Compare the2023 Mercedes GLBVS 2023 Dodge Durango

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLB have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Dodge Durango doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The GLB’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Durango doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GLB’s standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The Durango doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

The GLB offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Durango only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The GLB’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Durango doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GLB and the Durango have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and lane departure warning systems.

The GLB comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Durango’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the GLB has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Durango.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mercedes GLB is faster than the Dodge Durango V6:

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

The GLB offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Durango doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The GLB stops much shorter than the Durango:

The GLB’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Durango SXT’s standard 60 series tires.

The GLB has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the GLB flat and controlled during cornering. The Durango’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The GLB’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Durango doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The GLB 250 4MATIC handles at .89 G’s, while the Durango GT pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLB 250 4MATIC executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Durango GT 4x4 (27.5 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the GLB’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Durango’s (38.4 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Mercedes GLB may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1100 to 1500 pounds less than the Dodge Durango.

The GLB is 1 foot, 6.4 inches shorter than the Durango, making the GLB easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Mercedes GLB amounts to more than styling. The GLB has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Durango (.36) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GLB get better fuel mileage.

The GLB has .8 inches more front headroom and .8 inches more front legroom than the Durango.

The front step up height for the GLB is 2.7 inches lower than the Durango (17” vs. 19.7”). The GLB’s rear step up height is 2.2 inches lower than the Durango’s (17.5” vs. 19.7”).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the GLB easier. The GLB’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.5 inches, while the Durango’s liftover is 31.4 inches.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the GLB’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Durango doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Durango (except SXT), the GLB has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLB’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Durango, and is not available on all models.

The GLB’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Durango’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The GLB’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Durango’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The GLB’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Durango’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GLB offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Durango doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GLB also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The GLB offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Durango.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLB offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Durango doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The GLB’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Durango doesn’t offer an automated parking system.