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When checking out the sport-utes at the auto show, be sure to visit theDodge Durango, the next sport-ute from Chrysler, which comes out this fall asa 1998.

The front end has the rugged Dodge Dakota truck look, which means Durangolooks a lot like a Dodge Ram because that’s the front end Dakota stole for1997.

Ironically, last summer we caught a glimpse of the next-generation FordExplorer with a bolder front-end, which looked very much like that on the JeepGrand Cherokee. Hmm.

But we digress.

The beauty of Durango, other than clever name and good looks, is that it islarger than a Jeep Grand Cherokee but smaller than a Ford Expedition. LikeExpedition, it has three seats but unlike Expedition, there’s room behind thethird for luggage or groceries.

Durango is six inches shorter than Yukon/Tahoe, eight inches longer thanFord Explorer and 11 inches shorter than Expedition.

We first saw the vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show last month. It wasn’tavailable for test drives so we had to settle for jumping inside to check outthe features.

Durango seats up to eight. Two bucket seats in the second row fold up andover to allow access to the optional third seat, reserved for kids or adultswith the tiniest butts. The seat cushion is minute.

But Chrysler engineers cleverly raised the roof line so you have massiveheadroom throughout..

And Durango appears to have more cargo room behind the third seat than Forddoes in its much larger Expedition.

Also, that third seat folds flat and, by folding those bucket seats, youhave spacious storage.

As expected, there is a power plug to tie-in accessories, and cupholdersalmost everywhere else.

One gripe: The vehicle stands high to accommodate four-wheel-drive.Entering in front isn’t too bad, but a step or running board would help.Getting in the back demands a running board or step.

Durango will offer a choice of engines–a 3.9-liter V-6, or a 5.2- or5.9-liter V-8–for high mileage or increased towing capability.

We’ll have to wait for a test drive to see whether the Durango is more showthan go. At that time, we’ll also learn whether the cupholders have the samepossessive nature as those in the Yukon.

Dual air bags and ABS are standard.

Chrysler Chairman Bob Eaton says Durango will be “as big as we’ll do insport-utilities. We’re going to build a Ram sport-ute in Mexico, but you won’tsee a big SUV from us in the U.S. because of CAFE (corporate average fueleconomy) regulations and because they don’t need any more players in thatmarket.”

Eaton, like Chrysler President Bob Lutz, won’t talk about rumors that aJeep Wagoneer built off the Durango platform will be offered by Chrysler’sJeep-Eagle dealers.

“We had to have a Durango for Dodge dealers because Dodge is No. 3(behindChevy and Ford), yet it had no sport-ute. We had to fill the niche,” Eatonsaid.

Chrysler sources said Durango probably w ill be priced in the mid-$20,000s,competing with an Explorer XLT rather than an Eddie Bauer Explorer.