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First Look: 2011 Dodge Durango interior

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:35:00 EST

2011 Dodge Durango interior - Click above to expand

Chrysler has been slowly releasing the full details about the 2011 Dodge Durango, and while we've already seen the exterior from many angles, the interior has only been revealed in teaser images... until now. What you see here is the first shot of the all-new Durango's interior, and if its Jeep Grand Cherokee sister is anything to base judgments on, things should be pretty cozy inside the full-size Dodge.

Unlike its Jeep kin, the Durango appears to use a center stack that's completely housed within the dashboard, leaving room for a larger storage compartment in front of the gear shifter. We like the two-tone color combination (seen here on the Citadel trim level), and extra touches like upholder lighting and small amounts of aluminum and chrome accents make this cabin look more luxurious than before. We still need to get some butt-in-seat time before we can truly give it a thumbs-up, but so far, we definitely like what we see.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango

[Source: Chrysler]

First Look: 2011 Dodge Durango interior originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: 2011 Ford Explorer vs. 2011 Dodge Durango - What's your pick?

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Dodge, Ford

The SUV is dead. Long live the SUV!

The 2011 Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer are big departures from the models that they replace. Aside from the usual styling and refinement differences, the biggest changes for these vehicle are that they both ditch the traditional body-on-frame sport-utility vehicle DNA in favor of unibody constructions. By our definition, these once-SUVs are now CUVs, though their respective parent companies continue to brand them as being traditional sport-utes through and through.

Both the Durango and Explorer offer available seating for seven and all-wheel drive, but that's where the similarities start to taper off. Each vehicle offers a choice of two different powertrains, but while Dodge has opted to go a more traditional route with by fielding the Durango with both 3.6-liter V6 and 5.7-liter V8 engines, Ford has gone in the opposite direction by equipping the Explorer with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-four and a 3.5-liter V6. There are pros and cons for each - the Explorer may prove to be more fuel-efficient, but the Durango ought to tow more.

Each of these new crossovers tries to stay true to the traditional SUV mindset, just in different directions. Ford's Terrain Management system will surely come in handy for people who need more off-road prowess, though the end result remains that the Explorer is arguably more of a tall wagon than an honest SUV. The Durango keeps things a bit more and has a strong, presence that we suspect will still be well-received by people who prefer honest-to-goodness sport-utility vehicles.

We could debate the pros and cons of each vehicle all day, and indeed, we're still waiting for the Full Monty-worth of details and specifications, but we still want to know: What do you think? If you had to choose either the Explorer or Durango, which would get your pick? Cast your vote in the poll below and be sure to sound off with your thoughts in Comments.

View Poll

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango

Gallery: 2011 Ford Explorer

Poll: 2011 Ford Explorer vs. 2011 Dodge Durango - What's your pick? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Dodge Durango unveiled

Zach Bowman — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:53:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Dodge

2011 Dodge Durango - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler has just pulled back the curtain on the 2011 Dodge Durango, and the newest iteration of the Auburn Hills brawler looks to have all of the bones it needs to be competitive in one of the industry's most crowded segments. For next year, the vehicle will ride on a new unibody platform wrapped in freshly-minted sheetmetal. More importantly for those looking to ferry their brood about town, it will also boast a full three rows of seating. Under the hood, buyers can look forward to picking between the company's new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 or a 5.7-liter V8 with 6,200- and 7,800-pounds of towing capacity, respectively. All-wheel drive is available with both power plants.

Chrysler hasn't provided any fuel-economy estimates just yet.

The interior was worked over by the same gurus responsible for the superb, hide-lined cabins in the Dodge Ram and Jeep Grand Cherokee, and judging by the one teaser photo the company released this morning, it looks like a fine place to whittle away the miles. There look to be a host of smaller, but equally important changes onboard the Durango as well, including an all-new Dodge emblem on the steering wheel. If you were waiting to see what the face of the new Chrysler would look like, search no more. It's here. Look for the Durango to hit dealer lots by late this year.

Hit the jump for the full press blast after checking out our high-res gallery below

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading 2011 Dodge Durango unveiled

2011 Dodge Durango unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Dodge keeps Durango nameplate for 2011 [w/video]

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Chrysler, Dodge

2011 Dodge Durango teasers - Click above for high-res image gallery

Only days after our readers stumbled upon Dodge's test site for the 2011 Durango, the official word has been given from Chrysler that its new unibody SUV/crossover will, in fact, wear the Durango nameplate. As you'll recall, this new Dodge sport-ute was rumored to serve as a rebirth for the Magnum moniker, but it appears that those plans - if indeed they ever existed - have been scrapped.

The 2011 Durango shares the vast majority of its architecture from the new Jeep Grand Cherokee (which isn't a bad point to work from), and we expect both the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and 5.7-liter Hemi V8 to be available underhood. Curiously, Dodge refers to the new Durango as a "three-row performance SUV" in its press release, which leads us to believe that Chrysler might have another trick or two up its sleeve. Durango SRT8? Makes sense, especially since the new 6.4-liter Hemi is slated for use in the Grand Cherokee. We also note that Dodge doesn't appear to be playing up the Durango as an off-road model, either, at least where badging is concerned - instead of proclaiming the new model available with four-wheel drive, they've added an all-wheel drive badge (as seen above).

For now, you can see plenty of teaser images of the 2011 Durango in the gallery below, and Chrysler has even provided a slideshow of images for your viewing pleasure after the jump. Expect the full details on the new Durango to be released in the next few weeks.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango Teaser Website

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Officially Official: Dodge keeps Durango nameplate for 2011 [w/video]

Officially Official: Dodge keeps Durango nameplate for 2011 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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