At last! Chrysler Corporation finally offers hybrids. The long-anticipated and already somewhat maligned 2009 Dodge Durango Limited HEV and the ’09 Chrysler Aspen Limited Hybrid (essentially the same vehicle with a different badge) are off and running. The Durango Limited HEV features the dual-mode hybrid gas/electric technology developed by GMC, Mercedes Benz, and BMW (as does the Aspen Hybrid). Expected to get 40% better gas mileage around town and 25% better mileage on average, Durango Limited HEV owners can look forward to 18/19 mpg as opposed to the gas-powered Limited’s 13/18. Interestingly, Dodge did not find necessary the exterior styling changes that characterize the GMC Yukon and Chevy Tahoe hybrids. In addition to introducing its new hybrid, Dodge decided to drop the Adventurer trim for the ’09 Durango and has re-labeled its base SXT trim the SE.

The 2009 Durango Limited HEV hybrid, offered only in four-wheel drive, features a gas-powered, 335-hp, 5.7-liter OHV Hemi V8 and two electric motors, plus an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT). In combination with Dodge’s multi-displacement system (MDS) that shuts down four of the eight cylinders when the engine is under less strain, the electric motors will take some of the burden off the gas-greedy Hemi. With a controller determining when the Durango should operate in each of its two modes, the battery alone can accelerate the Limited HEV up to 30 mph in city driving. The controller allows utilization of full engine power at highway speeds, when all 335 horses are needed for passing and merging. Regenerative braking keeps the NiMH battery in the HEV charged up, able to power accessories and relieve the gas engine when needed.

Introduced in 1998 as a midsize SUV, the Durango underwent a design change in 2004, becoming a bit larger to place itself squarely between a midsize and full-size SUV. Besides the new hybrid trim, the Durango features six additional, conventionally powered trims in 2009, the RWD and 4WD Base SE, RWD and 4WD SLT, and the top-line RWD and 4WD Limited.

Durango offers the base SE for ’09 in rear-wheel drive with a standard 210-hp, 3.7-liter, 12-valve, SOHC V6 with a 4-speed automatic that gets 14/19. The four-wheel-drive SE features a 303-hp, 4.7-liter, 16-valve, SOHC V8 with a 5-speed automatic that gets 13/17. The SE rolls on 17-inch steel wheels, and its numerous standard convenience features include air-conditioning, speed control, remote power windows, door locks and mirrors, an in-dash CD/MP3 player, and a roof rack.

The SLT for 2009 arrives on 17-inch alloy wheels in either rear-wheel drive, which offers the standard 3.7-liter V6 and 4-speed automatic, or four-wheel drive, with a standard 4.7-liter V8 and 5-speed automatic. The SLT also features such standard comfort and convenience features as a 6-CD/MP3 player with 8 premium Alpine speakers putting out 276 watts, Sirius satellite radio, an 8-way powered driver’s seat, dusk-sensing headlamps, and a universal remote transmitter that opens the garage door, activates lights, etc.

Durango’s ’09 Limited trim is also available in either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive – or, of course, the HEV hybrid. Both conventional Durango Limiteds come with the standard 335-hp, 5.7-liter OHV Hemi V8 with a 5-speed automatic transmission. Gas mileage for the RWD Limited is 13/19, while the 4WD gets 13/18. Standard features include 20-inch chrome alloy wheels, 9 premium Alpine speakers with a 368-watt output, a USB connection, a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, multi-level heated driver and passenger seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a leather-trimmed console, driver’s seat and exterior mirror memory settings, a backup camera and sensor, an auto-dimming driver’s side mirror, and a rear power liftgate.

Multitudes of options are available for all 2009 Durango trim levels, from engine and wheel up-sizing on the SE and SLT trims, to single-speed transfer cases replacing on-demand 4WD (none of Durango’s 4WD trims are specifically geared for off-road). Trailer-tow packages, audio and leather upgrades, rear-seat DVD entertainment systems, and a powered sunroof are among the available offerings on the higher-end Durango trims.

The numerous standard safety features for all 2009 Durango trims include four-wheel ABS, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which includes traction control and stability control, emergency brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, front and side airbags, passenger airbag deactivation, and an engine immobilizer. All Durango’s trim levels are NHTSA-rated 5 stars in crash tests.