2007 Dodge Durango SUV review, and picture gallery!

Boldly styled, the Dodge Durango is big and powerful, but surprisingly refined. That's right, refined. Dodge and refinement haven't always gone together, but the Durango is quiet and it rides smoothly. Its handling is stable and relatively agile. Inside is a quiet, roomy, comfortable and technologically sophisticated cabin.

The base model has been dropped for 2007, so the Durango SXT is the entry level for the Durango line-up. For 2007 the optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine is now equipped with the new Multi-Displacement System (MDS) that disables four cylinders when cruising to improve fuel economy.

The Dodge Durango feels spacious inside. Large amounts of glass contribute to that feeling along with lots of cargo space. Durango is officially classified as a mid-size SUV, like the Ford Explorer, but it's bigger than that and inside it feels like a full-size SUV.

The 4.7-liter V8 engine is competent, powerful and very smooth. It is rated at 230 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque, but it only gets 14/18 mpg with 4WD, using 87 octane.

The 5.7-liter Hemi is rated at 335 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque. That's a lot more power than the 4.7-liter, with around-town mileage suffering only slightly at 13/18 mpg with 89 octane recommended, 87 acceptable. For 2006, fuel economy is enhanced with the introduction of Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System on the Hemi, which disables four of the eight cylinders when cruising by deactivating the valve lifters. In our tests of variable displacement on other Chrysler products, we found the transition between cruising and power modes was nearly indiscernible. The Hemi seems like a good value. Plus, it can tow up to 8,950 pounds with the optional 3.92 rear axle, compared with 7,400 pounds for the 4.7-liter. Also, the two-speed transfer case comes standard with the Hemi 4x4, optional with the other engines.