Topic: CD Article: 2007 Chrysler Aspen

[Autos_Editor]

First Drive:

Chrysler's first luxury SUV, the Aspen, shares its separate-frame (truck-style) chassis and drivetrain with the Dodge Durango, reports Bob McHugh. It's a heavy vehicle with a maximum towing capacity of 3,969 kg (with optional tow package). "That's better than the Escalade and on par with the Navigator," he says.  But its sub-$50,000 price-tag is over $20,000 less than a Navigator or an Escalade, he reports.       More...

[mdxtasy]

I'm not impressed.  The exterior looks are underwhelming.  The interior looks bland with poor fit/finish and quality.  Atleast the bling of an Escalade/Navigator etc have some substance and can hold its own.  $50k and up brings you into some very nice vehicles, most can't tow as much, but a Tahoe comes to mind which I think would be a Aspen competitor. 

From the article, it sounds like the company just threw this product to market for the sake of having something plug the hole. 

[mdxtasy]

You can include the Dodge Nitro, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patroit as last minute thrown together products also.

  - good call.  That's pretty much everything they've done after the 300C.

[G0dspd]

Looks like something they designed 3-4 years ago and forgot to put on sale. 

You can include the Dodge Nitro ...

The Dodge Nitro appeared very quickly in DC's showrooms a few weeks ago ... and they're probably still there. 

[inco]

For the Mopar crowd out there (that's an old term referring to Chrysler/ Dodge people) the Aspen will bring back memories of a much smaller vehicle and nothing like this. Good for them to bring it though because the Durango look doesn't work for everyone and this version is much nicer on the eyes. It's big and provides that crowd with another alternative and price point which will be well received south of the border. Might sell here too.

The radical Rod look of the Nitro is a different issue. A while back Snowy commented on the front bumpers of the Compass as looking like the styrofoam wrapping leftover and the Nitro kinda has that same look. Saw one in red on the lot yesterday and with the black bumpers it just doesn't look right. They had a black one last week and it didn't look so bad.

Still you have Liberty, Compass, Patriot, Wrangler, Nitro along with the regular Jeep and the Durango. That's an awful lot of truckies to vie for showroom space with the four car lines. Crowded and overkill.

[Loudpedal]

Blech. Just what we need, another mega size SUV that nobody asked for. 

That front grille is just hideous.  Truly I wonder who acutally buys something like this.   If you need a vehicle this big the new Tahoe is simply too good to even consider this thing, IMO. 

[Bullet Blue]

From the article, it sounds like the company just threw this product to market for the sake of having something plug the hole. 

Yup, ever since it's debut at various auto shows, I asked what the point of having this vehicle in their portfolio was, and I'm still asking that today.

[UDB]

IMO, this truck is useless in the current market.  It's a perfect clone of the Durango.  And for the older guys/girls here the name Aspen was synonym of crap in the 70-80'.   I think Chrysler shot themselves correclty in its foot.  Probablt after 2-3 years this vehicule will be just a souvenir.

[mrthompson]

My only question:  WHY?  Three points: It's ugly.  It's ugly.  It's unnecessary. 

Surely DC does not sell many Durangos, so why clone the frickin' thing?!? 

Here ya go DC...

[avtoller]

Just another example of why Chrysler will not be getting any of MY money in the foreseeable future.  Excess piled upon excess.

[haris]

blech... I think I threw up a little... 

[mrthompson]

 

[RunsinLight]

Does it not seem like they have 20 suv's for ever 1 car?

[nefcanuck]

It's a niche product at best, but I'm trying to figure out what niche this product is actually trying to fill?

If it's the bling bling crowd, it's understated in comparision to the current king of excess, the Escalade

If it's the towing crowd, there are cheaper alternatives to tow as much or more...

In Canada anyways, I can't see this thing selling huge and in the US, I think its fighting a deathmatch for an ever shrinking piece of market....

NefCanuck

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Think it's a huge visual improvement over last year's Durango, and even this year's freshened Durango. I kinda like the look. And I'm surprised just how big it is vs the Tahoe (think Aspen's longer?) and Expedition. Interior is commendably improved, but not class leading. For the price, it comes well equipped and is capable, but as a whole it wouldn't get my money. But it would get a look now versus last year where I wouldn't even consider shopping the Durango.

[Rupert]

Shift on the column, nice big speedo, Tach relegated to being a mention. The man that did those parts gets my vote. It ends there tough.

[The Mighty Duck]

It's a niche product at best, but I'm trying to figure out what niche this product is actually trying to fill?

If it's the bling bling crowd, it's understated in comparision to the current king of excess, the Escalade

If it's the towing crowd, there are cheaper alternatives to tow as much or more...

In Canada anyways, I can't see this thing selling huge and in the US, I think its fighting a deathmatch for an ever shrinking piece of market....

NefCanuck

It's supposed to appeal to the luxury crowd.  Yes, the Escalade is a lot more impressive.  It's also $20 000 more expensive.  Yes, there are cheaper alternatives if you want to tow, but likely nothing on this level of luxury.  I would never buy one, nor encourage anyone to buy one, but I think there is a niche market for such a vehicle.

That said, I agree that in this segment the new Tahoe looks very, very good.

[guesto]

Does every niche have to be race-related? Or is the review geared to the people of _specific type_ that buy these as a show-off - the only people that "bling" and not tow?

It is really a niche vehicle. Chrysler needs one b/c the other two have them. Good or bad, towing capacity does not bring much profit / markup, but shiny plastic surely does, at very little additional cost....