Dodge Durango
Durango is right-sized any way you look at it. Inside, Durango offers room for up to eight passengers or 88 cubic feet of cargo space. It offers standard V8 power and full-size SUV roominess . The roof is raised behind the driver's seat to provide theatre-style seating for rear seat passengers and an available Fold-and-TumbleTM 40/20/40 split-bench second row seat and an SUV-first fold-flat third-row hide-away seat support several seating configurations. The third row is accessable from either side of the vehicle by a simple tilt of the second row fold-and-tumble seats. A dual-zone climate control system offers independent temperature controls for each front passenger, along with heated six-way power seats, and an available heating, ventilation and air conditioning package has a dedicated four-speed blower to enhance rear seat comfort.

Durango offers a choice of two powerful Magnum V-8 engines: the 235-horsepower (165 kW) 4.7-liter and the available 245-horsepower (182 kW) 5.9-liter. The Durango is available as a high performance R/T model with a 250 horsepower 5.9 Litre V8 Magnum engine. With a 3.92:1 rear axle ratio, limited slip differential and spsort tuned exhaust to give quicker off the line acceleration.

Four-wheel disc brakes and 16" x 7" cast-aluminum wheels are standard for 2003. The transmission is a five-speed automatic with a dual ratio second gear to aid in towinig, passing and grade-challenging conditions. For acceleration it automatically uses the higher ratio second gear, and selects the lower gear ratio in kick-down mode, providing better passing performance.

Customers can choose two- or four-wheel drive models with either part-time or full-time four-wheel drive that automatically delivers power to all four wheels for maximum traction. The rack and pinion steering provides more responsive on-center feel and a comfortable ride with good ground clearance for off-road situations.

A six-disc in-dash CD player with AM/FM stereo radio and a Mopar DVD rear entertainment center are available options. It has lower anchors and upper tethers for child seat anchors and constant force retractors.

The Durango is also available with optional side-curtain air bags for second and third row passenger safety The Durango has a 7600 pound trailer towing capability and a standard 1670 pound maximum payload package.
(Page Top)

Chevrolet Trailblazer
The Trailblazer is available to tow from 5900 pounds to 7200 pounds of trailer depending on which options are included at purchase time. The North Face Edition that we tested is available in either two- and four-wheel drive models with several features including lower body cladding, body-colored outside rear view mirrors, a liftgate luggage rack, headlamp washers, and even a clothesline. The North Face Edition also includes a skid plate on four-wheel drive models, blackwall tires, a locking rear axle and heated seats.

This year, the TrailBlazer has an optional Vortec 5300 5.3L V8 engine with an aluminum block that delivers 290 horsepower and 325 pounds-feet of torque. The aluminum block's reduced weight and superior thermal efficiency enhance performance and fuel efficiency. The standard engine is the Vortec 4200 in-line six cylinder that delivers 275 horsepower with 275 pounds-feet of torque to move up to 6200 pounds of trailer. With the EXT body style the tow rating drops to 5900 pounds. The transmission for both engines is the 4L60E electronic four-speed automatic.

With excellent ride and handling, you can store up to 22 cubic feet of cargo behind the third seat. Both second and third row seats can be folded flat to allow up to 100 cubic feet of space. The hydroformed steel frame eliminates many welds and strengthens the chassis's torsional stiffness to help the performance of suspension components. The five link rear suspension combines an independent double A arm front suspension and hydraulic assist rack-and-pinion steering for responsiveness and performance- providing ride and handling more like a European sport sedan.

Four-wheel vented anti-lock disc brakes are standard as well as dual stage air bags for front seat positions and three point restraint systems for all seats including the middle rear. Side impact air bags for front seat passengers are also available as an option. An advanced system of body mounts uses hydraulics and rubber pads to isolate road inputs and noise, limiting vibration and harshness dramatically on any kind of road or trail.

There is an excellent view of the road as you drive, and a 22-character driver information centre gives feedback on dozens of vehicle systems and conditions. General Motors has announced that it will expand its ONStar service to allow drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice actuated calls from their vehicles while keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. (Page Top)

Ford Expedition
The original Ford Expedition that I drove to the Yukon towing a 26-foot trailer has been upgraded for 2003 with better ride and handling, a four-wheel drive system that automatically adjusts to a variety of surface conditions, industry leading active and passive safety systems, power that is available when needed, and with less wind and engine noise.

The third row seat folds flat into the floor, and is split 60/40 for more versatility when loading cargo. The chassis is now 70% stiffer than the older models, providing a rock-solid foundation for exceptional on-road capability. Extensive use of foam in the passenger compartment helps make the body 42% stiffer than last year's model. Ford's strongest and most rugged ever, it has new variable assist rack-and-pinion steering, and a new fully independent coil over shock double wishbone suspension to deliver more precise handling response.

A new brake assist feature reduces real-world braking distances by up to 20% by interpreting the driver's intent to provide full braking in an emergency. The Expedition has the largest brake rotors with 13-inch in front and 13 1/2-inch in the rear with calipers twice as stiff as before. Standard four-wheel antilock braking with electronic brake force distribution maintains driver control by preventing wheel lockup. AdvanceTrac is an electronic stability enhancement feature that monitors traction at all wheels and automatically maintains stability when cornering on slippery surfaces. This transfers torque from side to side, while the ControlTrac transfer case divides torque from front to rear. Even with two wheels off the ground, the Expedition can still keep moving. The Expedition also offers a dedicated two-wheel drive mode that completely disconnects the front axles, differential and driveshaft when not needed for a quieter, more fuel efficient operation on pavement- saving up to 1/2 mile per gallon fuel economy.

Optional new Safety Canopy side curtain air bags provide further protection to the occupants by cushioning impacts and helping reduce the potential for occupant ejection in a crash, providing one of the most advanced side-impact protection systems available on any SUV. Electronic rollover sensors provide additional protection by measuring whether the vehicle is tilting, how fast the lean angle is changing and whether the combination means the vehicle is headed for a rollover. A seat track sensor matches the deployment of the airbag to the driver's size and severity of the crash. New optional pressure sensors mounted inside the tire alert the driver when pressure in one or more tires is severly low or high.

Two engines are offered in the Expedition this year, the cast iron block 5.4 Litre Triton V8 with hydraulic mounts to lower noise and vibration, and the 4.6 litre aluminum block with a combination of hydraulic and solid mounts to tame both powertrain and suspension noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) .

Of the three vehicles we tested for this story, the Expedition has the greatest towing capacity at 8,900 pounds with its new independent rear suspension. (Page Top)