Except for its name, thereโ€™s virtually no resemblance between the old truck-based Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle and the redesigned 2011 Durango.

The new four-door Durango is handsome and aerodynamic. It has Dodgeโ€™s โ€œcrosshair grilleโ€ and resembles the muscular, discontinued Dodge Magnum wagon.

There are four trim levels: Express, Crew (also offered with a CrewLux lifestyle package), sporty R/T and Citadel. They come with rear or all-wheel-drive and have three rows of seats.

List prices range from $29,195 to $43,945, without an $850 shipping charge. Add $2,000 for all-wheel drive.

To emphasize the Durangoโ€™s upscale nature, Dodge says there are no โ€œbaseโ€ models.

Engines are Chryslerโ€™s smooth new 3.6-liter, 290-horsepower Pentastar V-6 with double overhead camshafts and a carryover 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with 360 horsepower. The V-6 has 260 pound-feet of torque and provides lively performance. It should satisfy most Durango buyers.Dodge Durango, 2011 car review 1

Those who want stronger acceleration and tow heavier objects should opt for the Hemi, which produces a whopping 390 pound-feet of torque. It switches seamlessly to fuel-saving four-cylinder mode when V-8 power isnโ€™t needed.

But fuel economy isnโ€™t a strong point with either engine. The V-6 with rear-drive produces 16 mpg in the city and 23 on highways or 16 and 22 with all-wheel drive. Figures with the V-8 are 14 and 20 with rear-drive and 13 and 20 with all-wheel drive.

Whatโ€™s the driving range (at least on paper)? Well, the Durangoโ€™s fuel tank has a 24.6-gallon capacity.

Both engines can run on 87-octane gasoline, although Dodge notes the Hemi does best with 89-octane fuel

Watch option prices because they can raise prices a lot. My rear-drive Crewlux model, which listed for $33,195, had a bottom line price of $41,48? โ€” thanks to a $5,000 option package.

However, that package contained everything from 20-inch wheels (versus the standard 18-inchers) and heated first-and second-row leather-covered seats to a navigation system, power sunroof, adaptive speed control and a front-collision warning system.

There are a fair number of stand-alone options, but all Durangos have a good amount ofย  comfort, convenience and safety equipmentโ€”including electronic stability control. Even rear air conditioning has headliner vents and rear-seat controls.

A rear back-up camera is optional for the Express and R/T, but standard for the Crew and Citadel.

The Durango uses an old-fashioned five-speed automatic transmission. It shifts crisply, but a new eight-speed automatic is reportedly on the way.

The interior โ€” long a weak point โ€” is improved so much that older Durango owners may not believe their eyes when they see it. The old rough cockpit has been replaced by a quiet, precisely assembled interior with higher-quality soft-touch materials and attractive stitching. The new seats are comfortable, gauges can be easily read and controls work precisely. Thereโ€™s even a soft third-row armrest.

The Durango calls for a high step-in (and step-out), but the third-row seat can be reached fairly easily and is generally roomy. However, itโ€™s only suited for two because it has a hard center area.

The old Durango was dropped in 2009, when the market for truck-based SUVs had fallen apart. The old model had a truckish body on frame design. The new Durango has more rigid carlike unibody construction and rides on an extended version of the refined new Jeep Grand Cherokeeโ€™s platform. It could be called a crossover, but is considerably larger than some vehicles that carry that classification.

The Durango has a comfortable ride with that platform, an all-independent suspension and a long 119.8-inch -inch wheelbase. Some models have perfect 50-50 weight distribution, others are close to it.

While larger and heavier than the old Durango, the new model โ€œdrivesโ€ smaller than it is. Thereโ€™s responsive steering, a compliant ride and good handling, thanks partly to aggressive shock and spring rates and large sway bars. The R/T has the best handling, due partly to a lowered ride height.

Adding to the Durangoโ€™s carlike nature is its tight turning circle (37.1 feet) โ€”especially impressive for huge car. The anti-lock brakes feel strong and are controlled by a pedal with a nice linear action. They have brake-assist, brake traction-control and rough-road detection systems.

Cargo room can be enhanced by the 60/40 split-foldling second-row seat, which folds and tumbles. The third-row seat has a 50/50 split and is easily folded from the rear. Both second-and third-row seats fold to provide a flat load floor.

Dodge definitely may have a winner with this one.

Dan Jedlicka, the former car reviewer for the Chicago Sun-Times, has been an automotive journalist for more than 40 years. To read more of his work, visit: www.danjedlicka.com.

Article Last Updated: May 31, 2013.

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