2009 Dodge Durango

At an estimated 18-city/19-highway mpg, Chrysler's 4WD, Hemi-powered hybrids fall just short of GM's hybrid-powered, 4WD versions of the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, which are EPA rated at 20-city/20-highway mpg, respectively. But the Hemi hybrids still manage a 25-percent overall improvement and an almost 40-percent city mpg improvement compared with their non-hybrid Aspen and Durango twins, according to the automaker. Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System, which allows the engine to run on four cylinders when all eight aren't necessary, also aids in fuel savings.

The Chrysler hybrids produce an estimated 345 horsepower (up to 385 with the electric boost) and 380 lb-ft of torque with the 5.7-liter Hemi, besting the 6.0-liter V-8-equipped GM hybrids, which produce 332 horsepower and 367 lb-ft of torque. Despite the torque and horsepower advantage, the Hemi hybrids' towing capacity is the same as GM's 4WD hybrid twins at 6000 pounds (GM's RWD versions can tow up to 6200 pounds).

Bringing comfort, convenience, refinement and Chrysler LLC's first production hybrid powertrain system to the full-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) market, the 2009 Dodge Durango also boasts several best-in-class capabilities: towing capacity of 8,950 pounds, cargo space (with rear seats folded) of 68.4 cubic feet, and horsepower - 365 with the available 5.7-liter HEMI. The 2009 Dodge Durango is offered with a choice of 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrains. Inside, there's seating for up to eight, and amenities including industry-first heated cloth seats, available power rear liftgate, remote start, Stain Repel Seat Fabric and dual-zone automatic temperature control.

Hybrid system delivers an overall improvement of more than 25 percent in fuel economy and up to a 40 percent improvement in the city

The Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen hybrid SUVs are Chrysler's first entries into the hybrid market, and the EPA recently rated them with official mileage ratings of 20/22.

Both hybrid SUVs utilize a 5.7L V-8 HEMI engine that pushes out 385 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. To achieve the better gas mileage, the hybrids use an advanced two-mode hybrid system and cylinder-deactivation technology. The two-mode hybrid system was co-developed with GM, Daimler, and BMW and integrates an automatic transmission with a hybrid-electric drive system. Although both SUVs are hybrids, they are still capable of towing up to 6000 lb while savings hundreds of gallons of gas per year. The sticker price for a 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid is $45,340, while the 2009 Chrysler Aspen HEMI Hybrid is slightly more at $45,570. An estimated tax credit of $1800 is available for these green vehicles.

The AWD-only Aspen /Durango hybrids average 19 mpg city/20 mpg highway, just short of the 6.0L hybrid, 4WD Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon's 20/20 (RWD versions get 21/20 mpg). Chrysler undercut GM on sticker prices; the 2009 Dodge Durango hybrid is $7055 less than the 4WD Tahoe hybrid and the Aspen is $7285 less than the 4WD Yukon hybrid, about 1720 and 1776 gallons of regular unleaded, respectively.

Because the new hybrid system was adapted to an aging model, you can't get the nav-system map and the drivetrain gas-electric-MDS diagram on the screen at the same time. Which leads to its biggest drawback. It's still a Dodge Durango / Chrysler Aspen, the most unrefined truck-based SUV in the U.S. fleet. The tall "midsize" sport/utility feels and acts bigger than a Tahoe or Yukon, its suspension skittering over deteriorating roads, causing head-toss (blame the rear leaf-springs), its squat and dive inspiring early braking. This sophisticated two-mode hybrid system is trying to save an inferior entry into a dead segment.

The Hemi is a 345-horsepower, 380-pound-foot version of the 2009 V-8 with cam-in-cam variable timing but without the two-tract intake. It's mated to the two-mode transmission, which contains a pair of AC synchronous 65-kilowatt (87-horsepower/235 pound-feet) electric motors, but total system power output is kept to 385 and 380 (340 pound-feet available from 2000 rpm). A 152-pound NiMH 300-volt battery pack resides under the center-row seat, and it's all run by processing power (equivalent to three Mac G4s) that also tells the Hemi controller what it wants. The four fixed-ratio gears are used because they can't be beaten for power transmission efficiency in certain heavy-load situations.

Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid vehicles are Chrysler's first entries in the hybrid market. Capable of towing 6,000 lbs.,the Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid delivers 385 horsepower -- seamless, dependable power and performance on demand, in an efficient package. With an electrically variable transmission (featuring the best characteristics of an automatic transmission and hybrid drive) and two different hybrid modes of operation, the drive system dramatically improves fuel economy around town and at highway speeds. The new 5.7-liter HEMI Hybrid is expected to deliver an overall fuel economy improvement of more than 25 percent, including an improvement of nearly 40 percent in the city. For customers who desire the performance and capability of a large SUV, the 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid will reduce fuel consumption by several hundreds of gallons of gas per year.

The 2009 Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hemi Hybrids will start at $45,340 and $45,570, respectively, an average of $8k less than the General's counterparts. Both feature a dual-mode hybrid system hooked up to the famed 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, which also uses Chrysler's MDS technology to run on just four-cylinders when less power is needed. Altogether the system makes 385 horsepower and 380 lb-ft. of torque and has a 6000 pound towing capacity, yet manages 25 percent better fuel economy than its non-hybrid cousins (up to 20 mpg city/20 highway).

The 2009 Dodge Durango is smooth and powerful with either of the two V8 engines, and the new Hybrid powertrain operates admirably, though with a few minor annoyances. This large midsize SUV rides well, handles well for its size and weight, and has excellent engineering touches and details. If you need a large SUV for towing or managing rough terrain, the 2009 Durango is a fine choice. If not, a car-based crossover SUV would provide a more pleasant driving experience.