Why is it we only want what we can’t have and we only appreciate something after it’s gone?
I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be many consumers experiencing these emotions once they realize that this is it for the Dodge Durango.
The 2015 Dodge Durango is in its final model year, though no one is quite sure why this vehicle got the ax.
Generally, automotive manufacturers decide to discontinue certain vehicles due to slumping sales or because preferences in style have changed.
It can be a fickle industry, but the Dodge Durango sells well, gets great reviews, and is the only SUV offered in the Dodge lineup.
No matter the reason, or lack thereof, now is absolutely the best time to purchase your 2015 Dodge Durango from your nearby Dodge in Miami, FL. The only buyer’s remorse you risk is not buying one at all.
Powerful Reliability
When you purchase the performance-driven 2015 Dodge Durango, you get an SUV with best-in-class power.
Available engines let you choose just how much power you need, depending on how you intend to use your Durango.
The 2015 Dodge Durango is outfitted with a standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, generating 290 horsepower with 260 lb.-ft. of torque.
But, if that’s not enough power for you, or you already know that you will use your 2015 Dodge Durango for serious towing tasks, Dodge also offers an engine upgrade with the 5.7-liter HEMI V8, able to get 360 horsepower with 390 lb.-ft. of torque.
Speaking of towing, the 2015 Dodge Durango also boasts best-in-class towing with a maximum of 6,200 pounds from the standard V6.
Not enough?
Try the optional V8, which boosts the Durango’s towing power to 7,400 pounds.
Variable Valve Timing (VVT) improves upon this SUV’s fuel economy, and no matter which engine you choose, you’ll enjoy best-in-class fuel efficiency.
Expect to get 25 highway miles per gallon from the standard rear-wheel drive V6 engine and 24 highway miles per gallon from the available alternative all-wheel drive.
Even the added power of the V8 HEMI, enhanced by it’s almost 50-50 weight distribution, doesn’t compromise fuel efficiency, and is able to get 23 highway miles per gallon.
So, best-in-class power, towing, and fuel efficiency…and we’re just getting started.
Remind me again why Dodge is discontinuing this seriously capable vehicle.
Oh. Right. It’s a mystery…
Inner Beauty
Don’t let the tough and rugged exterior of the Dodge Durango, which we will get to in a minute, fool you when it comes to imagining the interior.
This is a very comfortable car, loaded with technological bells and whistles, cloaked in luxurious soft-touch materials.
Obviously, added luxury comes from higher trim levels, but even the base models redefine the idea of basic.
The 2015 Dodge Durango’s interior design is accessible and comfortable, no matter which of the five trim levels you choose.
And it’s fun with whimsical features located throughout the cockpit, like the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and E-rotary shift knob.
The class-exclusive UConnect system with available UConnect Access includes on-demand Wi-Fi, keeping you and your passengers connected on the go.
Speaking of passengers, if any of them are of the wild child variety, you can easily keep them entertained (distracted) with the available Blu-ray and DVD entertainment system, which can broadcast their favorite shows and movies on their own personal nine-inch screens.
Fortunately, those screens are able to fold down so that they stay protected from scratches or dings.
Dodge has really thought of everything…except a good reason to discontinue this vehicle.
For another fun distraction, stream some music through the Beats by Dr. Dre audio system.
How about a game of musical chairs?
It’s totally possible with the 2015 Dodge Durango.
Seat configuration is a breeze, with fifty possible options for arranging and rearranging passengers and cargo.
When it comes to cargo, the 2015 Dodge Durango gives you plenty of storage space with up to 84.5 cubic feet of room at your disposal.
I can’t imagine a more ideal SUV for carpooling, road trips, and just getting those daily errands done.
Expressive Exterior
If you like muscle cars, and I mean who doesn’t, you’ll love the look of the Durango. It’s burly and looks almost mean, but in a good way.
Equipped with class-exclusive exterior features like the class-exclusive LED taillamp, which is made from 192 individual, but connected LEDs, not to mention the Dodge signature crosshair grille and six available wheel options, this SUV looks tough and ready for action.
Despite it’s don’t mess with me appearance, the Dodge Durango offers easy and smooth maneuverability.
Pricing begins with the MSRP of $30,495 for the base model and moves up the range to $39,995 for the premium offering.
There is a total of five available trim levels, starting with the SXT, followed by the SXT Plus, Limited, Citadel, and R/T.
For ultimate style, you can choose from ten colors, including: Bright White, True Blue Pearl, Maximum Steel Metallic, Billet Silver Metallic, Granite Crystal Metallic, Sandstone Pearl, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl, Deep Cherry Red Crystal Pearl, Redline Red 2-Coat Pearl, and Black Forest Green Pearl.
In keeping with the muscle car-inspired image, I would go for Deep Cherry Red, but would happily drive a 2015 Dodge Durango in any color.
And, there are more than a dozen packages to further customize and personalize your Durango, including the Safety, Security, and Convenience package and the Technology package, available depending on trim level.
On the topic of safety…
A Surefire Safe Bet
One of the primary reasons consumers choose SUVs is for their safety ratings and features.
Among the largest vehicles on the road, SUVs offer enhanced visibility and just feel safer, compared to those cars situated closer to the ground.
However, it takes more than a feeling to ensure drivers that the car they are considering is, indeed, safe. Fortunately, when it comes to the 2015 Dodge Durango, the experts have weighed in and the results are rock solid.
Rated the highest level of “Good” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and earning four out of five stars in government crash tests, the 2015 Dodge Durango comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, trailer sway control, front and full-length side curtain airbags.
The rear-wheel drive V6 was able to stop from sixty miles per hour in 124 feet, while the all-wheel drive stopped in 125 feet, according to Edmunds testing.
This is considered average for this segment, but who cares? Given all the other best-in-class accolades, this certainly is no reason to discount the Durango or shop for something else. Besides with increasingly stringent safety tests and requirements, “average” is a significant cut above what our parents carted us around in.
When you’re behind the wheel of the 2015 Dodge Durango, you can drive with confidence, assured that you and your passengers are protected by the industry’s best passive and active safety technology.
While the motivation driving its discontinuation remains a mystery, one thing is absolutely certain: the 2015 Dodge Durango needs to find a home in your garage before it enters the annals of automotive history for good.
This is one car that will be missed when it’s gone. Cue the hit song, “Cups” by Anna Kendrick.
Seriously, don’t miss your chance to get out there and “Grab Life” in this year’s Durango.
