Durango Hybrid Here, then Gone

Driving Chrysler's new Dodge Durango Hybrid along various New England roads was telling. This was our first experience with a Chrysler application of the two-mode hybrid system developed with GM, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, and our initial impression was a good one. The on-board fuel economy readout was showing the fuel-efficient two-mode hybrid providing the kind of improved city fuel economy we expected. It was time to head off on the interstates and find out more.

After driving from Boston to Portland, Maine, we headed northward to Bangor and then toward the coast and Bar Harbor, adjacent to Acadia National Park and its postcard picturesque scenery. The quintessentially New England Bar Harbor Inn served as a good base of operations while the surrounding roads provided a suitable test of this hybrid's efficiency. Following several days of driving the area, it was onward toward points south and a visit to Cape Elizabeth's eco-friendly Inn by the Sea. We had visited here 18 years earlier to road test Chrysler products and it was time for a homecoming of sorts. Heading there on 135 miles of I-95 gave us the opportunity to drive the Durango Hybrid at highway speeds while enjoying the scenery.

The drive was a comfortable one with the interior, controls, and overall roominess more than meeting our expectations. Even though the vehicle is refined, this is not a car-like crossover vehicle experience. But then, we've experienced plenty of time behind the wheel of body-on-frame SUVs over the years so the more truck-like ride of an SUV of this type is not unpleasant.

The Durango's Multi-Displacement System, which cuts off cylinders under low-load conditions to increase efficiency, operated seamlessly, as did the two-mode hybrid system during both low and high speed driving. There wasn't one instance when we needed the full power of this Hemi Hybrid's 385 combined horsepower. Certainly, this hybrid's use of a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 in tandem with the two-mode hybrid system does bring lots of power, but it also means less overall efficiency than might be achieved with a smaller V-8 or even a V-6.

Chrysler accomplished its goal of substantially improving the fuel efficiency of this large hauler, gaining 25 percent better overall fuel economy and a 40 percent efficiency increase in the city. The 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid earns an EPA rating of 19 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway, for a combined 19 mpg rating. We averaged 21.2 mpg during our travels. Offering an advanced hybrid drive option in a larger vehicle that offers heavy-duty hauling, 6,000 pound towing, and the ability to transport up to eight passengers is important to buyers who need such capabilities. On this count, mission accomplished.

However, this must feel like little comfort to Chrysler as it acclimates to the realities of high gas prices and a substantially changed auto market. This is a time of auto plants being repurposed from SUV and light truck production to making more fuel efficient cars. As this is unfolding, the Dodge Ram two-mode pickup is continuing its march to market next year but the Durango Hybrid is a casualty of the process, with production halting by the end of the year and sales of existing units stretching only into the first few months of 2009 while supplies last. If the $45,570 Durango Hybrid fits your needs and is on your shopping list, then the time to buy is now.