The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

I must admit, that I wasn’t expecting much from the new Dodge Durango. The current vehicle is long on style, utility and toughness, but short on refinement.

So imagine my surprise: the 2004 Dodge Durango is incredibly refined, as well as deftly styled.

The styling looks similar to the previous Durango, but draws new inspiration from Dodge Power Wagons from the 1940s and ’50s.

That new style masks a larger vehicle. The new Durango is 7 inches longer and 3 inches taller and wider. Overall, it’s smaller than a Chevy Tahoe but larger than a Chevy TrailBlazer.

Unlike the current Durango platform, which is based on the Dakota pickup, the new Durango uses its own unique platform. Three trim levels are available: ST, SLT and Limited.

Power is available from three engines. Rear-drive Durangos come with a 210-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6. A 230-horsepower, 4.7-liter Magnum V-8 is available on four-wheel-drive models, as is the new 335-horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi Magnum V-8.

DaimlerChrysler provided a Hemi SLT for testing.

Ride and handling are a superb compromise. Bump absorption is good. There’s none of the side-to-side rocking or bouncing that’s common in truck-based SUVs. The Durango almost feels nimble, with nicely-weighted steering.

The ride is surprisingly quiet, with the only noise coming from the monster Hemi under the hood.

And the Hemi is like the icing on a gourmet cake. While the sophisticated feel of the driveline is enough to recommend the vehicle, the Hemi makes it a must-have if you’re looking for an SUV.

The Hemi V-8 supplies that effortless surge of power that was common in the monster motors that powered ’60s-era muscle cars.

Brake feel is quite good, courtesy of larger disc brakes on all four wheels.

The total driveline, suspension and smooth-shifting five-speed automatic make the Durango a very enjoyable SUV to drive every day.

The interior is improved too, if less so than the driveline. Hard plastics detract from an otherwise well-styled interior.

The gauges are styled cleanly, and are easy to read. The controls are intuitive and laid out with a modern flair.

There are three rows of seats, with room for seven people, although only masochists will volunteer for the third row.

While devoid of frills, the interior is straightforward, unless you count the optional rear-seat DVD entertainment system or the Sirius Satellite Radio.

The radio is actually a service that carries a monthly fee, but it furnishes more than 100 channels of music, news and information. While I prefer competitor XM for its superior play lists, I prefer Sirius for its total lack of commercials and a signal that is steadier than XM’s.

Of course, if your entertainment is of the towable kind, towing capacity tops out at 8,950 pounds with gross vehicle weight at 6,600 pounds.

Fuel econo my was rather typical of the breed, coming at 15 mpg. That’s actually quite good for a four-wheel-drive SUV with this much power.

Prices for the Durango start at $26,920 for a V-6 4×2 and top out at $34,255 for a Limited 4×4.

The test vehicle had a base price of $30,945. Options included leather trim at $675, trailer tow group at $525, a third-row seat at $150, all-wheel-drive transfer case at $195, the Hemi V-8 at $895, a sunroof at $800, Sirius Satellite Radio at $325, the DVD system at $1,150 and a $1,515 option package that included an overhead console, cargo net, sun visors, lamps, security alarm, AM/FM/6-CD/MP3 288-watt audio system with 8 speakers and cast aluminum wheels. Total, along with a couple more options, came to $38,480.

While that’s at the upper end of the mid-sized SUV price range, it buys a lot of vehicle with good manners, great power, and lots of entertainment.

Call me pleasantly surprised.