A Chrysler gets its first sport-ute

Arriving at Chrysler dealerships in mid-October, Aspen is the brand's first SUV, unless you count the Plymouth Trailduster, which bit the dust way back in 1981.

Aspen is essentially a re-badged Dodge Durango, dressed up with a big chrome Chrysler 300-inspired egg-crate grille, distinctive hood grooves taken from the Chrysler Crossfire, loads of exterior chrome and interior wood-grain accents. Credit Chrysler designers for keeping Aspen un-Durango like in appearance, inside and out.

Of course, in choosing the name "Aspen," Chrysler borrowed more from Dodge than just the Durango platform. You have to wonder why in the world Chrysler would name their newest product after the rust-prone Dodge Aspen, a vehicle we named the one of the 10 worst cars ever built. Hopefully, this Aspen will last longer than the original's five-year run.

Aspen is offered in just one model: the Limited with a base price of $31,490 for the rear-wheel drive version, $34,265 for the four-wheel drive model. It comes standard with a 235-horsepower, 4.7-liter V-8. A 335-horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 is a $995 option. The only transmission offered is a five-speed automatic.

Options are plentiful and include navigation and entertainment systems, power rear liftgate, heated front and second-row seats, leather seats, sunroof, adjustable pedals, 20-inch chrome-clad wheels, premium paint colors and remote start. Check the box for every option and the Aspen's price quickly soars over $40,000. I tested a rear-wheel-drive model equipped with the trailer-tow group, convenience group, rear park assist, Hemi engine, remote start and upgraded audio and SIRIUS digital radio system. The tester had a list price of $35,755.

Inside, the Aspen's dashboard, while essentially a clone of the Durango's, is appointed with unconvincing wood-like trim and too much hard plastic to lend a premium feel. I did like the bluish-green accent lighting in the cabin.

Front bucket seats are ample and roomy and most drivers will find a comfortable seat adjustment. Second-row seating is surprisingly tight with not much in the way of legroom. The quad seating option, with reclining bucket seats in the second row, makes it seem roomier. But these seats do not adjust back and forth so still no advantage for legroom. An optional third-row bench increases seating capacity to eight.

Driving the Aspen proved unsurprisingly similar to the Durango with a quiet, comfortable ride, predictable handling and ample power from the Hemi. The brakes feel a bit spongy and steering is on the light side. I would like to drive an Aspen equipped with the optional 20-inch tires to see how it rides and handles. Our fuel mileage was a dismal 13.4 miles per gallon of premium fuel in combined highway and urban driving.

Safety equipment includes standard antilock disc brakes, three-row side-curtain airbags and a stability control system with rollover avoidance logic. Surprisingly, front-seat side airbags that protect the torso are not offered. In NHTSA front-impact crash tests, the Aspen earned the highest five stars for driver and front-passenger protection.

A trailer-sway control system for towing is also available, a first in its class, according to Chrysler. The system works by monitoring the trailer's sway, modulating the engine and applying the brakes selectively to keep it from swaying out of control.

It seems somewhat odd to me that Chrysler would get into the large SUV market at a time when the craze for those vehicles is rapidly giving way to a desire for smaller car-based crossover vehicles. Where was Chrysler in the 1990s and early 2000s?

While Chrysler classifies the Aspen as a "premium" SUV, I think it better competes with the near-premium GMC Yukon and Ford Eddie Bauer Expedition, rather than the luxury offerings of the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. The Aspen is little more than a Durango with loads of chrome, a bolder grille, hood creases and a few changes to the interior.

If you're considering a Durango, the Aspen is a better choice for about the same money. Better yet are the Toyota Sequoia, Eddie Bauer Expedition or GMC Yukon.