Quick Car Review: 2014 Dodge Durango R/T

For a more than 5,000-pound SUV, the 2014 Dodge Durango R/T is a quick sucker.

I got to drive this one recently. It's on the lot right now at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, KS.

The Hemi V8 provides plenty of oomph to plow asphalt with this beast -- or at least it feels like it's plowing. You might find yourself at 10 miles an hour over the speed limit without trying. The R/T Durango requires some attention when it comes to applying the gas pedal.

That being said, no finer road trip vehicle exists. The Hemi will get you around slow-moving tractor-trailers on the highway with ease, but the mid-row captain's chairs will keep your friends planted as you cruise along. Adults over six feet tall will fit comfortably in the back. A third row means this SUV seats eight total.

If your passengers aren't a fan of more intense acceleration, this Durango features an "Eco" button which relaxes the throttle and suspension, plus helps with gas mileage. The gauges are digital, as well as the climate controls and the controls for the radio, seat heaters, plus the other gadgets this car comes with that I didn't explore.

If you choose this car specifically, the black leather interior will require some cooling if you don't want your passengers (or yourself) to roast immediately upon entering on a summer's day.

The seats have a fun "R/T" logo sewn into them and are lined with baseball-type stitching. They are heated, but not cooled, which would've come in handy on the 98-degree afternoon I drove it. Thankfully the A/C system cooled the big SUV off relatively quickly.

Another mildly interesting part of the Durango is the shift knob. It's a dial that you twist to select Drive, Neutral, Reverse or Park. For an old-school car guy like me, who is used to a lever or knob to select gears, the dial feels strange. The parking brake is also electronic, in the form of a button on the center console. Both items work as designed, thankfully.

In all, a family of hereditary leadfoots would love this 2014 Dodge Durango R/T. Or if you're just a fan of SUVs (especially bright red ones) this Durango has plenty of bells, whistles and power for anyone needing a solid people-carrier and highway cruiser.

You can learn more about this vehicle and others at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, KS.

Quick Car Review: 2018 Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is still a quality small car that punches above its weight.

I've not personally owned a Honda vehicle, but I've driven plenty of them. I bet I can identify driving a Honda while blindfolded -- not that I'd condone that kind of experiment.

Either way, the point is simple: A Honda Civic is always a safe bet. They're extremely reliable, economical, parts are available pretty much everywhere, and they're inexpensive to maintain. Well-kept Hondas are easily capable of lasting beyond 250,000 miles.

This black 2018 Civic has about 69,000 miles on the odometer, and it's available now at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, KS. 

The most recent generations of Civic have proven to be snappy under throttle, even at a base trim level, which makes gearheads like me happy. This version is an EX trim with a sunroof and two-liter four-cylinder engine, which provides plenty of power to keep up with all traffic. The Civic's acceleration is among the highest rated in the compact car segment. The ride is also sublime, as the suspension easily soaks up all the bumps and holes in southwest Kansas roads.

Inside, the seats are tan with black accents, and they are extremely comfortable. My six-foot frame has no problem finding a relaxed driving position. The whole car feels roomier inside than it looks on the outside. I also fit behind my adjusted driver's seat, which is a nice perk for folks who carpool and commute more regularly.

I do have one nitpick, and it's something that's been previously mentioned in other long-term tests. The infotainment system -- a.k.a., the big screen that controls everything in the car (which I have an issue with regardless, but I digress) -- is a bit difficult to operate if you're not used to modern touchscreen in-car systems, which, to be honest, I'm not. 

Accessing the radio and climate controls can be a bit tricky if you're actively driving, so I recommend setting up your stereo and climate presets before taking off. If you're not technically challenged, then all of this is no big deal.

All told, anyone would be happy with this Honda Civic, including me. 

If you think you'd be pleased with this punchy car, it's available now at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, KS. 

Quick Car Review: 2021 Ford EcoSport

SUVs aren't always necessary, but when they are, a small one is most fun to drive.

Case in point: This 2021 Ford EcoSport SE, available now at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, KS.

I have a lot of experience driving the Ford Escape, and this EcoSport feels just like the Escape's younger sibling, a more compact SUV that would serve a young family or older couple well. 

This metallic red, front-wheel-drive compact people-carrier is fitted with a one-liter, three-cylinder EcoBoost engine that Ford uses in its smaller vehicles globally. That means it'll be efficient in town, easily touching the 30 mile-per-gallon mark with careful driving. Getting up to speed on the highway will require a touch of patience, but for most customers, this is a non-issue, as they'll appreciate getting decent mileage out of a crossover.

The front seats are comfortable for those of us who are vertically gifted, and the rear seats are great for young children or pets. The rear cargo space offers adequate storage for all the toys your kid absolutely must bring with them on road trips, and the cloth seats are easily washable in case your doggo leaps in with muddy paws.

This EcoSport, and other Ford vehicles, are equipped with an Auto Start-Stop feature. It appears as a button on the lower dash, showing the letter "A" surrounded by a circular arrow. Essentially, this feature shuts off the engine while it's idling, like when you're sitting at a stoplight for an extended period. It's an efficiency measure meant to save gas; a press of the button switches this feature off. I bet it'd be much more useful in a city, where drivers sit for hours in traffic jams.

The EcoSport doesn't drive like an Escape, even though it shares parts with its bigger sibling. It's more agile, more nimble, but a bit bouncier on rough roads. I doubt this will bother most customers, though. 

The EcoSport is plenty cute and roomy enough for most folks who seek cargo space in a small package. Plus, this example comes with a sunroof, so people can let their dogs hang out of the top and wag their tongues in the wind. Or not, it's whatever.

This 2021 Ford EcoSport SE is available now at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, KS. Many thanks to them for allowing a test drive!