The 2009 Dodge Durango is one of the newest hybrid 4×4’s on the market, but it struggles to hold its own. While Dodge has made very few concessions with the design and engineering of the 2009 Durango and just a few tweaks to the exterior styling to improve the drag coefficient does now boast a hybrid drive.

What does going hybrid mean for the Durango? Well, upon closer inspection, not a whole lot. To Dodges credit, the Durango maintains the power of earlier models in its 5.7-liter V8 engine, but the hybrid drive does very little to improve mileage and adds significant extra cost to the new vehicle. It might be enough to convince someone who already had their eye on a Durango for a few years, but there are far more fuel efficient alternatives out there, if that’s one of your criteria.

So what does the 2009 Dodge Durango do right?

Well, it’s got a lot of space; the cabin is roomy and will fit a large family with ease, it’ll also have no trouble towing heavy payloads. As is typical, interior quality is lacking. However, if this fits the bill then the Durango is the SUV for you, otherwise it might be wise to look elsewhere.