Here's a look at the interior of the redesigned 2011 Dodge Durango. We've seen plenty of photos of the exterior to date, including the recent batch of unauthorized blurry garage shots, but this is the first time anyone's gotten close enough to grab a photo of the cabin.
Cabin quality has never been a strong suit of the Durango, but there are some encouraging signs in this shot. Whereas the old Durango had a dull, dowdy cabin, the new design has some style to it and an upscale feel. Materials look respectable, and the individual-binnacle gauges appear reasonably attractive, if heavy on the brightwork. The fat-rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel is a nice touch. The navigation system looks to be Chrysler's standard corporate unit. Hopefully, updated software will improve some of the usability issues we've had with this system, but if nothing else, the screen is nice and big.
What you can't see here, of course, is the seven-passenger layout of the 2011 Durango. This has always been a three-row SUV, but it's going to downsize in this redesign. Historically, the Durango has used body-on-frame architecture (sharing its basic chassis with the Dakota pickup), but the new rig will be a unit-body design based on a stretched version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee platform. Actually, it's still not clear if Chrysler will call this vehicle the Durango, which went out of production last year. "Magnum" is the name we hear most often, though that nameplate carries its own sales-flop baggage.
As such, it will be smaller, and if Chrysler has its act together, significantly lighter. Less weight is key, you see, if Dodge has any hope at keeping up with the redesigned 2011 Ford Explorer in the ride/handling department. Matching the Explorer's fuel economy won't be possible, as Chrysler-Fiat doesn't have a high-tech four-cylinder engine to put in the Durango. Look for the Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 making 280-290 horsepower to be the volume engine, with the Hemi V8 available on the options sheet.
A five-speed automatic transmission will likely be offered at launch (note that it has the same gated shifter as the 2011 Grand Cherokee), with the ZF 8-speed automatic replacing it later in the decade. We expect to Dodge to offer two-wheel-drive (rear-drive) and 4x4 versions with a couple different four-wheel-drive systems.
alman08 says:
04:01 PM, 07/27/10
looks promising. can't wait to see this in person so I can actually feel and touch the material and craftmanship. and it also has that rotary terrain system.
half_ton says:
04:04 PM, 07/27/10
This pic looks EXACTLY like the interior of of the new JGC . . . same NAV screen, same gated shifter and 5 speed auto.
By the way, does anyone know who the competition is/was for this vehicle? The Explorer or full size SUV's like the Tahoe?
alman08 says:
04:11 PM, 07/27/10
halt_ton, if you look at the dimension on the new Explorer, it should be considered full-size now (I'm a bit disappointed at that, but oh well...)
I guess you can argue that the Durango pretty much competed (the older version) any SUV that seats 7. This new one, however, is smaller. I guess all crossovers, 7 or 5 seating, AWD, 4WD, and 2WD compete with each other now.
haub says:
04:29 PM, 07/27/10
I love the mercedes-benz sourced instrument cluster... 722.6 (W5A580) transmission...gearshift... ignition...steering wheel... and the chassis.
Interior looks vastly improved however. I do like the smooth look Chrysler is going for in the new trucks.
alman08 says:
04:48 PM, 07/27/10
wow haub, i didn't know all these items that you listed were sourced from mercedes benz. I thought it's only the chassis and maybe the transmission. where did you learn that? I am asking because I don't know and I want to look it up.
captainvw says:
05:00 PM, 07/27/10
Wait....Dodge makes an 8-speed automatic?
PUT IT IN THE CALIBER!!!
albook says:
05:05 PM, 07/27/10
As I just said yesterday, looks like the Explorer has some really stiff competition. The interior looks great (though hopefully there will be more colorful options). And if they weigh about the same, the Durango will easily win the handling competition, because it's rear wheel drive, and a Mercedes platform.
As for its competition, the Durango has always been awkward size wise. At first it was a little larger than most midsize SUVs. The second generation was slightly smaller than most fullsize SUVs, but it was actually perfectly sized because it had all the passenger and cargo space of a full sizer like the Expedition/ Armada, yet drove a little smaller, and was much quicker with the Hemi. So now, if its a little smaller than it was before (200 in length), then it should be about the same size as the new Explorer (197 in).
