Compare the2022 Dodge DurangoVS 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Both the Durango and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and front parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Dodge Durango is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 8th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge 17th in reliability. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 24th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Dodge 9 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Durango V6 is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee V6:

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Durango 5.7 is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7:

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 Jeep Grand Cherokee (3 to 7). This means the Durango produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Grand Cherokee every 15,000 miles.

The EPA certifies the Dodge Durango at emission levels ranging from “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) to “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Jeep Grand Cherokee is only certified to “Low Emissions Vehicle” (LEV) standards.

For better stopping power the Durango R/T’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Grand Cherokee:

For better traction, the Durango R/T’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Grand Cherokee (295/45R20 vs. 265/50R20).

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 Grand Cherokee’s optional 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 Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Durango offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Grand Cherokee’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango’s wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the Grand Cherokee (119.8 inches vs. 114.7 inches).

The Durango GT 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4 pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Durango R/T 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4 (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

The design of the Dodge Durango amounts to more than styling. The Durango has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .36 Cd. That is lower than the Grand Cherokee (.371). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Durango get better fuel mileage.

The Durango has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Grand Cherokee can only carry 5.

The Durango has 36 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee (141.4 vs. 105.4).

The front step up height for the Durango is 1 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee (19.5” vs. 20.5”). The Durango’s rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee’s (19.5” vs. 20.8”).

The Durango’s cargo area provides more volume than the Grand Cherokee.

The Durango’s cargo area is larger than the Grand Cherokee’s in every dimension:

Maximum trailer towing in the Jeep Grand Cherokee is limited to 7200 pounds. The Durango 4x4 offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Durango has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee (1400 vs. 1180 lbs.).

On a hot day the Durango’s driver can lower the front windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Grand Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Durango’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Grand Cherokee’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Durango is less expensive to operate than the Grand Cherokee because typical repairs cost much less on the Durango than the Grand Cherokee, including $309 less for a muffler.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Dodge Durango will be $1484 to $11112 less than for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.