30 — Friday, December 26, 1997 ~ North Shore News

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THE 1998 Dodge Durango is an all-new sport-utility vehicle based on the Dakota pickup truck chassis. The Durango seats up to eight passengers, is available with a
V6 or two V8 engines, a standard automatic transmission, and part-time or full-time four-wheel-drive. Prices start at $36,560. Test drive the new Durango at Mountview

Motors, 1600 Marine Dr., North Vancouver.

Dodge
versatile sport-ute

-» THE Dodge Durango

See, drive,
& order the ail

ing thoor.

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is an all-new, mid-size
sport utility vehicle
based on the recently-
introduced Dakota
truck platform.

Though Dodge calls it a
“compact” sport utility vehi-
cle, the Durango is larger
than the Ford Explorer,
Chevy Blazer, and Jeep Grand
Cherokee. For example, the
Durango is 407 mm (16 in.)
ionger and 56 mm (2.2 in.)
wider than a Grand
Cherokee.

Its front-end styling mim
ies the Dakota and Dodge
Ram pickups, and though Pm
nor generally in favor of
“family” styling exercises, |
think the Durango is a well-
proportioned, handsome
sport-ute that hides its bulk
well,

The Durango is the first
mid-sized sport-ute available
with three rows of seats —~ up
to cight passengers can be
accommodated in the
Durango. The roof above the
second and dhird rows of seats
is raised allowing those seats
to be raised ‘thearer-style’ for
better forward viewing.

The versatility of the
Durango’s seating deserves
special mention. The front
40/20/40 split bench three-
passenger seat has a fold
down center armrest. and stor
age compartment. The see:
ond row is abo a 40/20/40

) Ray isos

test
drive

split bench seat and both out-
board seats fold and tumble
to permit access to the third
row seat from cither side. The
third row (optional) (wo: pas-
senger beneh seat folds into
the floor when not in-use te
form a flat loading surface.

Thanks to the raised root!
anda depression in the four,
the third row seat is capable
of seating two adults,
However, the seat cushion is
short and the adjustable head
restraints don't raise high
enough for an adult. Sully i's
Nice to see adjustable head
restraints atthe outboard
positions of all three raws of
seats,

With the third) seat in
place, there’s a useful 58
cubic fees feargo space
behind it, With the third row
seatback folded down, there's
SEL cubic feet of Cargo area;
and with both second and
third row seathacks folded
down to an abmost that sur:
face, there’s SS cubte tect of
Storage space. En addition,
there’s a hidden storage com-
partment under the rear load

Access to the cargo area is
by an casy-to-lift rear hatch
with a liftover height of 81
em (32 in.). The rear hatch
window has a wiper and
washer, but a separate littglass
is not available.

‘The Durango’s interior is
simple and well-designed with
easy-to-use rotary heating and
ventilation controls, a good
driving position, and extra
features such as an oversized
center storage bin and arm-
rest, tachometer, 12-volt
power outlet on the dash,
cupholders for every seat row,
height-adjustable seat belts
for the first and second row
outboard positions, and
optional rear heater/air con:
ditioning system.

My only complaint was the
lack of a recirculation button
fo prevent disty outside air
trom reaching the cabin, Sull,
itis possible to recirealate the

air inthe Max A/C position. ”

Durangos are avanlabie
with three powertrains: a 175
horsepower 3.9 litre Vo, a
230 horsepower 3.2 titre V8,
anda 245 horsepower 5.9:
litre VS. AMP models have a
standard four speed automatic
trinsmission sith at coluamn
shitter and an on /ott over
drive button atthe end of the
shitt lever,

AH Durangos are 4X46 tor
1Y98 - we wheel-drive
madels wort come until the

See Durange page 34

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