Ford’s mortal is for football moms. Forget finding methods, however regarding finding a better car parking zone at Costco? With its square-jawed face, muscular fender bulges, and obtainable Hemi V-8 power, the urban centre oozes strength. And for 2014 it gets a create over—uh, we mean, it got into a fistfight that resulted in surgery, a number of further gears in its transmission, a replacement trim level, and additional whiz-bang technology. (And, yeah, fights typically finish in revised gearboxes, extra trim levels, and additional whiz-bang technology.)
The 2014 Durango’s headlights square measure narrower, and also the grille feels like it took a vicious, tenth-round higher cut from a gladiator; however we have a tendency to mean that within the nicest manner attainable. It’s conjointly additional efficient than before, associated sits higher than a rearranged lower facia that wears an exaggerated scowl. The headlights and fog lamps square measure currently projector-beam units, and up level models get junction rectifier running-light strips. Chalk up the urban centre because the winner of that nonliteral match, as a result of it still has the best-looking mug of any three-row gets dressed there.
2014 Dodge Durango, a Latest Car Model
There square measure seven new 18- and 20-inch wheel styles to match the updated sheet metal, also as 3 distinct grilles that fluctuate looking on the trim level.
You can’t take a number of hits to the abdomen—or bear a mid-cycle refresh—without obtaining a rearranged interior, and also the 2013 Durango’s got one. although the dashboard is actually a similar, Dodge swapped out the middle stack for a replacement one that accommodates either a customary five-inch Connect bit screen or associate facultative eight.4-inch unit—both with the most recent versions of Connect—as well as a contemporary array of arduous buttons simply below the show. The three-spoke wheel is new, and incorporates normal paddle shifters for slightly of zest. The facultative rear-seat amusement package currently options a Blu-ray player and a try of seatback-mounted, high-resolution nine-inch screens, as hostile the 2013 model’s single, roof-mounted show that couldn’t play Blu-ray discs.
Mechanically, the urban centre troopers on into 2014 mostly unchanged nevertheless the same transmission swap. The new trans is operated via a replacement rotary shift knob—just like the one within the eight-speed-equipped version of the 2013 Ram 1500—located wherever the additional ancient shift lever resided on the 2013 model. The V-6 still makes 290 H.P. and 260 lo-fi of torsion, whereas the V-8 continues to churn out 360 ponies and 390 lo-fi of twist. Towing capacities for the 2014 model square measure a similar as last year: 6200 pounds for V-6 Durango and 7400 pounds for rear-drive V-8s, whereas all-wheel-drive V-8 Durango will pull 7200 pounds.
While Dodge has nonetheless to unleash fuel-economy estimates for the eight-speed urban centre, the corporate will claim that the new transmission ends up in a nine-present potency improvement. (The current, two-wheel-drive urban centre is rated for sixteen mpg within the town and twenty three on the main road with the V-6 and 14/20 with the V-8. All-wheel drive drops the V-8’s town figure by one mpg and doesn’t have an effect on the six’s numbers.) Dodge conjointly claims that the V-6 urban centre currently boasts the longest golf range between fill-ups in its class—a bladder-torturing 600 miles. Points subtracted for a funny dance, though.) Once they occur, fill-ups themselves ought to be slightly faster because of the 2014 Durango’s new cap less fuel-filler gap.
For 2014, the Durango’s SXT, Rally, R/T, and range-topping fastness trim levels square measure joined by a replacement restricted specification those slots below the fastness. The restricted comes normal with polished 18-inch wheels, animal skin seats, heated front seats and wheel, and also the larger eight.4-inch Connect show. Once again, the Rally and also the R/T square measure the sportiest Durango, and find a monochrome exterior treatment, headlights with black accents, twin exhaust retailers, and 20-inch black wheels.
Because talking regarding safety options appears somewhat sissy once discussing the urban centre, we advise reading the subsequent paragraph through gritted teeth. See? It’s barter earl ruddy. The Durango’s listing of save-your-bacon gear antecedent enclosed blind-spot observation, rear cross-path alert, and a menu of air baggage. New this year square measure radar-based forward-collision warning and crash mitigation, a driver’s-side knee airbag, associated Connect Access’s ability to contact facilitate in an emergency. Whereas we’re doing the gritted-teeth issue, currently can be a decent time to notice that Dodge conjointly fitted associate Eco driving mode as normal instrumentality. It’s mechanically chosen on vehicle start up and alters throttle sensitivity, the transmission mapping, and fiddles with V-8 models’ cylinder-deactivation protocol to boost fuel economy. It will be defeated with a push of a button.
Dodge can begin manufacturing the 2014 urban centre within the third quarter of this year, therefore expect to examine the updated SUV hit dealer tons this fall. Evaluation and final independent agency ratings are going to be discharged nearer to the on-sale date, however don’t expect the previous to deviate too removed from the 2013’s $30,490 base value. we have a tendency to just like the Durango—it won a comparison take a look at against the Ford mortal and Honda Pilot—largely due to its butch appearance, attractive temperament, and glorious driving manners. It appears Dodge left the latter 2 traits tolerably alone, whereas fittingly increasing the Ute’s handsomeness—and we have a tendency tore not simply speech communication that as a result of we don’t need to induce punched.