Compare the2022 Dodge DurangoVS 2022 Infiniti QX80

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 QX80 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 QX80 uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Durango and the QX80 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, 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 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Dodge Durango is safer than the Infiniti QX80:

	Durango	QX80
OVERALL STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	2 Stars
HIC	74	384
Neck Injury Risk	34%	36%
Neck Stress	236 lbs.	439 lbs.
Neck Compression	11 lbs.	95 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	339/364 lbs.	983/651 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
Chest Compression	.8 inches	1.2 inches
Neck Injury Risk	26%	37%
Neck Stress	156 lbs.	219 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	303/32 lbs.	452/534 lbs.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Dodge Durango is safer than the Infiniti QX80:

	Durango	QX80
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	16 inches
HIC	194	437

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Durango is .7% to 3.9% less likely to roll over than the QX80.

Warranty

There are almost 12 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Durango’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Durango has a standard 160-amp alternator (180-amp - Durango optional and 220 optional). The QX80’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Durango has a standard 850-amp battery. The QX80 only offers a 780-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 Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is ranked 21st, below the industry average.

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 Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge 17th in reliability. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is ranked 23rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Dodge 1 place higher in reliability than Infiniti.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Durango gets better mileage than the QX80:

			MPG
Durango
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy
QX80
	RWD	5.6 DOHC V8	14 city/20 hwy
	AWD	5.6 DOHC V8	13 city/19 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Durango V8’s fuel efficiency. The QX80 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Durango V6’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The QX80 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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 QX80 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Dodge Durango, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the QX80.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Durango R/T’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the QX80:

	Durango R/T	QX80
Front Rotors	15 inches	13.8 inches

The Durango stops shorter than the QX80:

	Durango	QX80
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Durango R/T’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the QX80 (295/45R20 vs. 275/60R20).

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 QX80 Premium Select/Sensory’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 QX80 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

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 QX80’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Durango GT 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the QX80 AWD 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 1.2 seconds quicker than the QX80 AWD (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

Chassis

The Dodge Durango may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 950 pounds less than the Infiniti QX80.

The Durango is 9.4 inches shorter than the QX80, making the Durango easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 QX80 uses body-on-frame design instead.

Passenger Space

The Durango has .7 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more third row headroom and 4.7 inches more third row legroom than the QX80.

The front step up height for the Durango is 2.9 inches lower than the QX80 (19.5” vs. 22.4”). The Durango’s rear step up height is 3.3 inches lower than the QX80’s (19.5” vs. 22.8”).

Cargo Capacity

The Durango’s cargo area provides more volume than the QX80.

	Durango	QX80
Behind Third Seat	17.2 cubic feet	16.6 cubic feet

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 QX80’s liftover is 35.8 inches.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Infiniti QX80 is limited to 8500 pounds. The Durango 4x4 offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Durango V8 4WD can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Durango can be unhitched and driven around locally. The QX80 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Servicing Ease

The Durango has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The QX80 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Durango and the QX80 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Durango is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The QX80 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Durango owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Durango will cost $2630 to $4750 less than the QX80 over a five-year period.

The Durango will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Durango will retain 51.01% to 53.92% of its original price after five years, while the QX80 only retains 45.57% to 45.9%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Durango is less expensive to operate than the QX80 because it costs $164 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Durango than the QX80, including $98 less for fuel injection, $347 less for a timing belt/chain and $513 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Dodge Durango will be $36063 to $37677 less than for the Infiniti QX80.

Recommendations

The Dodge Durango outsold the Infiniti QX80 by almost five to one during the 2021 model year.