2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid
2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid
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The 2009 Durango Hybrid is Dodge’s first leap into the hybrid world. It is all new for 2009 and is a 4-door, 8-passenger sport-utility, available in one trim only, the Limited 4X4. The Durango Hybrid achieves 20-mpg in the city and 22-mpg on the highway. A variable speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The Durango Hybrid’s biggest benefit is its excellent gas mileage, its incognito hybrid badging, and its spacious and easily accessible third row seating. The Durango gets better mileage than any full size gasoline powered SUV, and it drives with similar capabilities as its conventional Durango sibling. Standard safety features include electronic stability control and four airbags including side curtains.
Green Durango Power
The 2009 Durango Hybrid can operate on gasoline and electric power, or on gas power alone. Maximum towing capacity is 6,000 pounds. 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 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.
Design of the Durango
The Hybrid keeps its special powertrain relatively low key. This 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. Minimum ground clearance is down 0.9 inches, despite a load floor that's closer to that of the regular Durango. Eighteen-inch chrome wheels are standard. Hybrid badges appear near the front fenders and above the rear bumper, but they're comparatively humble.
2009 Durango Hybrid Driving
The Hybrid is not able to tow as much as its gasoline powered sibling, but the bottom line is it gets good fuel economy and emits less pollution. Utilizing a two-mode hybrid setup, the big Durango takes advantage of a fuel-saving Multi-Displacement System (MDS) technology. Total output, when combined with the advanced two-mode hybrid system, is 400 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque - the most powerful hybrid SUVs. This mechanical magic results, according to Chrysler, at a 25 percent increase in city mileage and 40 percent overall. The Durango Hybrid drives like a typical truck based SUV, and does not handl
e as well as some of today’s crossovers. 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 first mode on the Durango is mostly for around-town driving and can use battery power alone up to 25 mph.
Inside the Dodge
The 2009 Durango Hybrid has plenty of cargo space and is a great family hauler. 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. 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-row seat easily flips forward with the touch of one hand, and the seatback flops flat just as easily. 
Summary
Standard features on the 2009 Durango Hybrid 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. The hybrid system, which was developed with General Motors, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, delivers a “two-mode” full hybrid system by integrating proven automatic-transmission technology with a patented hybrid-electric drive system. The system’s two modes are optimized for city and highway driving. The setup includes four fixed gear ratios for “efficiency” and power-handling capabilities. The first mode is designed for low speeds and light loads. In this mode, the vehicle can operate in three ways: electric power only, engine power only, or any combination of engine and electric power. The second mode is used primarily at highway speeds. The second mode provides full power from the HEMI when needed, such as passing, pulling a trailer or climbing a steep grade. Durango’s 380 lb.-ft. of torque is more than enough for low-end grunt pulling. A controller determines when to use the first or second mode and shifts the torque as needed. View coverage of the new Durango Hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show. There’s little to want in the way of options in Durango and it comes loaded with a price tag as big as its profile: $44,540.
