- suv 131,268
- Houston, TX
- 5 years
- autoshopper.com
- suv 131,268 grey automatic
2008 chrysler aspen review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Large and luxurious, power for towing. introductionthe 2008 chrysler aspen is a big, traditional sport utility vehicle capable of towing substantial loads. The aspen is in the same class as the chevy tahoe, gmc yukon, and ford expedition, but it has more luxury amenities than most of those vehicles. introduced for the 2007 model year, the chrysler aspen is based on the dodge durango. Aspen shares durango's size and mechanicals, the main differences being styling, interior and tuning. Both use truck chassis and engineering, giving them the advantages of a cavernous interior and the ability to tow trailers (up to 8,900 pounds). aspen's electronic stability control system incorporates a new feature designed to control trailer sway. two v8 engines are available, a 4. 7-liter flex-fuel v8 that gains 68 hp for 2008 for a total of 303 horsepower, and a 335-hp 5. 7-liter v8. The 4. 7-liter can run on regular gasoline or e85 (a blend of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol). The 5. 7-liter hemi uses chrysler's multi-displacement system, which conserves fuel by shutting off half the cylinders when the engine is running under a light load. The wheel wells are filled with good-looking 18-inch alloy wheels or optional 20-inch chrome rims. aspen accommodates seven or eight passengers, depending on the seating configuration. Three rows of seats are standard, starting with front buckets, a second-row bench and a third-row bench. Buckets are optional for the second row to reduce seating to seven. the interior blends elegant-looking, satin-finish metallic accents with woodgrain trim on the dash and center console. The standard upholstery is chrysler's trademarked yes essentials fabric that resists stains and odors. Leather trim is optional and all of the usual power and personalization features are available. in addition to the upgraded 4. 7-liter v8, aspen gets new safety and entertainment features for 2008. Chrysler's mygig radio, which includes a 20-gigabyte hard drive that holds songs, pictures, and navigation system map information, is available, as is a rear backup camera. lineupthe 2008 chrysler aspen is available as only the limited model. The limited 2wd 32,005) and limited awd 34,880) come standard with a 4. 7-liter v8. Chrysler's 5. 7-liter hemi v8 is optional with 2wd 795) or awd 990). The popular equipment group for 2wd 1125) and awd 600) has rear obstacle detection, power-adjustable pedals, remote engine start, and running boards; the 2wd also gets the power liftgate. The popular equipment group ii 1405) has a rear dvd entertainment system, remote engine start, and chrysler's uconnect wireless cell phone link. A trailer tow group 575) adds special axle ratio (with 5. 7-liter v8), heavy-duty engine and transmission cooling, skid plates (awd), class iv trailer hitch, and a wiring harness. chrysler's mygig entertainment system 1055) is new for 2008. It includes a 6. 5-inch touch-screen and a 20-gigabyte hard drive to hold songs and pictures. It includes sirius satellite radio, rear obstacle detection, rearview camera and uconnect. The hard-drive radio is also offered in the mygig multi-media infotainment system 950), which adds a navigation system with real time traffic and voice activation. It is only available with the quick order package, and uconnect is also included. also available are leather upholstery 780), heated front seats 250), heated second-row bucket seats 950), a sunroof 850), rear dvd entertainment 1295), remote engine start 185), and accent-color running boards 445). safety features include front multi-stage airbags and head-protecting curtain side airbags that cover all three seating rows and are programmed to activate in the event of a rollover. Missing, however, are front side airbags that protect the torso in side crashes, a feature increasingly common on cars and suvs. The second-row seats have child safety seat anchors and tethers (latch), but the third row doesn't. Traction control, which limits tire spinning in slick conditions, is standard. The electronic stability program, which attempts to keep the vehicle from spinning out, is augmented with a rollover-sensitive algorithm, which extends deployment duration, and trailer sway control, which applies individual brakes to keep the vehicle on its intended path when towing. Electronic brake-force distribution, which optimizes front-to-rear brake application in emergencies, comes standard along with brake assist, which ensures full braking performance in a panic stop. A tire-pressure monitor signals when tires are low on air. Rear obstacle detection is standard on all-wheel drive models. A. walkaroundthe chrysler aspen looks like a lot of other full-size suvs, but we found it attracted admiring looks and inquiries. Chrysler styling cues set the aspen apart from the dodge durango. the grille, with bold crossbars and classic chrysler medallion, attempts to stake a claim for the aspen at the top of the brand's pyramid. Strangely, low-key headlamp units diminish the claim, which isn't helped by the bland bumper and generic fog lamps. embossed strakes in the hood run back to the windshield and carry on the newest chrysler-brand styling motif. The swept-back windshield looks sleek and shows homage to aerodynamics. The optional running boards do a better job of dirtying trousers and long skirts than serving as truly functional steps. Mildly creased, visually pleasant blisters circle the wheelwell openings. A chrome-topped, overstated molding strip pulls double duty, breaking up the expanse of metal between the front and rear wheel cutouts while insulating the doors against parking lot dings. Side mirrors proudly perch on brackets extending from the base of the a-pillars (the side frames of the windshield). A slight ridge defining the beltline (where the side windows meet the lower body panels) extends beyond the base of the rear pillars, accenting the graceful outline of the rear quarter windows. A short front overhang and tucked-up lower hindquarters invite thoughts of venturing off the highway to explore an unpaved track. it's the rear aspect of the aspen that has the most presence, the view most will have of it in traffic. A strong rear bumper with a deep, non-skid clad step cups the one-piece liftgate. Chrome-like trim on the bumper's end caps tie into the side molding strip. The medallion-and-wing treatment from the grille repeats above the stylized license plate recess. Gently bowed sides and a rounded top give the back end a smaller, less massive look than the rest of the vehicle. A conservatively sized notch centered in the bumper's lower edge makes room for the optional hitch receiver and junction box. interioron first impression, the interior looks classy in its materials selection, presentation and packaging. On closer examination, however, and after some quality time spent experiencing its quirks and nuances, some of that initial luster fades. the satin-finish metal accents and wood-like trim give the interior an elegant touch, as does the silver-ringed, old-fashioned style clock tucked into a recess in the top-center of the dash. The woodgrain looks better than it feels, however, as do the expanses of textured plastic panels, which are hard to the touch and replete with seams that pose threats of squeaks and buzzes as the miles rack up. Where there's padding, it's noticeably thin. The symmetry of shapes and simplicity of features and controls for the stereo, air conditioning and navigation systems are pluses that partially counter some of the questionable elements. the front seats are supportive, with adequate bottom and side bol.
Houston, TXHouston, TX 5 years at autoshopper.com