3
0
Midsize SUV; Built in USA
  • 4-door wagon
  • longitudinal front-engine/rear- or all-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $12,700 – $38,000*


2011 Dodge Durango Front


2011 Dodge Durango Rear


2011 Dodge Durango Interior


2011 Dodge Durango Front-2

Pros:
  • Passenger and cargo room
  • Ride
Cons:
  • Fuel economy

Dodge’s revamped Durango exudes style and comfort. Availability of a V8 engine is unique among seven-passenger crossover SUVs. Its ride and handling balance is also surprisingly good. At the same time, this is a large, heavy vehicle. Durango’s EPA estimates, as well as our as-tested fuel economy, score at the bottom of the pack. When new, pricing for the base Express and volume Crew models was aggressive. The top-line Citadel was expensive, but it came standard with most every luxury and convenience feature buyers could want. Each model could be a good value on the used-vehicle market. Heat and R/T versions bring a sporty flair not often found in this class of vehicles. Though Durango is a late entry to the “large-midsize” seven-passenger crossover segment, it’s a very credible and Recommended (2012)alternative to established players, such as the GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, and Mazda CX-9.

Overview

Following a hiatus during the 2010 model year, Dodge redesigned its Durango sport-utility vehicle as a 2011 model, adopting crossover status. The previous-generation Durango, which was last sold during the 2009 model year, had used traditional truck-type construction and was positioned above the Dodge Nitro in size and price. Borrowing elements of its new car-type unibody design from the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the 2011 Durango seated up to seven. Trim levels included base Express, mid-level Crew, along with a top-line Citadel. Also offered were sport-themed Heat and R/T editions. A 290-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine was standard on all but the R/T. Optional on the Crew and Citadel and standard on the R/T was a 360-horsepower, 5.7-liter V8 that incorporated Chrysler’s Multi-Displacement System cylinder deactivation. Sole transmission was a five-speed automatic. Heat and R/T models had a sport suspension, as well as specific wheels and trim. Maximum towing capacity was 6,200 pounds with the V6 and 7,400 pounds with the V8. Rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive were offered. AWD V8 models had a two-speed transfer case with low-range gearing for off-road use.

Standard safety features included all-disc antilock braking, traction control, an antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. An optional trailer towing package included a load-leveling suspension. Blind-spot alert, adaptive cruise control, a navigation system with real-time traffic data, leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, and a hard drive for storing digital-music and picture files were standard on the Citadel and optional for the Crew. Ventilated front seats and xenon headlights were Citadel-exclusive standard features. DVD entertainment was optional on the Crew and Citadel. Midsize SUV rivals to the Durango included the GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, and Mazda CX-9.

Yearly Updates

2012 Durango
Several trim and powertrain changes marked the 2012 Dodge Durango. A new base SXT model replaced the Express edition, joining the volume-selling Crew, top Citadel, sporty Heat, and R/T. Dodge’s 290-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 and five-speed automatic were standard on all but the R/T. The 5.7-liter V8 was optional on Crew and Citadel, and standard on R/T. A new six-speed automatic transmission replaced the five-speed for all V8 models. Heat and R/T models had sport suspensions.
2013 Durango
Dodge-parent Chrysler was again tweaking the Durango lineup for 2013. Some models got more standard equipment, others less, and one trim level went away entirely. As far as Consumer Guide was concerned, we moved this vehicle to our large SUV class from midsize SUV.
2014 Durango
Both V6 and V8 engines gained a new 8-speed automatic transmission for 2014. A dual-screen Blu-ray entertainment system was a new option.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/rear- or all-wheel drive

All Durangos except the R/T had a standard 290-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine. Standard on the R/T and optional for the Crew and Citadel was a 5.7-liter V8 with Chrysler’s Multi-Displacement System cylinder deactivation, developing 360 horsepower. Each 2011 Durango had a five-speed automatic transmission, but V8 models adopted a six-speed unit for 2012. For 2014, all both V6 and V8 engines had an 8-speed automatic transmission. Durangos came with rear-drive or all-wheel drive.

dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.6
Engine HP 290
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 260
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed automatic
8-speed automatic 		16/22
18/25 		15.6
ohv V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 5.7
Engine HP 360
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 390
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed automatic

 13/20
ohv V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 5.7
Engine HP 360
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 390
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic
8-speed automatic 		13/20
14/23

Road Test

Durangos with V6 power provide decent power from a stop, as well as during highway passing and merging. Compared to other crossovers, the Durango’s nearly 5,000-pound curb weight blunts acceleration. The transmission works smoothly, but a deep stab of the throttle is often required in order to coax a downshift.

