Today’s families are more active than ever and it seems that despite family size shrinking, cars no longer fit the bill for our lifestyles. Instead, more of us are looking into the crossover and SUV market in order to find the cargo space and seating options we require. With seating for seven, 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space, advanced safety features and a technology savvy Uconnect system, the sexy 2015 Dodge Durango Citadel might just have everything a mom could need or want in her next family vehicle.
10 Features Moms Will Love On The Dodge Durango Citadel
Sexy Styling
There is nothing soft about the Dodge Durango’s sexy appearance. The exterior boasts a brawny design with Dodge’s recognizable crosshair grille, HID headlamps, LED running lamps, and race track lighting across the back all of which sets on four attractive wheels. Inside the sleek appearance continues with a roomy interior, smooth instrument panel, technology-rich accessories and very comfortable seating for seven.
Seating For Any Situation
With a flush-folding front passenger seat, split-folding rear back seats and split bench third-row seats the Durango boasts a whopping 28 possible configurations to allow for any combination of people and cargo. Especially handy for when you don’t know who’s coming along or what they might be bringing!
Memory Settings
It’s your typical Goldilocks scenario. I plop into my vehicle in the morning, perpetually running late, only to find that someone has been in my chair. The seat is moved back a good foot, the tunes pumping from the radio assault my ears and the mirrors have clearly been adjusted. As with Goldilocks, there can only be one culprit and now I know how the bears felt. Instead of spending the next 5 minutes rearranging my settings and trying to find the perfect distance from the steering wheel, the Dodge Durango features custom memory settings for up to 2 drivers that adjusts radio, drivers seat and mirrors.
It’s Tech Savvy
One of the first things I look for in any vehicle is a stellar infotainment system. Perhaps a small component of the vehicle, it’s still one of the most used functions for everything from media to navigation and easily sets the vehicle apart from it’s competitors. The Durango features an 8.4-inch touchscreen display that is both user-friendly and attractive. It offers large virtual buttons, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road and a simple interface featuring the Uconnect system. Dodge’s Uconnect system boasts smartphone app integration, text-to-speech capability for texting and advanced voice controls including hands-free calling. The Durango also features auxiliary audio inputs, USB connections, and memory card slots. Bonus, it even has a built in seat-back DVD player!
Plenty of Storage
One of the major selling points for an SUV is the storage capacity, something the Dodge Durango makes excellent use of. On top of plenty of leg, should and head room for each passenger the Durango also comes with plenty of storage capacity. There is 17.2 cu feet of storage space with all seats in place, and a whopping 84.5 cu feet of storage with the seats folded down. Whether you’re packing up the vehicle for weekend road trip or simply trying to fit manage all of the groceries there’s plenty of room for both storage and seating.
Custom Heating and Cooling
Family arguments are won and lost over temperature: hot button topics like the threshold when jackets are necessary outside, the temperature of the house, and the heat or AC settings in the vehicle are enough to send anyone to family therapy. Which is why moms will love all of the custom heating and cooling options in the Dodge Durango from luxurious perks like a heated steering wheel, heated first row and second-row seats, to standards like three-zone climate controls.
Adaptive Cruise Control
The Durango’s Adaptive Cruise Control is constantly “thinking” in an effort to create a safe driving experience. By maintaining a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you, it can minimize the risk of collisions in stop-and-go traffic while maintaining appropriate distance during high speed traffic.
Easy to Use Navigation
In addition to media, the Uconnect system also features 3D navigation with real-time traffic providing detailed information on accidents, constructions, road closures and traffic speed, allowing you to get from point A to B safely. It even boasts voice activation technology to keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
Advanced Safety Features
One of the biggest selling factors for a large SUV, in addition to enough seating for all, is the safety factor. The Durango combines traditional safety features such as dual front side-mounted airbags, child seat anchors, emergency brake assist, and rear safety locks with high-tech features that provide ultimate peace of mind. The Uconnect Access is an emergency telematics system that offers emergency assistance and stolen vehicle tracking. On select models and packages, the Durango also comes with a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-path alert, and a forward collision warning system that sounds a chime and can also jerk the brakes to alert you when a collision seems imminent. If the driver doesn’t respond by braking, the system will automatically apply the brakes to avoid or mitigate a collision.
Peace of Mind Warranty
Purchasing a vehicle is fairly long term commitment and a large investment. Dodge backs their vehicles with the Dodge 3-Year/36,000-Mile Basic Limited Warranty which provides bumper-to-bumper coverage for your vehicle, from the body to the electrical system. The warranty is also transferable and it includes towing to the nearest Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge or Ram vehicle dealer, if necessary. The Durango also comes with 5-Year/100,000-Mile Roadside Assistance Service providing support with a battery jump start, gas delivery, flat tire service or towing to the nearest Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge or Ram vehicle dealer.
I received this vehicle on loan for the purpose of this review. All opinions remain my own.
I would love to have this car. I’m looking at changing our car into a more tech savvy one.