Compare the2023 Dodge Durango SRTVS 2023 Mercedes GLS

The Durango SRT 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 GLS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Durango SRT and the GLS 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

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

There are over 6 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Durango SRT’s warranty.

The Dodge Durango SRT’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the GLS’ engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 46 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 19th, 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 Mercedes 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, Mercedes is rated below average.

The Durango SRT has more powerful engines than the GLS:

As tested in Car and Driver the Dodge Durango SRT is faster than the Mercedes GLS:

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

The Durango SRT’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The GLS doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Durango SRT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLS:

The Durango SRT stops much shorter than the GLS:

For better traction, the Durango SRT has larger tires than the GLS (295/45R20 vs. 275/50R20). The Durango SRT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLS (295/45R20 vs. 285/40R23).

The Durango SRT’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLS 450’s standard 50 series tires.

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

The Durango SRT Hellcat handles at .90 G’s, while the GLS 580 pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Durango SRT Hellcat executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the GLS 580 (25 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

The Durango SRT 392 is 4.1 inches shorter than the GLS 450, making the Durango SRT easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Durango SRT uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The GLS doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Durango SRT has .5 inches more front headroom and .1 inches more third row shoulder room than the GLS.

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

The Durango SRT’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the GLS’ (8700 vs. 7700 pounds).

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Durango SRT, using the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the GLS.

The Durango SRT’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 GLS does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Durango SRT has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLS only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Durango SRT has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the GLS.

Insurance will cost less for the Durango SRT owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Durango SRT will cost $5525 less than the GLS over a five-year period.

The Durango SRT will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Durango SRT will retain 55.55% of its original price after five years, while the GLS only retains 41.62%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Dodge Durango SRT will be $21022 less than for the Mercedes GLS.

The Dodge Durango outsold the Mercedes GLS by almost three to one during 2022.