In Consumer Guide testing, the V6 Durango averaged 15.6 mpg. This is a disappointing result even for a test that included more city than highway driving. V6 Durango models use regular-grade gas. Dodge recommends mid-grade 89-octane gas for the V8.

With its standard suspension and 18-inch wheels, Durango exhibits solid overall composure. Passengers will feel bumps, but the suspension does a very good job of smothering secondary motions.

Despite large overall dimensions and a heavy curb weight, Durango is surprisingly nimble. Steering and brake-pedal feel are quite good. Body lean in fast turns is well controlled. An impressively tight turning radius helps close-quarters maneuvering.

Quietness is impressive for an SUV of any stripe. Wind and road noise are only slight. The engine is a bit noisy during full-throttle acceleration, but it quiets down at speed.

Climate controls are plainly marked and simple to operate. Audio controls suffer some undue complication when paired with Chrysler’s Uconnect multimedia interface. The available navigation system shifted to a Garmin-brand interface, which works well.

Cabin materials are solid, if a bit bland in overall appearance. Soft-touch surfaces are abundant, and assembly quality is solid.

Front-seat headroom and legroom are ample, and the seats are long-haul comfortable. Top models had a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, which is an unexpected (and welcome) convenience feature. Entry and exit are a bit high for a crossover, but they’re not excessive. Visibility is hampered by tall rear headrests and an oddly-shaped rear window.

Though Durango’s second row does not slide fore and aft, it’s still pleasantly roomy and very comfortable. The split bench folds and tumbles forward with a one-touch motion to provide a surprisingly generous passage to the third row. That rearmost seat can accommodate two adults of average to small size in a pinch, but they will ride slightly knees-up. Otherwise, the third row is best suited for youngsters.

Decent cargo space behind the third row becomes generous as the rear seatbacks are folded. The deck is on the high side, which can hinder loading bulky items. Interior storage consists of a two-tier center console, a small glovebox, and a few other exposed storage spaces. Bottle holders in the front doors are angled, which makes access easy, but that makes full containers more likely to spill.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2011 Dodge Durango AWD Crew V6 with navigation

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 5
50%
Fuel Economy - 3
30%
Ride Quality - 7
70%
Steering/Handling - 5
50%
Quietness - 7
70%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 8
80%
Room/Comfort Rear - 7
70%
Cargo Room - 9
90%

Other

Value - 7
70%

Total: 64

Specifications

4-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
119.8 199.8 75.6 71.6
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
84.5 24.6 7
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.9 39.8 40.3 38.6
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2012 Dodge Durango 4-door wagon

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 4
80%
Front Passenger Injury - 4
80%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Rear Passenger Injury - 5
100%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Brake noise
Description: Clunk or bump felt during braking on rough road is due to a problem with the steering intermediate shaft, which must be replaced with one having a green identification dot. (2011-12)
Audio system
Description: Some audio devices (iPod, iPhone, MP3 players, etc.) may not work or may skip or drop out requiring a software update of the vehicle’s hands free module. (2011)

Recall History

2011-13 Dodge Durango
Description: The fuel pump could fail causing the engine to stall.
2011-14 Dodge Durango with 3.6-liter engine
Description: The alternator may fail causing the engine to stall.
2011-14 Dodge Durango
Description: The wiring for the visor illuminated vanity mirror could short circuit after a service repair and start a fire.
2011-14 Durango
Description: The brake booster could corrode and allow water to get inside. The water could freeze and limit braking ability.
2012 Dodge Durango with 3.6-liter engine
Description: Due to debris inside engine block, engine may experience connecting rod bearing failure, which may lead to engine seizure and could increase risk of a crash.
2012-13 Dodge Durango
Description: Under certain conditions, the driver may experience a hard brake pedal which could lengthen stopping distances.
2013 Dodge Durango
Description: The third-row curtain side airbag may not deploy.
2013 Dodge Durango
Description: Tire placard contains inaccurate seating and weight capacity information.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on April 20, 2016.
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