The 2002 model year belongs to the first generation of Durango, which was produced from ’98 to ’04. The new SUV was based on the Dakota pickup and was the successor to the Ramcharger. At the time, the Durango was the only SUV in the Dodge lineup. It was a larger vehicle than Jeep’s Grand Cherokee. The Durango was closest in size and cost to the Ford Explorer and Chevrolet TrailBlazer.
The 2002 Dodge Durango proved to be a very successful car. The greatest number of cars were sold in ’99, – 189 thousand, but even in the last – 2004, were sold more than 100 thousand cars. Such success breathed life into the next generations of Durango.
It is a large off-road vehicle with a frame connected by 7 cross-bars. This in itself says a lot about the high strength of the machine. This is also evidenced by the fact that the lower arms of the front suspension are made by casting rather than stamping. The Dodge could have rear-wheel drive, or one of two all-wheel drive systems. One of the systems provided permanent four-wheel drive. Such a car had 48% of its torque by default to the front wheels and 52% to the rear wheels. If one or more wheels slip, the torque ratio will change. The second system provides rear-wheel drive with front-wheel drive capability. This allows the Durango to be used not only as an SUV, but also as a tractor or even a truck. The off-roader from Dodge can effortlessly pull a boat, or a heavy trailer.
Sale and Price 2002 Dodge Durango.
A new Durango with a 5.2L V8 engine could be purchased for $37,000,000. Today, a good car with 50,000 miles can cost about $10,000. Well-maintained SUVs with about 150,000 miles sell for $5,000 to $7,000. You can even buy a significantly damaged specimen for $500. But it will be a car with many technical problems and damaged body.
Exterior and photo.
The first generation Durango was only available in a 5-door version. With a body length of 4910mm, the wheelbase is 3027mm. The front part of the SUV is unmistakably identified as Dodge, thanks to the cross on the radiator grille. At that time, the cross was a distinctive feature of Dodge cars and it could be found even on the Viper.
Examining the Dodge SUV from the front, you can see the stamping going from the emblem and the whole length of the hood. Another distinguishing feature of the Durango is that the line of headlights and front fenders is lower than the hood line. In the late 90’s it was easy to recognize the car from Dodge by this visual feature. By the way, the front bumper here is made entirely of iron. This solution can be very useful off-road, where you can get caught on a tree, the ground, or another obstacle. One owner even wrote that this bumper is so strong that if you get it in front of a parked car and start driving, the bumper will not bend.
From the factory the first generation Durango had 235/75 R15 tires. The cast wheels are 7 inches wide. It was possible to install 265/70 R17 wheels. Through the front wheels can be seen brake discs diameter of 11.3d (287mm). Just from the photo you can see that the wheels are fixed with 6 bolts. Such a large number of bolts is used on heavy vehicles.
The Durango SUVs were powered by Magnum Series V8 gasoline engines. The front fender has an inscription reminding about the used engine. These power units trace their roots back to the ’60s and are considered very reliable.
At the request of the first owner, Dodge could be equipped with footrests with rubber pads. If you look closely, you can see the brand logo on the front of the sill. It can also be seen on the wheel bumpers.
In general, talking about the appearance of the first-generation Durango, we can say that the car turned out very recognizable and in it unmistakable brand features of Dodge.
Interior and equipment.
This is a real, American car and the gearshift lever reminds you of this first. The large steering wheel with four spokes is decorated with the brand logo in the form of a ram’s head. The steering wheel has buttons to control the cruise control. There is practically no zone around the steering of the Durango. It is a very free car. Hardly anyone would expect from a truck, the behavior of a small, sporty Porsche.
In the photo you can see how high the backs of the seats are. Moreover, there is no separate headrest – the backrest is one piece, and there is a brand logo on it.
The first-generation Dodge Durango is equipped with power seats and mirrors. This car is equipped with powerful air conditioning and a heater. From the factory, the Durango is equipped with an auto-dimming interior mirror, and in a good configuration, the car is equipped with an Infinity music system.
The on-board computer, as is often the case with cars made in the USA, is located on the roof, slightly above the cabin mirror. In the same area, there are a few boxes for glasses. The original mats bear the Durango inscription.
Depending on the modification, all-wheel drive is controlled, either by a small lever, (which sticks out of the transmission tunnel), or by a rotary knob located slightly to the right of the steering wheel. Depending on equipment level, the interior could be trimmed in leather or cloth. Leather was available on higher-priced models, of course.
A third row of seats was available as an option for the Durango. The backs of the third row are set more upright than in the second row, but the third row of seats is quite comfortable for two people. The spare tire is mounted under the bottom and there is a box under the trunk floor covering that can be used for tools.
Engine and specs for the 2002 Dodge Durango.
Vulkan series engines were available for the first-generation Durango. These are reliable, V-shaped engines with a cast-iron block and with six or eight cylinders.
The smallest was a 3.9 liter V6 with 175 horsepower. It goes without saying that this engine was not of much interest to Durango buyers in the US. The next in the line was a V8 of 4.7 liters, 235 horsepower and 400 N.M. The V8 of 5.2 liters was much more popular. This motor develops 230 horsepower at 4400 RPM and 407 Nm of torque at 3200 RPM. The compression ratio of this engine is 9.1:1. The most voluminous engine was the 5.9L V8. It was available since 2002 and has a power of 245 horsepower. Up to 100 miles per hour, the Durango equipped with a 5.9 V8 can accelerate in 8.3 seconds. Thanks to the 454 Nm of torque, this SUV can go ΒΌ mile in just 16.4 seconds. The same engine was available with a mechanical supercharger. In this version the engine has already 360 horsepower.
Engines installed on the Durango are already known from the first generation Jeep Grand Cherokee. Power units have proven to be simple and reliable engines. All of the engines used in the Durango had a timing chain drive.
The front suspension was independent, a feature used to improve drivability on paved roads. An axle and leaf springs were fitted to the rear. The steering was rack and pinion. The fuel tank holds 95 liters and the brakes were disc brakes in front and drum brakes in the rear. A four-speed transmission was mated to any of the available engines.
Dodge Durango of the first generation turned out to be a very successful car, which with great desire was bought not only by Americans, but also by people from other countries. Thanks to the strong body, reliable and very resourceful engines, as well as the ability to tow heavy loads, the first-generation Durango is still sold off the shelves today.
Leave a Reply