2014 Dodge Durango: A Comprehensive Review of Performance and Safety

Thinking of buying a 7-seater family SUV that is safe, spacious, and drives well not just on the road but also in wadis? The new 2014 Dodge Durango is surprisingly superior in a few key areas compared to the usual suspects we see on our roads, including the Nissan Pathfinder, Honda Pilot, and Ford Explorer. The Dodge Durango needs to be looked at again, as it has remained an underrated player in the family SUV 7-seater segment. We explored the 2014 Durango in our first drive organized by Chrysler Middle East, where we drove from Dubai to Fujairah, covering some decent wadi exposure along the way.

Style

The 2014 Dodge Durango is a stylish family SUV that takes a few cues from the Dodge Charger. The 'hockey stick' LED lights form a straight line appearance which gives a very striking look, especially at night. The Citadel comes with a chrome honeycomb grille which, although classy, is not as good looking as the R/T which has a very sporty narrow grille. The R/T is also lower in height by 20mm. Both R/T and Citadel feature high discharge Bi-Xenon lamps with projector beam headlamps as well. Wheel sizes start from 18 inches up to 20 inches for the higher trim levels.

Compared to the previous generation Durango, the side profile has been further enhanced and the rear has been redesigned to accommodate the trailer hitch better. Durango claims to have the best towing capacity in its segment, which immediately took us back to Nissan Patrol's feats of strength. The V6 models get a single exhaust tip, while the V8 versions get dual 3.5 mm tips.

Interior

Materials and Finishing

It's hard to find faults with the interior of the 2014 Dodge Durango. There are minimal hard plastics to be found. Seating, at least in the full options Citadel, is very comfortable, and the leather quality is quite good. The rear entertainment screens (optional) are placed behind the front seats, unlike the drop-down screen we see in the Honda Pilot, which makes rear visibility a problem. Although visibility on the sides is not the best in class, it is quite adequate for everyday usage.

Features and Technology

The infotainment system is not the most intuitive for first-time users; however, it becomes manageable once you adjust to the unusually placed controls. For example, the audio controls are located behind the steering wheel, making them hard to find unless you discover them! We observed similar ergonomics in the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee as well in our last road test. Apart from that, the technology is just fine for everyday use. The sunroof opens and closes with two separate controls, which is a bit redundant as most SUVs use one control for both. The gearbox is operated via a Jaguar-like knob system, with an additional lower gear transfer case for V8 higher trims. This, however, does not classify the Durango as an off-roader; it will definitely perform better in wadis compared to other crossovers.

Interior Space

The 2014 Dodge Durango is one of the most spacious, if not the most spacious SUV in its class. The Pathfinder still rules when it comes to 2nd row legroom; however, the Durango compensates by offering more in the boot while maintaining decent legroom in the 2nd and 3rd rows. It definitely surpasses the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot in seating and boot space metrics. Good job.

Safety Features

The Durango boasts best-in-class safety features compared to its rivals. The list is long and impressive. The forward collision warning system gives the driver a good jolt a few seconds before a potential crash. The adaptive cruise control adjusts speed when it detects a car in front, even to the extent of coming to a complete stop if the car ahead is close enough. Standard airbags in front, back, and side all outshine the competition in this area.

Drive Performance

The Durango Citadel oozes power with its 5.7-liter engine, generating 360 horsepower. On the road, we floored it and took it up to 6,000 RPM, and the torque kept coming. There is no delay in acceleration, as seen in a lot of SUVs. The new 8-speed transmission makes the ride butter smooth, and there is no CVT noise either. The handling is surprisingly good, with decent road grip and steering feedback. This is one of the few SUVs, apart from the Ford Explorer, that gives you something resembling a driver's feel. Most SUVs are light steering urban cruisers with minimal feedback; this one is a pleasant exception. Road noise is kept to a bare minimum too. Honestly, it was hard to find weaknesses in the driving experience.

Verdict

With a starting price of 129,900 AED and ending close to 200,000 AED for the fully optioned version, the only drawback for the Dodge Durango is its price tag. Other than that, the car is stylish, drives much better than its rivals, and is safe to the extent of being remarkable.