2011 Dodge Durango

The Durango is offered in a total of five trim levels, namely, Express, Heat, Crew, R/T, and Citadel, ranging from $30,000 up to $45,000. All trims come standard with the same 3.6L V6 motor except for the R/T trim, which will be covered in a separate article and is fitted as standard with a more powerful 5.7L V8 motor. The stronger V8 is optional on the Crew and Citadel trims. The SUV is available in both RWD and AWD drivetrain options, which differs in price by almost $2,000 for each of the trim levels.

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We found the Crew trim to be the most value-for-money package at a price tag of $34,000. Various features like a power liftgate, power-adjustable seats with memory function, keyless ignition, park assist, and many more added to it give you a better convenience. Moreover, the sport suspensions and the 20-inch alloys offer a sporty driving experience and provide better handling as well. Also, the 3.6L motor delivers a good fuel economy in the segment compared to its 5.7L V8.

The 2011 Durango comes equipped with a 3.6L naturally aspirated V6 motor across the trim levels except for the R/T, which has a more powerful 5.7L V8 motor on offer. The V6 churns out 290 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque and is mated with a 5-speed automatic gearbox, whereas the V8 produces 360 horsepower and a 390 lb-ft. of torque and uses the same transmission unit, which is not the quickest in the segment but shifts really well with the revs. 

The SUV is available in both RWD and AWD drivetrain options irrespective of the trims. The V6 motor is capable of accelerating the SUV from 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds and can complete a quarter-mile distance in 15.9 seconds. You can expect even better performance from its more powerful V8 motor. The base engine in its RWD configuration offers a top speed of 136 mph, which is the best in the competition.

The 2011 Honda Pilot comes with the lowest power and torque figure, which results in it being the slowest option in the competition. The Explorer and the Durango produce equal power, but the Durango is significantly quicker than the Explorer. Overall the Durango is a powerful machine even with the base engine equipped. When comparing the price tag, Dodge is the most expensive option in the competition. 

Along with a powerful V6 motor, this full-size SUV also impresses with its fuel economy. The 2011 Durango easily manages to deliver a fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city runs, while on the highways, the figure jumps to 26 mpg. However, with its V8 motor, you can expect a drop in mpg figures by 2 or 3 mpg in both scenarios. It has a decent-sized tank that can hold up to 24.6 gallons of fuel, which will easily last up to 390 miles in the city and over 560 miles on the highways.

The Durango is much more pocket-friendly than the rivals with superior mpg figures, whereas the Pathfinder is thirstier among all. Both the Honda Pilot and the Explorer have decent mpg figures. Among all, the Durango has the largest tank of 24.6 gallons and has a superior driving range. Overall the Durango, being a capable performer, also does well in the fuel economy department. 

The cabin of the 2011 Durango looks very plush and premium. Also, the usage of high-quality material all around the cabin gives a premium touch and feel. The maximum area of the dash is wrapped in soft-touch material in all-black color, and some aluminum accents around the AC vents really highlight its looks. The center area is designed in a very sophisticated manner where it is occupied with lots of physical controls, yet it looks elegant and clean.

Coming to its seating, the seats are extremely comfortable and definitely give you a relaxing ride on long journeys. The lower trims feature fabric upholstery, while the mid-level and above trims offer black leather upholstery along with features like heating and ventilating functions as well. There is no such compromise in the room on offer, moreover, it has one of the best third rows on offer where adults can sit comfortably.

Honda Pilot has a roomier cabin where it offers seating for 8, whereas the others offer seating for 7 adults only. The Explorer has plenty of room both at the front and the rear. The Durango and Nissan Pathfinder have decent rooms in the cabin. The Explorer, even with the roomier cabin, offers a voluminous trunk, while the Pathfinder has the smallest trunk in the segment. Both the Durango and the Pilot have decent boot space where some mid-sized luggage can be fitted easily. Prominent interior features include:

• Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control 
• Rear air conditioning with headliner vents and rear seat controls 
• Nappa ventilated leather trim with Axis II perforated low-back bucket seats
• 8-way power driver and front passenger seat
• Heated first and second-row seats

How intuitive is the 2011 Dodge Durango’s infotainment unit?

The infotainment unit of the 2011 Durango isn't too intuitive but offers all the required features in it. It has a decent-sized display at the center of the dash which has really good graphics. The audio system is a 6-speaker unit in the base trim, while the higher models get an Alpine premium audio system with ten speakers with a subwoofer and a 506-watt amplifier. The Durango offers all the basic features like AM/FM radio, CD player, Bluetooth connectivity, and many more, which can be controlled either through the buttons present below the display or through the steering wheel. Standout infotainment features include:

• Media Center 430N AM/FM/CD/DVD radio with MP3/WMA support
• 6.5-inch touch screen
• 30GB hard drive with 6,700 song capacity
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio
• Garmin in-dash navigation and Sirius Travel Link
• Alpine Premium Audio System with ten speakers 

The 2011 Dodge Durango looks more like a muscular wagon rather than a full-size SUV. It definitely retains its charm of bulky and muscular looks with the simplistic and bold design language. From the front, the headlamps and the grille look massive with the Dodge emblem further enhancing its looks. The design approach is more towards curvy looks rather than sharp cuts and creases at the front.

The side profile doesn’t look too fancy, but it continues its muscular stance. The tinted windows and chrome accents on the mirrors and door handles truly highlight its side profile. The top-end trim gets 20-inch aluminum alloys with a chrome treatment, while the lower trim gets 18-inch alloys. Overall, it is a beautiful, sporty, and aggressive-looking machine. 

The 2011 Durango is the bulkiest in the segment, still, it offers good fuel economy and performance. While the Honda Pilot is the lightest in the segment, the Dodge Durango also has a great length which offers ample room inside. The Pathfinder is quite high to the ground as compared to others, but there is no problem as such in any of the SUVs in off-roading. The following are the standout exterior features of the Durango:

• High-Intensity Discharge (HID) low-beam headlamps
• Automatic headlamp leveling system 
• 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels
• Power folding multifunction mirrors with memory and heating element
• Body-color front fascia with sport appearance lower contour 
• Power with express-open/close and comfort stop features

The safety aspect of the 2011 Durango might not be very clear as it hasn’t been tested by NHTSA, but IIHS has selected it as one of the Top Safety Picks of this year. You can also expect a robust construction as it is built on the platform which is also being shared with the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mercedes-Benz ML, and the GL, which are already performing well in the crash tests. Apart from the robust construction, the Durango offers some advanced active and passive safety features. Standout safety features include:

• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Rear Cross-Path Detection
• Hill Start Assist
• ParkView Rear Back-Up Camera
• Rain Brake Support 
• Ready Alert Braking
• Trailer Sway Control

One of the most robust machines from Dodge is the 2011 Durango, which along with the powerful motor and excellent comfort, offers great off-roading and towing capabilities. Its V6 motor is well-refined, which delivers a class-leading fuel economy and a sophisticated ride. The cabin quality and space on offer is one of the best in the segment, especially the third row, but it compromises with the boot. Overall, the 2011 Dodge Durango is one of the best options to consider at this price range.