Compare the2023 Dodge DurangoVS 2022 Land Rover Discovery Sport

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Dodge Durango are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Land Rover Discovery Sport doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 Discovery Sport 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. A system to reveal vehicles in the Discovery Sport’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Durango has a standard rear 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. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Discovery Sport.

Both the Durango and the Discovery Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

The Dodge Durango weighs 540 to 1265 pounds more than the Land Rover Discovery Sport. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Dodge’s powertrain warranty covers the Durango 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Land Rover covers the Discovery Sport. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Discovery Sport ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 50 more problems per 100 vehicles, Land Rover is ranked 22nd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in long-term dependability. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Land Rover is rated below average.

The Durango’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 47 more horsepower (293 vs. 246) than the Discovery Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Durango’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 49 more horsepower (295 vs. 246) than the Discovery Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Durango’s optional 5.7 V8 produces 114 more horsepower (360 vs. 246) and 121 lbs.-ft. more torque (390 vs. 269) than the Discovery Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Durango gets better mileage than the Discovery Sport:

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

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 Discovery Sport requires premium, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

The Durango has 6.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Discovery Sport (24.6 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

The Durango’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Discovery Sport are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Durango has larger standard tires than the Discovery Sport (265/60R18 vs. 235/60R18). The Durango R/T’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Discovery Sport (295/45R20 vs. 245/45R20).

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 Discovery Sport doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

All Durango’s offer an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare is not available on the Discovery Sport 7-Passenger without it you must depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The Durango has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Discovery Sport’s suspension doesn’t offer rear gas-charged shocks.

The Durango offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango’s wheelbase is 11.9 inches longer than on the Discovery Sport (119.8 inches vs. 107.9 inches).

The Durango is 5.7 inches narrower than the Discovery Sport, making the Durango easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Durango has .4 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, .5 inches more rear legroom, 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.4 inches more third row headroom, 7.9 inches more third row legroom and 3.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Discovery Sport.

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

The Durango’s cargo area is larger than the Discovery Sport’s in almost every dimension:

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Durango. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Durango’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Discovery Sport’s (6200 vs. 4409 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Land Rover Discovery Sport is only 4409 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 Discovery Sport can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The engine in the Durango is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Discovery Sport. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Durango (except SXT)’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Durango’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Discovery Sport does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Durango has standard extendable sun visors. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Durango (except SXT) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Durango (except SXT) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Durango is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Durango owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Durango will cost $825 less than the Discovery Sport 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 51.72% to 54.97% of its original price after five years, while the Discovery Sport only retains 45.39% to 45.58%.

The Dodge Durango outsold the Land Rover Discovery Sport by almost 9 to one during the 2022 model year.