Five-Point Inspection: 2014 Dodge Durango Citadel AWD

When sales of the awkward looking second generation Durango began to tailspin at the end of its lifecycle, Dodge was forced back to the drawing board.

Body-on-frame SUVs had fallen out of favor and the Durango needed to change. After a one-year hiatus, the Durango reappeared in 2011 as a unibody utility vehicle based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Dodge Durango Review

Better suited for today’s market, sales have been rebounding over the past few years, but are still nowhere near the SUV craze of the early 2000s. To keep the momentum going, Dodge refreshed the Durango this year, further improving its large family hauler and it worked. The Durango came second in a recent AutoGuide Three-Row Crossover Comparison.

Here now is a closer look at the all-wheel drive 2014 Dodge Durango Citadel.

The Durango is still available with a 3.6-liter V6 or the mighty 5.7-liter Hemi V8. The latter continues to produce 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque and can tow upwards of 7,400 pounds. The big news however is the transmission. You get an eight-speed automatic regardless whether it’s rear or all-wheel drive. Our test vehicle came equipped with all-wheel drive and a hefty 5,397-lb. curb weight that does fuel economy no favors. Officially rated at 14 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway, we could only muster an average of 15.7 MPG.

Shoddy mileage aside, everything else about the Durango’s drivetrain is fantastic. The eight-speed automatic is smooth and quick enough to respond in normal driving. The engine has gobs of initial torque, but top end speed does trail off a bit. Still there is more than enough power to pass on the highway. The V8 also sounds great. It’s not too loud but has a nice subdued rumble that reminds you there’s a Hemi under the hood.

We all know the Jeep Grand Cherokee is built on a solid, sophisticated architecture, but we were still surprised at how much of that filtered into the platform-sharing Durango. Ride comfort is satisfying and the vehicle feels hunkered down to the road at all times. The way it absorbs bumps is solid, much like far more expensive crossovers do.

At 201.2-inches, the Durango is long, but not excessively so like the Chevrolet Traverse. With the large 8.4-inch display screen, parking isn’t a problem either thanks to the rearview camera.

Unlike most vehicles in this class, the Dodge still offers a true two-speed transfer case with low range gearing in case mild off-roading is called for.

It wasn’t too long ago that Chrysler products had some of the industry’s worst interiors. But with some financial injection and guidance from new owner Fiat, cabins like that found in the Dodge Durango have been completely transformed. The rubber and plastics used on the dash don’t look cheap and we love the brown leather seats.

The Uconnect infotainment system still remains a favorite at the AutoGuide office and we also appreciate the large display screen. Since our test vehicle came equipped with the rear DVD entertainment center, both front seats have a flip up monitor installed to the seat backs and individual video/HDMI inputs.

Our only complaint inside the Durango is the usual one of front seat comfort. Some testers found the upper portion of seat to be as stiff as a board, much like we have found in other Chrysler products.

Unlike a many three-row crossovers, the Durango has three completely usable rows of seats. Instead of sacrificing space in the second or third row of seating to add space to the other, Dodge has been able to design a vehicle that can fit six or seven passengers in relative comfort. Second-row passengers enjoy 38.6 inches of legroom, while third row passengers still have 31.5. The third row is also positioned slightly higher than the second row in a theatre style layout that allows passengers back there to see out of the front window. This gives the illusion of more space for passengers trapped in the back.

Depending on how many passengers are in the vehicle, the Durango can haul between 17.2 cubic feet all the way up to 84.5 cubic feet of cargo. If there are passengers in the vehicle, make sure they have ample arm strength as we found all four doors are unusually heavy to close.

The 2014 Dodge Durango starts at $30,790 after delivery charges. Step up to the loaded Citadel AWD Hemi model and that price swells to $53,660 thanks to options like the technology group, skid plate group, rear DVD entertainment center, trailer tow group IV, second-row console and second-row fold / tumble captain chairs. That is a lot of money for a Dodge, but the Durango is nearly as good as many family utility vehicles that play in the luxury segment; something that could never be said of the old Durango.

Interested in buying a Dodge Durango? Check out our new car section here.

Discuss this story on our Dodge Durango Forum.