Compare the2022 Dodge DurangoVS 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The Dodge Durango has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Escalade doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Durango has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Escalade doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Durango has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Durango has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport has a cross-path warning system.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Durango uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Escalade uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Durango and the Escalade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and front parking sensors.

There are almost 3 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Durango’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Durango has a standard 850-amp battery. The Escalade only offers a standard 800-amp battery.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 22nd, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Dodge 11 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

On the EPA test cycle the Durango gets better mileage than the Escalade:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Dodge Durango uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 engine for maximum performance). The Escalade requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Dodge Durango higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Cadillac Escalade (3). This means the Durango produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Escalade every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Durango’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Escalade:

For better traction, the Durango R/T’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escalade (295/45R20 vs. 275/50R22).

The Durango R/T’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escalade’s 50 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Durango can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Escalade doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Durango R/T 4x4 handles at .80 G’s, while the Escalade Sport 4WD pulls only .60 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Durango R/T 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.7 seconds quicker than the Escalade Sport 4WD (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 30.1 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Durango has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Escalade (8.1 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Durango to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Dodge Durango may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 900 pounds less than the Cadillac Escalade.

The Durango is 11.1 inches shorter than the Escalade, making the Durango easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Durango is 5.3 inches narrower than the Escalade, making the Durango easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

Unibody construction lowers the Durango’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Escalade uses body-on-frame design instead.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Durango easier. The Durango’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.4 inches, while the Escalade’s liftover is 37 inches.

Maximum trailer towing in the Cadillac Escalade is limited to 8200 pounds. The Durango 4x4 offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Durango is less expensive to operate than the Escalade because it costs $364 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Durango than the Escalade, including $102 less for a water pump, $687 less for a muffler, $136 less for fuel injection, $77 less for a fuel pump, $387 less for front struts, $51 less for a timing belt/chain and $773 less for a power steering pump.