This car sounds more and more attractive as details leak out.
half_ton says:
05:26 PM, 07/27/10
@alman08 and albook
You both have good points about the competition . . . even in crossover form.
The earlier garage spy shot didn't do anything for me in terms of looks; like I said in that post I think the cross hair grill needs to go but take that with a grain of salt as I have never been a fan of the Durango (or Aspen).
alman08 says:
05:41 PM, 07/27/10
I too never liked the Durangos (gen 1 and 2) and never paid attention to the Aspen because of how (in my opinion) ugly that was. Plus on top of that, their reliability is near the bottom of the chart. However, I like the look of the new Durango (just from that pic shown 2 days ago, of course) and I hope Chrysler will finally wake up and work on making more reliable cars.
lostboyz says:
05:43 PM, 07/27/10
@haub when was the last time you saw a mercedes benz? perhaps you could supply some pictures
you don't source a cluster from an OEM, those come from suppliers. The steering wheel is the new corporate wheel, which MB doesn't use, who cares about ignition or gated shifter? Does ford steal their column shifter from volvo, or does everyone use them? Platform was co-developed with MB. Where in this interior picture do you see the transmission?
subaru123 says:
05:55 PM, 07/27/10
I guess it's just me but I think the interior looks awful.
alex38 says:
06:06 PM, 07/27/10
promising - looks to be head and shoulders better than what is available now.. Nice stuff
3pedals_only says:
06:44 PM, 07/27/10
it still screams "cheap early 2000's Chrysler" to me. i dont know why but it does. i mean i sorta like it but *sigh*
tellurium says:
06:55 PM, 07/27/10
yawn. boring. Hope its not hard textured plastic.
lt1boy says:
07:46 PM, 07/27/10
Dodge Durango - the SUV for manly men who wear short shorts and have massively hairy thighs.
wrinklebump says:
08:10 PM, 07/27/10
It looks fine. It's a contemporary design. Actual human beings don't really care about materials, so it wouldn't matter if it's built of legos
threemopars says:
08:12 PM, 07/27/10
Nav system is the same Chrysler corporate unit. They will be moving to an 8" touch screen with the 2011 Journey, and then that will trickle down through the lineup.
Shifter is not the same as the GC. It may have the same "gated" pattern but the shift knob is different.
The GC uses a covered bin at the bottom of the center stack. This one is open and has a small shelf as you can see below the climate controls.
Door trim and dash trim are vastly different. As you can see there isn't any wood-trim as there is on the GC.
But yea half_ton....it's EXACTLY the same.....
BTW this is the NEXT GENERATION ML Platform. Developed by Jeep for MB.
cargeek5 says:
09:10 PM, 07/27/10
Not to shabby, i cant decide between it or a Cherokee. Hmmm.
mayback says:
04:39 AM, 07/28/10
Not to bad but it think this is Kia-ish, it looks a lot like the one in the new Sorento. Fit and finish doesn't seem as good as GM or Ford. I don't think is is what will put Chrysler back on the track, it will do like all Durango before, a little succes at the biggining, then it will fade away in memories!!!
1487 says:
05:36 AM, 07/28/10
"Materials look respectable, and the individual-binnacle gauges appear reasonably attractive, if heavy on the brightwork. The fat-rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel is a nice touch. "
Love that. They look "respectable"? This interior in unfinished form already looks better than the Pilot and Highlander isnide.
"I guess it's just me but I think the interior looks awful. "
Maybe you'd prefer the hard plastic interior in the Pilot instead.
glad they are going to a larger nav screen because the one in the JGC is too small.
jeepsrt says:
07:35 AM, 07/28/10
Looks good, the gauge cluster looks a lot like the Merc GL, which is a good thing. Overall I think it's a nice clean design.
albook says:
11:42 AM, 07/28/10
Like I said before, I hope there's two tone and wood dash options. The fit and finish looks on par with the best in the class (though maybe not as futuristic as the Explorer's) but it lacks color.
joeo26 says:
09:38 PM, 07/28/10
Looks like 2007 interiors. "meh" at best.
