2015 Dodge Durango

Starting with a price of $30,495, the 2015 Dodge Durango comes in four trims. The base trim is named the SXT, followed by Limited, R/T, and Citadel. The Citadel, which is the top trim, comes in at $41,295. The R/T trim of the SUV will be reviewed separately. All the trims come with standard RWD, whereas for an additional price of $2,600, you can get the AWD drivetrain for every model.

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The best buy would be the Limited trim as it comes with the most features per dollar and has plenty of luxury amenities that you'll need without costing too much. Although the addition of AWD would make sense, we recommend you not to do so as it will only hurt the fuel economy, and even with 2WD, the Durango is capable enough to tackle some rough terrains.

The standard engine in the 2015 Dodge Durango is a potent 3.6-liter V6 engine making 290 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. A more powerful powertrain option in the form of a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 is also available which instantly changes the image of the SUV with high performance off the mark, punchy acceleration, and more towing capacity than the standard engine. Overall though, the V6 is a sane choice as it offers respectable performance and decent fuel economy, making it a better choice for daily errands around town.

Both the engines come paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The new transmission works well in automatic mode, and while there are manual shift paddles available, it might take time to get used to them as they have a slightly different functioning than the regular shift pedals we see. The standard RWD and precise steering of the Durango offers a well-composed ride overall. The AWD is optional, and when paired with the V8, you get a true low-range gearbox as well.

Hyundai and Dodge offer the same amount of power, but Durango offers better torque and has more top speed. The Santa Fe is the fastest to 60, followed by the Durango and Pilot, which have identical 0-60 times, while Dodge is the fastest to cross the quarter-mile mark. However, when equipped with the V8, the Durango has the final word in performance.

The changes in transmission for the 2014 model and the addition of two extra gears sure did improve the MPG figures, but while it was an improvement, the figures are not overly impressive and remain among the average MPG figures for the segment. EPA estimates that the new Durango will return 18 MPG in the city, 25 MPG on the highway, and up to 20 MPG in combined driving conditions for the standard RWD drivetrain. If you opt for the AWD drivetrain, you will see a dip in the figures by 1 MPG.

Dodge has the lowest MPG figures but comes with the biggest fuel tank, which allows for a better range in the city and combined driving conditions than the rest. The Nissan Pathfinder comes with the highest MPG figures and a decently sized fuel tank, which allows for a better overall range in every condition, making up for fewer fuel stops.

The 2015 Dodge Durango is a seven-seater SUV that is capable of seating up to 5 adults comfortably, but due to the difficulty in accessing the third-row seats, ingress and egress would be a challenge. The driving position is good, and the seats are well-bolstered and come with power adjustments to offer an even more comfortable driving position according to the need of the driver. The seats, however, are not as comfortable as they were in the previous Durango. 

On a long journey, you might feel a bit uncomfortable, but they are not intolerable. There is an option to replace the rear bench seats with captain's chairs which come with an optional center console that has two cup holders, a USB port, and a 12-volt charging port. As mentioned before, the third row is not as easy to gain access to and also remains better suited for children rather than adults.

The Honda Pilot seats one more passenger inside than the rest and also comes with the biggest cargo space, which makes it the most spacious SUV among the competitors. The Durango has the second-highest cargo volume, followed by the Pathfinder. The overall interior space is better in Honda, while Nissan offers better space in the rear than Hyundai and Dodge. Standout interior features include:

• Color heads-up display
• Colour MID
• Steering wheel mounted controls 
• Rear parking assist
• Rear Camera system
• Remote vehicle starter 
• Powered sunroof

How intuitive is the 2015 Dodge Durango’s infotainment unit?

As standard, the 2015 Durango comes fitted with a 5-inch touchscreen display working as the head unit of the infotainment system. It has Bluetooth connectivity as standard alongside satellite radio and a CD player. The standard unit comes paired with a six-speaker audio system. When you move up a trim, the screen size increases to 8.4-inches, and you get the UConnect infotainment system, which is one of the most user-friendly and sharp-looking user interfaces currently available.

You also get 3G Wi-Fi capability, internet radio streaming, and smartphone connectivity with text-to-speech messaging capability. A navigation system and a premium 10-speaker Beats by Dre sound system are optional from the Limited trim, while on the higher trim, they come as standard. Few major infotainment features include:

• Satellite Radio
• CD Player
• Bluetooth
• USB ports
• Navigation system
• 3G WiFi capability
• Rear seat DVD players

Rather than being a traditional truck-based SUV, the 2015 Dodge Durango is now a unibody crossover that retains its SUV credentials. The big crosshair grille helps to retain the classic SUV looks, while the unibody design has a cleaner look that makes maximum use of the available interior space. Overall, the SUV offers a more car-like feel to it which makes it easy to maneuver. The headlights come with hockey-stick-shaped LED daytime running lights on all but the base trim, and the rear comes with Dodge’s distinct LED lights which form a strip across the tailgate connecting the two tail lights.

The Dodge weighs a lot, about 6,500 pounds, which is almost 2,000 pounds more than the rest of the competitors. The Durango also has the longest wheelbase, but it still is an easy to maneuver SUV. Dodge also has the highest ground clearance, making it a more capable off-roader than the others. The Durango also offers the longest wheelbase, resulting in better space for the passengers inside. Major exterior highlights of the SUV include:

• Dual rear exhaust
• Sunroof
• 20-inch aluminum wheels
• LED auto high-beam headlights
• Rear spoiler

The 2015 Durango scores well in the crash tests conducted by both the safety institutions. The NHTSA gave Durango an overall safety rating of four stars, and IIHS also gave it the top rating of ‘Good’ in all but the small-overlap frontal category in which it scores a rating of ‘Marginal’. The standard safety equipment includes six airbags, traction control, vehicle stability control, and ABS, while there are a few more driver assistance features available as optional on the lower trim and standard fittings on the higher trims. Some of these features include:

• Blind-spot monitoring system
• Rearview camera
• Parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control
• Frontal collision warning system

The 2015 Dodge Durango seems like an underrated choice in the segment. It sure does cost a bit more, but it also comes with more features on offer, a composed ride quality, as well as two engine options. Moreover, it offers impressive performance, better towing capacity, and a more advanced infotainment system with comfortable interiors, which makes it a worthy choice in the segment.