Friday, July 25, 2014
Richmond Review · Page 15
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Welcome to the driver’s seat
“What many people might not realize is the basis of the Durango was developed by Mercedes-Benz for its GL-Class vehicle and Dodge in turn took that same platform and made it into the Durango.”
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Trucking in style through the big wide open
Question of the Week
There’s nothing like a the big doors and the easy-to-access back seat, summer road trip in British and were surprised at Columbia, where we are how huge the cargo area spoiled with some of the is when the third row of most scenic beauty the seats is folded flat. My world has to offer. youngest Charlie helped My last adventure was me load and unload from Vancouver to Kelowna to visit some friends City fuel economy and he noticed the low power lift gate switch and hang by the lake, get that shorter people can a bit of tubing time behind can be frightening our gracious host’s boat but I was surprised at access easily. and take full advantage of how good this truck Inside some B.C. wine. time you get four is, even when taking Any The wonderful thing people in a car for over about my job is that I get advantage of the new four hours the high and to hand pick the vehicle 120 km/h speed limit low points of the interior for heading out on the design bubble to the on the Coquihalla highway, and I always surface. My wife instantlike something roomy and highway. ly loved the two-tone powerful with cars – with Zack Spencer black and beige leather German often on the seats that are heated top of my list. Instead of and, more importantly, an Audi A7 diesel, this time around I cooled for hot summer days. She also selected the full-size, truck-based Duappreciated the big 8.4-inch uConnect rango SUV from Dodge and surprisingly screen that is only offered on this top it does have some German roots. Citadel trim; the lower trimmed cars get a 5-inch unit. The boys in the back Looks noticed that the seats recline for more My family and I are no strangers to the comfort and legroom is massive. On the latest Durango; we had the very same way out of Vancouver, Charlie instantly grey Citadel version over the Christmas fell asleep and didn’t wake up until break last year. Same thing, I wanted Chilliwack for a Tim Horton’s break, so something big to move people around the seats must be comfy. Jack on the over the holidays. That stretch was other hand spent the better part of mostly city driving – this time it was the trip playing on his iPhone but the wide-open road. What many people Citadel is equipped with flip-up screens might not realize is the basis of the for gaming consoles and DVD movies. Durango was developed by Mercedes-Benz for its GL-Class vehicle and Drive Dodge in turn took that same platform My seat was a good spot to take stock and made it into the Durango. My two of a few things, primarily fuel economy. boys, Jack,12, and Charlie, nine, love This is a big rig and was equipped with
Zack Spencer writes today about a B.C. summer road trip; are you taking one this summer? Tell us your road trip story and send in your pictures.
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the 5.7L Hemi V8 with 360hp, moving all that power to four wheels through an 8-speed automatic. City fuel economy can be frightening but I was surprised at how good this truck is, even when taking advantage of the new 120 km/h speed limit on the Coquihalla highway. The Durango put in a solid 11.8 L/100km, with more than 900 km driven. Keep in mind I didn’t soft foot my way to or from Kelowna. I did notice that the fuel economy improved vastly the closer I stayed to 100 km/h. The handling is a bit top-heavy in the corners, especially at higher speeds, but after some initial body roll, the Durango is very stable. One notable feature is the automatic fantastic adaptive cruise control, making the ride very enjoyable. Verdict If you drive in the city, the base 3.6L V6 engine might be a better choice based on fuel consumption but, if you drive a lot on the highway or tow a boat (3,265 kg towing capacity), the
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Hemi is the right choice. Power was always there to pass and pull up a hill and the fuel economy can be good if the driver watches their speed. The V8 has the ability to switch off four of the eight cylinders when the truck is under light load and accessing this as often as possible makes a big difference. Another thing to consider is price: the Durango is not inexpensive, starting at $39,995 for the V6 and running up to $52,495 for the top Citadel V8. My family loved spending time in the Durango, we all had a lot of space and the trip was effortless. Our next adventure is to Portland, Oregon in the Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel. I can’t wait to see how that new truck compares. The Lowdown Power: 3.6L V6 with 290hp or 5.7L V8 with 360hp Fill-up: 15.6L/9.1L/100km (city/highway V8) Sticker price: $39,995-$52,495
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Safety Tip: Need directions to your holiday getaway? Remember to program your GPS in your car or on your phone before you start to drive. There’s no safe time to do it in traffic
zack.spencer@drivewaybc.ca
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