Sitting on the east bank of the Hudson River, Poughkeepsie is one of the rare municipal gems left in America. It has a small-town feel—the kind of place where you know your neighbors—and there's no shortage of restaurants, stores, and attractions for its residents to enjoy. The weather is beautiful, with hot summers and snowy winters; it's a great place to call home, and you deserve an equally great vehicle to make the most of your life in the Queen City of the Hudson.
Which vehicle fits the bill? One in particular comes to mind. You've heard the name before, no doubt: "Durango." Come by Ruge's Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, your dedicated Dodge dealer near Poughkeepsie, to see it in person or take a test drive. Before you do, though, let's review why this model is such a good fit for life in our city; we can think of five great reasons that the Dodge Durango will make life here even better.
River Life Means Boats & Water Sports
With Poughkeepsie on the Hudson River, boats and other water sports are a part of life. Where else would you want to be on a hot summer's day? If you have a boat, it's going to need to be towed to the riverfront. Fear not, as the Durango is here with 8,700 lbs of towing capacity. That's enough bulk to tow your boat and its trailer to the launch site and back without breaking a sweat. This midsize SUV easily tows small trailers that hold jet skis, bikes, sports equipment, and other items for enjoying the river. That's one way to make a splash!
A Comfortable Place With Lots of Space
Whether you're heading to the grocery store or the library, are taking a road trip, or are heading out for a Little League game, space is important. No one wants to spend three hours with their seatmate's elbow in their ribs and their knees folded under their chins. The Durango's three rows of seating give your passengers a surprising amount of legroom. The seats themselves are comfortable, with over fifty possible posture configurations. Depending on the model year and trim, you can choose from cloth, leather, or Nappa leather with suede trim to add a touch of luxury to your seat.
The 2024 model year boasts a total of 85.1 cu.ft. of cargo space, but it can be divided by the rear two rows for either 43.3 cu.ft. or the standard 17.2 cu.ft. No one wants to be riding with the seat back in front of them inches from their nose so the back of the vehicle can have all the cargo room! This SUV is "Upstate" big, with plenty of room for the active life and comfort that makes the drive to the big city a pleasant experience. When you're in a New York state of mind, you should be able to leave your worries behind but bring along the things that matter the most.
Comfort Amenities Keep You From the Cold
Winters in the Hudson River valley are beautiful, but they can also be bitterly cold. We're used to it, though; for anything short of a Nor'Easter, life goes on. You have errands to run, work or school to attend, and a slice of pie waiting for you at Lola's. Heated front seats with four different lumbar settings should keep you comfortable even when Old Man Winter is blowing his hardest.
Anyone who's from a cold climate knows that winter driving can go from whimsical to worrisome in an instant. One moment, you're humming along with Bing Crosby about the holidays, and suddenly, you're skidding on ice, waiting for traction to return. The available all-wheel drivetrain will give your Durango maximum traction on those icy roads. Now that's slick!
As Many Colors as the Manhattan Skyline
Muscular, sleek, and brawny, the Durango has style to spare—but its body is just the tip of one very colorful iceberg. Over the years, the Durango has enjoyed some seriously cool colorations, starting with the very first model in 1998, which came in Viper Blue with twin racing stripes. In 2022, F8 Green was brought out of retirement for a three-month special edition.
2024 offers some of the most colorful possibilities for the Durango. Two high-grade trim collections—the SRT 392 and the Hellcat—offer a jaunty sport stripe in five colors. When placed over one of the nine exteriors, you have 45 possible combinations. Do you like gray and red? Blue and black? White and blue? Consider it done!
There are 15 trims available in the 2024 model year alone. When you start perusing earlier models, the number of trims rapidly expands. Each year comes with a range of exterior and interior colors and special features like sports stripes and flashy wheels. When you ride with the Durango, you ride in a style that's as bold as the Big Apple but in a package that's a perfect combination of tough and comfortable for Upstate life.
Technology That Will Make Life Easier
Do you remember when we used to call velcroing a Discman to the dash of our car and plugging the adapter into the cassette tape player the height of technology? We remember. Things have changed, as they do, and now we have an entire world of technology at our fingertips every time we get into our vehicles.
The 2024 Durango has the Uconnect 5 system, which enables you to easily connect your smartphones to the infotainment system. Who wants to fumble with their phones to find the right music app when it's your turn to pick the tunes? With Uconnect 5, that information is up on the 8.4- or 10.1-inch touchscreen for easy perusal of smartphone apps, along with climate control settings and other features to enhance the trip.
Your backseat passengers don't need to get jealous, as there is an available rear-seat entertainment center in packages of more recent models. With dual screens, there's no need for arguments about what to watch. HDMI and RCA ports allow connectivity to many different devices. Just picture it: playing video games in the backseat! It may seem like a pipe dream, but it's possible with the right cable and your favorite gaming console. If you're in the driver's seat, we'll give you a little tip: ask the backseat gamers to choose something that has an epic soundtrack, lest they forgo their earbuds.
Speaking of music, how does a Harman Kardon sound system with 19 speakers sound? Multiple trims have this option, which is sure to please music connoisseurs. If you prefer streaming your music, you have a choice between Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. More options make for happier miles, don't you think?
It's Time to See for Yourself
Now that you've seen how much a Dodge Durango can enhance life in Poughkeepsie, it's time to take action. Knowledge can only go so far without application. Head to Ruge's Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and test drive a Durango.
Once you've been in the driver's seat yourself and felt that steering wheel in your hands, we're willing to bet you won't want to get back out. With its combination of power, capability, comfort, and safety, you won't be the first person who's been in that position—and what a splendid position to be in!