Transportation

Car Review: 2015 Dodge Durango

Published

12 years ago

May 1, 2015

Reporter II

2015 Dodge Durango R/T Blacktop

By Frank S. Washington
NNPA Columnist

CHICAGO (NNPA) – We drove a 2015 Dodge Durango here from Detroit and navigated around the Windy City for about 10 days.

There was some apprehension, not with the Durango but with fuel consumption. Our tester was powered by a 5.7-liter V8 HEMI and immediately the price of gasoline during a 10 day-stay came to mind. After all, this HEMI made 360 horsepower, 390 pound-feet of torque and the Durango was all-wheel-drive.

However, the engine was mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, it had what the company called fuel saver technology, only four of the eight-cylinders would operate when less power was needed, and the all-wheel-drive system was rear-wheel-drive based. That helped handling and performance.

Our R/T model had a sport-tuned suspension but it wasn’t harsh. We barely noticed any bumps or sways on the way here or after we arrived. And the truck-like ride of some full-size sport utilities was nonexistent on Interstate 94 as well as the surface streets and expressways here. The Durango tracked true; we never had to adjust the steering wheel to keep it in place.

It had what is quickly becoming old-fashioned rack and pinion steering that was hydraulic, not electric. Hydraulic steering gave us a much better connection to the road. The front suspension was a short and long armed affair with coil springs, as well as gas-charged, twin tube shock absorbers. And in the rear, the suspension was multi-link with coil springs, twin tube shocks and an aluminum lower control arm.

What’s more, fuel consumption was not bad – for a V8. Our Durango had an EPA rating of 14 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. In real world driving, we added about 1,000 city and interstate miles to the odometer of the test vehicle and gassed up four times; that included a full tank when the vehicle was delivered. Out of pocket fuel cost was less than $100; that is pretty affordable for a 10-day trip that involved a lot of daily driving.

The Durango was a three-rowed sport utility. We folded the third row and loaded two duffle bags onto the flat cargo floor and tossed in a second jacket for good measure. The 17.2 cu. ft. of storage space with those third row seats folded just swallowed the bags and we could have stored a couple more.

Dodge’s large sport utility has always had a muscular look but it has been contemporized. Our test vehicle had LED daytime running lights and Xenon headlights. Dodge said the front lights had leveling technology that would adjust for “slight” changes in elevation.
We had the R/T model and it featured body colored front and rear lower fascias, wheel flares, a revamped horse collar grille and sill moldings. The R/T’s ride height was lowered 20 mm and it featured 20-inch aluminum wheels.

In the rear, the Durango had Dodge’s LED “racetrack” taillight design that is also on the Charger and the Dart. It is a seamless ribbon of light. Large dual exhaust tips were standard on our V8 powered Durango. It looked racy, even in winter which is when we test drove it.

Dodge has done a nice job upgrading the interiors of all of its vehicles. The Durango featured a dial gear selector that created a clean look and a lot of space on the center console that was not there before.

There was a leather interior with French stitching and an 8.4-inch touch screen. Our test vehicle had the latest version of Uconnect; there was an SD card slot, a USB outlet and auxiliary jacks. Heated seats and a heated steering wheel were much appreciated during what we thought was the last arctic blast of winter.

There was a 7-inch TFT screen between the odometer and the speedometer. Dodge said it could be customized more than 100 ways to give the driver information.

We spent our time using the Durango’s Wi-Fi hotspot with the Uconnect app to play Pandora off of our smartphone. It was a little slow responding or switching stations but it was a more customizable alternative to the vehicle’s satellite radio.

Our test Durango was a good ride. It had a quality interior, stylish exterior, it was practical in terms of cargo area and seating adaptability; during white outs on the drive back the all-wheel-drive system gave a measure of security and the sticker was reasonable.

Base priced at $42,195, with options including a rear-seat entertainment system, a USB charging port, Uconnect with satellite radio and the navigation system, the total for our test vehicle came to $48,170.

Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com.

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Business

Fate of Bay Area Public Transit Hinges on Regional Transit Measure

Voters in five Bay Area counties will decide the fate of a regional sales tax measure on Nov. 3 that could determine the future of local public transportation. If approved, the Regional Transit Measure would implement new sales taxes in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Francisco counties starting in 2027. The funding aims to address massive financial deficits facing agencies like BART and Muni, providing nearly $1 billion annually to prevent station closures and service cuts. Read more.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 27, 2026

Post News Group

By Tanay Gokhale, Bay City News

On Nov. 3, voters in five Bay Area counties will vote on a regional sales tax measure that, if it fails, could prompt local transit agencies to close train stations and cut bus service.

If passed, the Regional Transit Measure, or RTM, will impose a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties as well as a one-cent sales tax in San Francisco starting April 2027.

The tax would raise an estimated $980 million annually for 14 years to fund the region’s public transit agencies, which are struggling with massive financial deficits. Revenue would go to BART, Muni, Caltrain, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, the San Francisco Bay Ferry, Golden Gate Transit, and other transportation agencies operating in the five counties.

