A Full Step Up from a Truck; Dodge turns engineers, designers and Hemi loose on SUV.(News)(Product/Service Evaluation)

Byline: JOE KOVACH Driving on curvy, hilly roads, the all-new Durango feels big but smooth, proving that automakers continue to advance in making large trucks feel more like tall cars. The ride and the firm seats are comfortable. The handling, the on-center steering feel, and the overall refinement of the '04 Durango far exceed the first-generation.

That Durango, a '98 on which we did a yearlong test, was based on the Dakota truck platform. One of our notes back then said its ride was "stiffer, bouncier, and altogether less sophisticated than many competitive vehicles.'' ...

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