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LOVE DODGE DURANGO!
11.09.11
Review by Sheryll Alexander
Costa Mesa-based NADAguides recently named the 2011 Dodge Durango as November Car of the Month. We agree. After our family road tested this family-friendly SUV for a week, we proclaimed the seven-seat Dodge Durango is definitely a smart new car buy for overall value.
First off, let’s get to the price. The 2011 Dodge Durgano has a base MSRP of $29,195. That sounds like a pretty good value, but our road test Durango Citadel RWD topped out at a whopping $45,645 (including $850 destination charge).
Although expensive, the fully-loaded Citadel model has no options and comes with loads of standard luxury features (see interior and infotainment sections below), excellent design, rather good fuel efficiency (18 mpg city, 23 mpg hwy!) and top safety marks.
Completely overhauled inside and out for 2011, the “new” Dodge Durango surprised us as an awesome family-minded SUV. We also loved showing up to restaurant valet stations and hotel porte cochères in our gorgeous Durango. Who knew American design could be so brash and yet so subtle at the same time?
Exterior: Outside, the 2011 Dodge Durango has a good balance of American beef and European style. Sure, the chromed-out grille, front bumper and bulging hood is super masculine, but it works. The sleek side lines and bold, yet minimalist booty hatch work well too.
Interior: Inside, the 2011 Dodge Durango is an oasis of calm, comfort and spacious luxury. The interior design is also nice balance of American and European tastes with good-looking materials and quality construction. The driver’s cockpit is exceptionally comfortable with plush seats, a feel-good steering wheel, a cool instrument panel, a minimalist dash and a handsome central console. Just a few of the luxury features that come standard on the Durango Citadel are heated front and second row seats, eight-way power driver seat with memory, eight-way passenger seat, third row 50/50-folding seats, dual zone and rear automatic temperature control, perforated and heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with infotainment controls, power tilt-and-telescoping steering column,
Infotainment: Chrysler wowed us with the Durango’s integrated infotainment system. In fact, the software system and graphics are very similar to GM’s infotainment systems, which we love for their simplicity, elegance and ergonomics. Called “Uconnect,” this system comes as standard equipment on the 2011 Dodge Durango Citadel and features a crisp 6.5-inch touch screen, CD, DVD, MP3, HDD, Sirius satellite radio, voice recognition Garmin navigation and Bluetooth wireless for phone capabilities.
Performance: The Durango Citadel’s 3.6-liter V6 with five-speed automatic transmission tows up to 6,200 lbs. and roars like a powerful V8. It drives like one too. Perhaps performance doesn’t feel as powerful up hills and mountains, but 2011 Durango V6 definitely has quick acceleration, spot-on braking, responsive steering, fun-to-drive handling and a tight suspension. (A V8 Hemi powertrain is also available and tows up to 7,200 lbs.)
Safety: The 2011 Dodge Durango was awarded a hard-to-get Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Plus, the Durango comes loaded with advanced safety features such as side air bags in all rows, electronic stability control (ESC), rear back-up camera, rear park assist system, keyless entry, blind spot and rear cross path detection, adaptive speed control with forward collision warning, hill start assist, trailer sway damping and remote start.
And remember, the new Dodge Durango is built in Michigan, so your Chrysler purchase is putting Americans to work. Do you really need a new Rover when a Dodge Durango will do the job and then some in a stylish American wrapper?
Okay, so you need one more reason to consider Durango over another Rover, right? How about “no cost maintenance plus” as well as a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
Sheryll Alexander is a lifestyles writer, automotive journalist and professional road test reviewer based in Costa Mesa, California. Follow her! @sheryllalexande
ANQI HOSTS ASTON MARTIN V12 ZAGATO!
08.25.11
By Sheryll Alexander
South Coast Plaza’s AnQi by Crustacean restaurant is hosting a very rare (only two in the world!) Aston Martin V12 Zagato on Friday, August 26. No, the car isn’t sitting down for the restaurant’s signature garlic noodles, but you can view the car, talk to Aston Martin Newport Beach specialists and dine at this fashion-forward hot spot after drooling at this gorgeous sports car.
Part of AnQi’s “Fashionably Late Fridays” scene, the Aston Martin V12 Zagato will be on display from 4 p.m.-2 a.m. After checking out the V12 Zagato, drive into AnQi for Cal-Vietnamese fusion food and drink such as a refreshing Viet-jito or Pink Lotus cocktail with some spicy salt-and-pepper calamari.
The V12 Zagato was originally unveiled as a concept car at the prestigious Villa D’Este Concours in Italy earlier this year, where the car won the award for best design in the “concepts and prototypes” class. Just weeks later, the V12 Zagato went on to prove its durability with successful completion of the grueling Nürburgring 24-hour race in Germany. Last month, following interest from customers, the company confirmed a strictly limited production run of the V12 Zagato to commence in summer 2012.
Aston Martin Newport Beach is the No. 1 dealer in the country for Aston Martin retail sales.
Aston Martin Newport Beach, 1540 Jamboree Rd., Newport Beach, 800-793-9560, www.astonmartinnewportbeach.com
Sheryll Alexander runs a news media agency based in Costa Mesa, California. Follow her! @sheryllalexande
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