In California, a regional measure for a new sales tax would normally require a two-thirds majority approval if the state Legislature directly places it on a ballot. Transit advocates, however, chose to collect signatures to make the sales tax a citizen-initiated ballot measure that would lower the threshold to a simple majority of votes cast across the five counties.

The RTM received more than 241,000 signatures, exceeding the 186,000-signature threshold required to qualify for the ballot.

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Commentary

Why AC Transit Director Joel Young is My Choice for AC Transit Board Ward 3

Former AC Transit Director Patrisha Piras is endorsing incumbent Joel Young for the AC Transit Board of Directors, Ward 3. Piras highlights Young’s tenure as the longest-serving member of the current board and his role in securing over $600 million in funding for the district. Young has previously served as board president and is credited with advancing clean-energy initiatives and workforce development programs. Piras cites his institutional knowledge as vital for navigating current financial challenges to ensure regional connectivity. Find out why Young is being recommended for another term.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 25, 2026

Post News Group

By Patrisha ‘Pat’ Piras Special to The Post

As a former AC Transit Director for more than a decade, I know firsthand what it takes to serve effectively on the AC Transit Board. That is why I am proud to endorse Joel Young for election to the AC Transit Board of Directors, Ward 3.

Joel’s dedication to AC Transit and the communities they serve has been unmatched. Throughout his years on the Board, he has been a tireless advocate for riders, employees, and residents who depend on reliable, affordable public transportation every day. The majority of his colleagues have shown their trust, respect, and confidence in him by electing him as Board president.

As the longest-serving member of AC Transit’s current Board, Joel has played a pivotal role in securing more than $600 million in funding for the District, advancing clean-energy transit initiatives, strengthening workforce development programs, and helping position AC Transit as a national leader in innovation and sustainability. His leadership has extended beyond the Bay Area, representing AC Transit on the national stage and advocating successfully for investments that strengthen public transportation across the country, even with the current federal administration.

At a time when transit agencies face significant financial and operational challenges, Joel brings the experience, institutional knowledge, and steady leadership needed to help guide AC Transit forward. He understands that public transportation is about more than buses and infrastructure. It is about connecting people to jobs, schools, health care, and opportunity while ensuring that our communities remain accessible and economically vibrant.

Joel Young has a proven record of working with others to deliver results, protect transit service, and fight for the resources needed to meet the evolving needs of our region. His dedication, leadership, and commitment to public service make him exceptionally qualified to represent AC Transit Ward 3.

I strongly endorse Joel Young for the AC Transit Board of Directors and encourage Ward 3 voters to support his election by Nov. 3.

Patrisha “Pat” Piras is a former AC Transit director.

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Featured

Opponents Smear Effective African American Transit Director as Election Nears

Incumbent Joel Young is defending his seat on the AC Transit Board against allegations of harassment stemming from a public interaction in 2026. Supporters of the director cite his record of securing $600 million for bus services and leading civil rights initiatives as evidence of his effectiveness. They argue the accusations regarding a group photo interaction have been politically weaponized by opponents to influence the Ward 3 election.

Published

3 weeks ago

October 19, 2026

Post News Group

By Kitty Kelly Epstein

I am an academic and a community activist. I take women’s issues, including workplace harassment and discrimination, seriously. I have been following the AC Transit Ward 3 election and have become concerned about what I believe is a serious injustice.

Joel Young is an effective AC Transit director. He has secured more than $600 million for local bus service and fare affordability. He led the Freedom Bus Project, integrating civil rights history, art and transit. He was presiding over the board of AC transit when it won the 2023 Outstanding Public System Award, and he raised $1 million for the hydrogen fuel cell bus program. These are just a few of his accomplishments.

I reviewed the allegations of unwanted physical contact and harassment made by AC Transit Director Sarah Syed against Director Joel Young, I believe the events of Sept. 24, 2025, have been characterized in a way that does not accurately reflect what occurred.

That interaction took place during a group photo after celebrating the life of a longtime Board member who passed away. From the video I reviewed, it appears that individuals were consoling one another and exchanging hugs in a public setting surrounded by numerous witnesses.

Young’s interaction with Syed appears consistent with those expressions of sympathy and it appears that Young was attempting to extend a gesture of goodwill toward Syed.

I am concerned by how this incident has been recently used as a political tool to influence the outcome of the AC Transit Ward 3 election and support Young’s opponent.

Syed and her supporters launched a targeted political campaign, first through the Alameda County Democratic Party and subsequently by organizing a letter from a group of majority-white elected officials who have endorsed Young’s opponent against Young, who is Africa American.
Furthermore, this manufactured controversy distracts voters from the critical issues facing AC Transit. The public deserves a substantive debate on service reliability, ridership recovery, passenger and operator safety, financial stability, regional equity, and future transportation infrastructure. The electorate should be evaluating which candidate possesses the judgment, experience, and vision to lead AC Transit forward – not reacting to a distorted personal interaction.

Regardless of one’s political views or preferred candidate, allegations of harassment should never be weaponized for electoral purposes. We all know that exaggerated or unsupported accusations can undermine public understanding of, and trust in, efforts to address genuine sexual harassment and violence.

Kitty Kelly Epstein