2008-09 Dodge Durango

H. Kent Sundling, www.MrTruck.com

I use to start a SUV review with horsepower and torque for towing, but now I need to open with EPA Fuel Economy Estimates of 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway for the 2008 Dodge Durango. I drove the Durango Adventurer 4x4 for a week on the plains, in the Rockies and towed a two horse trailer. The Hemi with Multi Displacement had plenty of power. Rear backup camera is handy for the trailer and the remote start is an excellent option for the winter in Colorado. The Durango is a nice size with three rows of seats for 8 passengers, enough power for a three horse trailer, but I would use a weight distributing hitch.

 

Dodge has announced details for the 2009  Dodge Durango HEMI® Hybrids as it's first.

  • Chrysler and Dodge SUVs boast 40 percent fuel economy improvement in city 
  • 25 percent overall fuel economy improvement  
  • 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid starts at $45,340  

  • Customers to receive estimated tax credit of $1,800

Rated for towing 6,000 lbs. with an electrically variable transmission, featuring characteristics of an automatic transmission and two mode hybrid drive.

The Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid is coupled with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine. Total output, when combined with the advanced two-mode hybrid system, is 385 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque. In hybrid form, the HEMI continues to have fuel-saving MDS technology, which allows the engine to alternate between four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when you want more power. The two-mode system provides assistance from electric motors, allowing the HEMI V-8 to remain in four-cylinder mode more often than without a hybrid powertrain, improving overall fuel economy.

Dodge Durango rides on a hydroformed frame with an independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering.  Dodge Durango’s rear suspension has coil springs and a solid rear axle with a Watt’s 4-link system.

Other safety and security features include standard Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Program with Electronic Roll Mitigation and Trailer Sway Control, side-curtain air bags for all three rows, ParkSense® Rear Park Assist System, Tire Pressure Monitoring system, Sentry Key® engine immobilizer, and ParkView™ Rear Back-up Camera System.

Built at the Newark Assembly Plant in Delaware, the new 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid will go on sale this August.