Since the Durango stormed back into the SUV market, the competition has been nervous. With its blend of powerful performance, luxurious interior amenities and unmatched versatility and efficiency, the Durango family offers the best of what drivers need. No wonder MotorWeek named the Durango “Driver’s Choice, Best Large Utility,” Edmunds.com and Parents Affordable Midsize SUVs.magazine named it their “Best Family Cars of 2012” list and U.S. News ranked the Durango number one out of 23.

 

The 2012 Dodge Durango starts at an MSRP of $28,995. It’s available in SXT, Crew, R/T and Citadel trim levels, with two available powertrains. The standard engine is the award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with Variable Valve Timing, which produces a best-in-class 290 hp, best-in-class 550-mile highway driving range and a best-in-class 6,200-pound towing capacity. The Durango also has an available 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with Fuel Saver Technology (standard on Durango R/T) that produces 360 hp and 390 lb/ft of torque and again produces a best-in-class towing capacity of up to 7,400 pounds. Remarkably, it remains stingy on gas with up to 20 mpg during highway driving. All-wheel drive is available for those who demand the most out of their driving experience regardless of weather or road conditions.

 

Here’s a look at the highlights of each trim:

 

Durango SXT: With standard seating for seven, the SXT is the entry into the Durango lineup, but not your typical “base” model. Standard equipment includes the Pentastar V6 with a five-speed automatic transmission, 18-inch wheels, remote keyless entry with Sentry Key® Engine Immobilizer, foglamps, heated exterior mirrors, illuminated cupholders, Electronic Vehicle Information Center and the Media Center 130 audio system which includes MP3 capability, SiriusXM Satellite Radio and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

 

Durango Crew: The Durango Crew includes all standard SXT equipment and adds to the list with power-folding exterior mirrors, remote start, a roof rack, power liftgate and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shiftknob. Also standard are Keyless Enter-N-Go^™ with push-button ignition; the ParkSense^® rear park assist system, which uses sensors in the bumper to detect objects in your path; and the Media Center 430, with a 6.5-inch touch-screen (which also displays the ParkView^® rear backup camera) and a 40GB hard drive. An Alpine^® Premium Audio System with nine speakers, a subwoofer and 506-watt amplifier is also added to the Crew model.

 

Durango R/T: The Durango R/T is the model of choice for those who want the most power – in the form of the HEMI V8 – and six-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment. The R/T also adds exterior design features that include body-colored front and rear fascia, sill molding and accent grille, with black headlight bezels, bright-tipped dual rear exhaust and 20-inch Satin Carbon painted aluminum wheels. The Durango R/T also features performance steering, sport suspension and a rear load-leveling suspension. Inside you’ll find seats covered in Digital suede with red accent stitching.

 

Durango Citadel: As top dog of the Durango line, the Citadel comes as well equipped as some luxury models costing nearly double. Standard equipment includes 20-inch chrome wheels; High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with SmartBeam technology, which automatically adjust from high- to low-beams when it senses oncoming traffic; Rain-Sensing wipers; a power sunroof; Nappa leather seating; ventilated front seats; heated rear seats; and a heated steering wheel covered in perforated leather. The audio system in the Citadel is the Media Center 730N that features GPS Navigation, SIRIUS Real Time Traffic and Uconnect^® Phone.

 

Safety: With45 standard safety and security features, the 2012 Durango was named a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. All models come standard with Electronic Stability Control, front-row active head restraints, three-row side-curtain airbags, Electronic Roll Mitigation and a unique feature called Ready Alert Braking that can anticipate emergency braking situations. Available safety features include Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind-Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path Detection.

 

With standard seating for seven, an 84.5 cubic foot cargo capacity behind the front seats (more than the Ford Explorer) and best-in-class towing capacity for both engines, the Durango does it all. Stop by today and let us help you figure out which Durango best suits your needs.