Clean Power - SUV Capabilities - The 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid

Chrysler has official entered the hybrid market with its full-size SUV, the Dodge Durango Hybrid.  The Durango will be rolled out along side its SUV twin the Chrysler Aspen Hybrid. Using a two-mode hybrid system co-developed with GM, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, the hybrid versions of both SUVs purportedly yield 40 percent better city mileage than their gasoline counterparts and overall fuel economy by more than 25 percent. Main competitors to the Durango Hybrid include the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon hybrids.  The Hybrid is offered only with all-wheel drive, it seats up to eight passengers with its folding third-row seat. The Durango Hybrid is similarly equipped to the gasoline powered Durango.  For a full sized SUV with a V8 Hemi to get 18/22 mpg is impressive any way you look at it.  The 2009 Dodge Durango hybrid has a starting MSRP of $45,040. While the tow-capable Durango Hybrid comes no where near what sedan hybrid models get in mileage, you can't tow anything with a sedan.

Power for the Durango Hybrid

 The Durango Hybrid uses an advanced 2-mode hybrid system which conserves energy by using an electrically variable 4-speed automatic transmission, a 300-volt NiMH storage battery, two 87-hp electric motors, and a 345-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine which includes the Multi-displacement System (MDS). The 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid shares its two-mode hybrid system with the 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and the new round of full-size SUV and pickup hybrids from General Motors. Developed with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and GM, this system uses a new electrically continuously variable transmission (ECVT) paired with the Hemi V8. The ECVT has two electric motors and four fixed gears. Total output is 385 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. The Durango's two-mode hybrid system starts with a 300-volt battery pack, which is recharged using the friction from the SUV's regenerative brakes. In turn, the battery powers two transmission-integrated electric motors - most conventional hybrids have one. The motors are fixed to a network of two continuously variable and four fixed gear ratios. The Durango can operate on gasoline and electric power, or on gas power alone. Maximum towing capacity is 6,000 pounds.

Dodge Hybrid Design 

The Hybrid model does not have any exterior modifications when compared to the gasoline powered Durango, unlike the GM two-stage hybrid vehicles that tout their green powertrains. The Durango Hybrid for 2009 features a high beltline that suggests great mass. It is an SUV with forceful expression and a unique look.The short hood and flared fenders give the Durango the look of a big-rig truck. The front fenders make the hood look as narrow as it is short. The windshield is aerodynamically efficient and offers good visibility. Wheelbase and width remain identical, but length is up 1.3 inches. Minimum ground clearance is down 0.9 inches, despite a load floor that's closer to that of the regular Durango. Chrysler says the loss in ground clearance is due to extra electrical infrastructure in the hybrid chassis. Eighteen-inch chrome wheels are standard. Hybrid badges appear near the front fenders and above the rear bumper, but they're comparatively humble.

Driving Green

The Hybrid powertrain may make the Durango slightly quicker than the standard Hemi version, but not by much.  The Hybrid is not able to tow as much, but it gets good fuel economy and emits less pollution.  The Hybrid has a Traction Power Inversion Module that determines when the vehicle should operate in the first or second mode and also chooses gears. Compared to competition, the Durango is smaller than the Tahoe and Expedition.  The Durango Hybrid drives like a typical truck based SUV, and does not handle as well as some of today's crossovers.  The first mode on the Durango is mostly for around-town driving and can use battery power alone up to 25 mph. The second mode is meant for highway speeds and always uses engine power.

Inside the Hybrid SUV

Inside, the Durango Hybrid looks much like its regular counterpart. The Durango Hybrid has plenty of cargo space and is a great hauler. Behind the second row of seats is 68 cubic feet of cargo space, equal to the total for many SUVs. With the second row down there's 102 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The liftgate opens easily and is power-operated.  The cargo floor is relatively low, thanks to the rear suspension design, making loading and unloading easier. The second and third rows are notably easy to access because the rear doors open an exceptionally wide 84 degrees. The second-row seat easily flips forward with the touch of one hand, and the seatback flops flat just as easily.  The three-row cabin seats up to eight and passenger volumes are more or less equivalent to those in the regular Durango. Standard features include

leather upholstery and heated power front seats. Hybrid-specific implements include a screen on the navigation system that shows real-time power flow between the drivetrain components - the battery brakes and engine. Like many hybrids, the Durango Hybrid has a charge-assist gauge whose dial swings to the left when the regenerative brakes are charging the battery and to the right when the electric motors and gasoline engine are working together to maximize acceleration. In between them is a green zone labeled "economy," which is similar to a gauge that promotes fuel-efficient driving in the Tahoe Hybrid.

Summary

The 2009 Dodge Durango is all new and, along with the Chrysler Aspen, is this automakers first attempt at the hybrid market.  The plus side to the Durango Hybrid is its excellent gas mileage, its incognito hybrid badging, and its spacious and easily accessible third row seating. For another view on the Durango Hybrid, check out edmunds.com 'Test Drive'. The Durango gets better mileage than any gasoline powered SUV, and it drives with similar capabilities as its Durango cousin.  Standard safety features include electronic stability control and four airbags including side curtains. For more information on pricing and specs, click here.