500rwhp says:
02:08 PM, 08/ 2/10
The interior looks much better, but the screen still looks like an afterthought as opposed to integrated the way a Ford one is. The trim is much improved to anything Jeep/Chrysler has offered that I've seen, at least in pictures.
jfearnow52 says:
09:09 AM, 08/ 3/10
Bitch Bitch Bitch If you dont like the car dont buy it. And I dont go out every day and touch my dash to see if its soft or not I hope you dont. You pay for what you get if you want a soft dash then pay for it. Remember the 50s you had a steel dash.
tdiluv says:
12:18 PM, 08/ 3/10
On a scale of 1 to 10 my Dodge pick-up Dash is a 2 because of the crappy plastic but this looks much better say a "3" !! Maybe in person it's even better!!
tdiluv says:
12:21 PM, 08/ 3/10
On a scale of 1 to 10 my Dodge pick-up Dash is a 2 because of the crappy plastic but this looks much better say a "3" !! Maybe in person it's even better!!
shelbyturboz says:
06:39 PM, 08/ 5/10
its funny how everybody is talking about the nav and how cheap or not cheap the interior looks. This is a 4x4 v8 suv. where are all the comments about how we think its going to pull my boat down the road or get me out of the driveway when there are about 12'' of snow on the road. I have a 2000 durango and i love it and it has no nav or any of the new stuff you get on a suv today. I wish they would build a simple suv like the good ol days.
alman08 says:
07:16 PM, 08/ 5/10
shelbyturboz says:
06:39 PM, 08/ 5/10
its funny how everybody is talking about the nav and how cheap or not cheap the interior looks. This is a 4x4 v8 suv. where are all the comments about how we think its going to pull my boat down the road or get me out of the driveway when there are about 12'' of snow on the road. I have a 2000 durango and i love it and it has no nav or any of the new stuff you get on a suv today. I wish they would build a simple suv like the good ol days.
----------------------------------------------------
ummm... because the title of this has to do with the interior on the upcoming durango... here in case you missed it, "Spy Photos: 2011 Dodge Durango Interior Revealed"
spazzzmonkey says:
05:43 PM, 10/ 2/10
This looks like a beautiful looking truck, i just dont know why they are taking away the tree shifters and going into the shifters like in this truck (dont know what they are called). Dont know why they are going for a crossover either. But like i say it is a nice truck with a nice new interior. My dad has had a 1999 SLT Durango, a 2005 SLT plus Durango, and a 2009 Limited Durango, all were/are nice and all have had not a single problem up to 125,000 miles on them, so maybe he just keeps them nice and does not abuse them...
spazzzmonkey says:
05:54 PM, 10/ 2/10
shelbyturboz says:
06:39 PM, 08/ 5/10
its funny how everybody is talking about the nav and how cheap or not cheap the interior looks. This is a 4x4 v8 suv. where are all the comments about how we think its going to pull my boat down the road or get me out of the driveway when there are about 12'' of snow on the road. I have a 2000 durango and i love it and it has no nav or any of the new stuff you get on a suv today. I wish they would build a simple suv like the good ol days
_____________________________________________________________________________
Because if they made a Truck that was simple (which they do, you just have to get the lower models) it would not make it in the market, everybody besides the odd person would not be looking for such an suv, i dont think that people understand that not every single model is going to come with navigation, they will be looking at the lower models, ones they can afford.
johnexo says:
01:54 AM, 12/16/10
The Dodge Durango is awesome inside and outside. I like even more than the lustful Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland that is my favorite American vehicle built today. The best thing is that each new Chrysler SUV is unique. The back end of this by the way resembles a Bimmer X5, but has its very own appeal that is uniquely Dodge.
http://www.exploreauto.net/2011-dodge-durango-make-over-review.html
golupat says:
10:20 PM, 01/12/11
The new Durango is great! If i wasnt so in love with my Magnum i would look into getting one! Maybe i can convince my wife to replace her Grand Caravan with one?
http://www.carsfind.net
nilson2 says:
01:03 AM, 03/ 8/11
It's look really a much cute and very attractive.I really like it.Excellent features and also great interior and exterior design of this car.Thanks for sharing this interesting information with us.
http://www.usedtrucksusa.net/
richajones says:
02:37 AM, 07/ 4/11
The interiors are nice and clean. Can say well organized. The steering controls are well spaced. The only thing that bothers that the spedos are still in the same spot. They should be moved in the center so as to clear the viewing area.
http://www.onlinecardeals.net/