MotorWeek Honors All-new 2011 Dodge Durango with Drivers' Choice Award for Best Large Utility

CHICAGO, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

• The 2011 Dodge Durango is performance-tuned to be a driver's SUV
• World-class handling with intelligent, powerful and fuel-efficient engines, the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango delivers driving excitement and refinement combined with the interior flexibility of a three-row SUV
• Both Pentastar V-6 and HEMI™ V-8 engines offer best-in-class towing

The all-new Dodge Durango is a winner of MotorWeek's 2011 Drivers' Choice Award for Best Large Utility. Every year for the last 30 years, MotorWeek has reviewed the state of the automotive business and judged the best new trucks of the year. Dodge Brand President and CEO accepted the award for the new Durango at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show today.

"The Dodge team is truly honored that MotorWeek has selected the Dodge Durango for a Drivers' Choice Award," said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO—Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "The Durango represents where the Dodge brand is going with its six new or refreshed products for 2011 -- striking vehicles that are thoroughly engineered and fun to drive. It's always rewarding when third party sources recognize that we're creating quality products that will delight our customers."

The annual Drivers' Choice Awards looks at vehicles from a buyer's point of view. Scoring takes into account trends, innovations, value and reliability to produce a list of winners that makes sense and can be used as a practical guide for car shopping.

"The team that worked on Durango really put their hearts into creating an SUV with a soul," Gilles added. "When consumers get behind the wheel, they'll experience a performance-tuned SUV that has the interior spaciousness of a crossover, still delivers best-in-class towing and starts under than $30,000. It's a tremendous package."

Dodge Durango

With its sleek exterior design, modern, spacious interior, world-class suspension dynamics and intelligent and fuel-efficient and powerful powertrain options, the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango delivers driving excitement and refinement combined with the interior flexibility of a three-row SUV. The Durango's new unibody structure is more than 25 percent stiffer than the vehicle it replaces, making it a driver's SUV that delivers impressive on-road handling. The new Durango also delivers best-in-class towing capability of 6,200 lbs. with the V-6 engine and 7,400 lbs. with the V-8 engine.

The starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango, Express model, is $29,195 for the rear-wheel-drive and $31,195 for the all-wheel-drive (excluding an $850 destination charge).

Dodge Brand

Dodge is a full line of cars, crossovers, minivans and SUVs that are agile, daring, sensible and inventive. The brand is on a tear for the 2011 model year, redefining itself with six all-new or significantly redesigned new vehicles, introducing new lifestyle packages designed to better meet the needs of its customers, launching catchy new ads that have started conversations with owners and potential owners, actively participating in new events and sponsorships and developing relationships with its long-loyal enthusiast base, as well as reaching out to customers who desire cars that leave them wanting more.

The 2011 model year Dodge product line includes the all-new Dodge Durango and Charger, significantly revamped Grand Caravan, Journey, Avenger and Challenger, and the Dodge Caliber and Dodge Nitro.

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC