Details are carefully thought out, including convenient grab handles cleverly molded into the stubby rear leg of the second-row seat, which ease climbing back to the third row. Once back there, a small bubble in the ceiling provides additional headroom for third-row passengers. A one-piece third-row bench is standard on SLT. On Limited and Hybrid models, the third row is split 60/40 for additional convenience.
The second and third rows are notably easy to access because the rear doors open an exceptionally wide 84 degrees. The second-row seat easily flips forward with the touch of one hand, and the seatback flops flat just as easily. This is no small virtue.
Cargo capacity is quite impressive, making the Durango a great hauler. Behind the second row of seats is 68 cubic feet of cargo space, equal to the total for many SUVs. Put the second row down, and there's 102 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The distance between the wheel housings is 48 inches, so full-size sheets of plywood can be loaded flat. Speaking of loading cargo, this task is aided by the liftgate, which opens easily and is power-operated on Limited and Hybrid models. The cargo floor is relatively low, thanks to the rear suspension design, making loading and unloading easier.
Instrumentation is clean, handsome, easy to read, and easy to operate. It is simple and utilitarian. We especially like the black-on-white gauges and rectangular black Venetian-blind style heating and cooling vents.
The center console is deep, under a removable tray. On Limiteds and Hybrids, it is covered in leather. Forward of that is another important compartment designed to serve as a fast-food bin. Two integrated cup holders with removable neoprene for different sizes of drink containers are provided.
We found the SLT's manual heating controls and the wiper controls fussy, and the high beams seemed a little lacking one wintry night. The Limited and Hybrid's high-tech climate-control panel with automatic temperature adjustment is better. And we welcome the availability of seat heaters.
The Hybrid's gauge cluster replaces the tachometer with a power gauge that shows when the electric motors are aiding power or being charged. The power gauge has a green Economy zone that drivers can use to aim for the best fuel economy.
The UConnect GPS system comes with a 6.5-inch touch screen, a navigation system with real-time traffic, and a 30-gigabyte hard drive to hold music and picture files, plus navigation map information. The navigation system can be operated with voice commands, which can be used to input destination information when the vehicle is in motion. The optional rear DVD entertainment system now has Sirius Backseat TV, which has three children's channels: Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network. DVDs and TV can be played on the front navigation screen when the vehicle is in Park. Next Page