  2014 Dodge Durango Citadel. Click image to enlarge |
The Durango is a big heavy thing and often feels such – though the turning circle is a little smaller than expected and the suspension is set towards the sporty side of the equation. Durango is relatively stable and flat should drivers find occasion to toss it through a bend. Though the powertrain and styling work hardest towards Durango’s confident athleticism, the handling isn’t opposed to some spirited driving as needed.
Too bad about the steering – which is often a little too quick and vague at highway speeds to create a confident, heavy and locked-on feel that so many SUV shoppers love.
Notes from my late-December test drive, (during which Mother Nature assaulted the Durango and I with very extreme cold and three heavy snowfalls), included fantastic performance from the xenon projectors in inclement weather, and AWD/4WD system operation that’s as seamless and intelligent as they come. Durango also fires up reliably at 34 degrees below zero without plugging in, although the Hemi sounds a little upset at the task for the first few seconds of idling. A few moments later, it starts pumping usable heat into the cabin, which is nice.
Further, Durango’s stability control system has an appreciably relaxed approach at low speeds and feels expertly calibrated. It allows plenty of wheelspin and even a little sliding to help drivers get moving quickly from a dig, as opposed to frustrating throttle shutdown at any sign of slippage. For all intents and purposes, the system fully disengages at the single tap of a button if you wish to fling the Durango around with the throttle. This is naughty and not advised, but it is a whackload of fun when you beat the plows to the backroads. Incidentally, even with over an inch of snow caked onto the Durango’s backside after a hearty romp down an un-plowed camp road with some Subaru STI buddies, that LED light-pipe taillamp remained highly visible.
Complaints? The factory tires aren’t fantastic in the snow, and if you drive it really hard, Durango’s Hemi will suck back the sauce like Rob Ford before a Leafs game. Plus, that low-slung stance means limited ground clearance, so don’t plan on any serious off-roading unless you want to change out a bumper, which you don’t.
Ultimately, as a family-ready SUV with above-average feature content, character, performance and style, as well as some wholesome, thoughtful touches, consider this one a priority test drive.
Pricing: 2014 Dodge Durango Citadel 4×4
Base price (Hemi Citadel): $39,995
Base price (Hemi Citadel): $52,295
Options: Granite Paint ($195), HEMI V8 ($2,300), Uconnect with Navigation ($525), Second Row Captain’s Chairs ($600), Trailer Tow Group ($795), Technology Group ($1,450), Rear Seat DVD Players ($2,150)
Freight: $1,695
A/C Tax: $100
Price as tested: $62,105
Competitors
Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Traverse
Ford Explorer
GMC Acadia
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe XL
Mazda CX-9
Nissan Pathfinder
Toyota 4Runner
Crash Test Results:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
