded hoodline. Instruments are big and easy to read, although the speedometer appears busy with has marks for every 2-1/2 mph. Power outside mirrors are easy to adjust with a big knob on the driver's door. Cup-holders and storage trays are nicely designed, while a digital compass and other useful readouts beckon from overhead. Large buttons on the leather-wrapped steering wheel operate one of the better cruise controls we've encountered. driving impressionthe durango is enjoyable to drive. Equipped with the big 5. 9-liter magnum v8, it always feels willing to get down the road quickly, with excellent throttle response and quick acceleration. Shifting is smooth and responsive and transmission ratios are well matched to the healthy torque of the 5. 9-liter v8. it handles well when driven briskly down narrow roads with tight corners and sweeping turns. The durango feels a bit sportier than other sport-utilities, particularly the bigger ones. Steering is precise and the suspension provides excellent transient response, responding crisply when dodging quickly from left to right and back again. On unpaved roads, the durango provides predictable handling. We never bottomed the suspension out in spite of bouncing around in the rough stuff. durango's competent off-road capability and on-road handling response don't come as a free lunch, however. We found ride quality on downtown washington's crumbling infrastructure a bit on the harsh side. Ride quality on rough pavement is not as smooth as it is in, say, the new ford explorer or gmc envoy. as mentioned, two v8 engines are available. It uses a modern overhead-cam configuration, as opposed to the 5. 9-liter engine's traditional overhead-valve design. Engine and transmission talk to each other and choose the optimum ratio based on driver input and load conditions. Most often, it will choose the numerically higher ratio when starting off from rest, or when towing; and a numerically lower ratio as a more ideal kick-down or passing gear. new for 2002, is a similarly engineered five-speed automatic, with two overdrive ratios and again two different second-gear ratios. That's considerably more robust than the just-released 2003 expedition's standard 4. 6-liter overhead-cam v8 (232 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque), and not far behind expedition's optional 5. 4-liter unit, with its 260 horsepower and 350 pound-feet. The dodge 5. 9-liter v8 also compares favorably with the chevrolet tahoe's 5. 3-liter v8 (285 horsepower, but only 325 pound-feet of torque). Fuel economy for the 5. 9-liter dodge is 12/17 mpg city/highway, as rated by the epa. The durango can nearly tow with the big boys, too. With the 5. 9-liter engine and 3. 92 axle, it's capable of pulling a 7,550-pound trailer. Chevy's tahoe is rated to pull 7,900 pounds, and ford's expedition is rated for 8,900 pounds. Both transfer cases rely on shift-on-the-fly lever mounted on the floor. It's not suitable for dry. summarydodge durango is practical, intelligently designed and easy to operate. It also compares favorably to the full-size ford expedition, chevrolet tahoe, and gmc yukon. the durango cuts a distinctive appearance among sport-utility vehicles. AM/FM✔ Power Seats✔ Climate Control✔ CD Player✔ Air Conditioning✔ Alloy Wheels
2,995 Houston, TXHouston, TX at autoshopper.com