Compare the2023 Ford ExpeditionVS 2023 Dodge Durango

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

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Expedition are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Durango doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The middle row seatbelts optional on the Expedition inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Durango doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Expedition offers an optional Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Durango doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Expedition 4x4’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Durango doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Expedition’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Durango and is not available with SXT.

The Expedition (except STX) offers an optional 360-Degree Camera 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.

Both the Expedition and Durango have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Expedition has Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Durango’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

The Expedition’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 Expedition and the Durango 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 and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Expedition is safer than the Dodge Durango:

	Expedition	Durango
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	32%	34%
Leg Forces (l/r)	23/39 lbs.	339/364 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	156 lbs.
Neck Compression	74 lbs.	86 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 flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Expedition is safer than the Dodge Durango:

	Expedition	Durango
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	23	46
Chest Movement	.5 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	108 lbs.	111 lbs.
Hip Force	180 lbs.	236 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	34 G’s
Hip Force	434 lbs.	446 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	134	194
Hip Force	569 lbs.	714 lbs.

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

Warranty

There are over 24 percent more Ford dealers than there are Dodge dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Expedition’s warranty.

Reliability

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

The Expedition has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Durango doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

Engine

The Expedition has more powerful engines than the Durango:

	Horsepower	Torque
Expedition 3.5 turbo V6	380 HP	470 lbs.-ft.
Expedition Limited/KR/Platinum 3.5 turbo V6	400 HP	480 lbs.-ft.
Expedition Timberline/Stealth Performance 3.5 turbo V6	440 HP	510 lbs.-ft.
Durango 3.6 DOHC V6	293 HP	260 lbs.-ft.
Durango 3.6 DOHC V6	295 HP	260 lbs.-ft.
Durango 5.7 V8	360 HP	390 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Expedition (base engine) is faster than the Dodge Durango:

	Expedition	Durango V6	Durango V8
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	8 sec	6.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	16.1 sec	15 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.7 MPH	86.9 MPH	93.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Expedition
	RWD	3.5 turbo V6	17 city/23 hwy
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6	16 city/22 hwy
Durango
	RWD	5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy
	AWD	5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy

Regardless of its engine, the Expedition’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Dodge only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Durango V6.

The Expedition has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Durango doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Expedition, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Durango.

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Expedition offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Durango’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Ford Expedition’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Dodge Durango only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Expedition has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Durango. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

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

The Expedition’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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Expedition’s wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the Durango (122.5 inches vs. 119.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Expedition is 3.7 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Durango.

The Expedition XLT 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Durango GT 4x4 pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Expedition XLT 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Durango GT 4x4 (27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Expedition has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Durango (9.8 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Expedition to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Expedition Timberline’s minimum ground clearance is 2.5 inches higher than on the Durango (10.6 vs. 8.1 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the Expedition uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Durango doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Expedition Timberline/Limited/King Ranch/Platinum uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Durango doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Expedition offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Durango can only carry 7.

The Expedition has 30.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Durango (171.9 vs. 141.4).

The Expedition has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 3.6 inches more front legroom, 5.2 inches more front hip room, 6.4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 2.9 inches more rear legroom, 7.1 inches more rear hip room, 7.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.6 inches more third row legroom, 9 inches more third row hip room and 13.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the Durango.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Expedition’s middle and third row seats recline. The Durango’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Expedition	Durango
Behind Third Seat	19.3 cubic feet	17.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	57.5 cubic feet	43.3 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	104.6 cubic feet	85.1 cubic feet

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

	Expedition	Durango
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	18.8”/49.4”/85.8”	20”/50”/83”
Max Width	58.4”	49”
Min Width	51.2”	42.5”
Height	36.9”	36”

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Expedition’s optional second row seats and pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Expedition’s third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Durango doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Expedition’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Durango’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Expedition Timberline/Limited/King Ranch/Platinum’s 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.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Dodge Durango is limited to 8700 pounds. The Expedition offers up to a 9300 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The Expedition’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 Expedition’s optional 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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Expedition’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Durango doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Expedition Platinum has standard 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 Ford Expedition (except STX) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Durango doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Expedition (except STX)’s optional Enhanced Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Durango doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Expedition is less expensive to operate than the Durango because typical repairs cost much less on the Expedition than the Durango, including $112 less for a water pump, $73 less for a muffler, $67 less for front brake pads, $267 less for a starter, $85 less for fuel injection, $157 less for a fuel pump, $237 less for front struts and $221 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its April 2018 issue and the Ford Expedition XLT 4x4 won out over the Dodge Durango R/T 4x4.

The Ford Expedition/Expedition Max outsold the Dodge Durango by 12% during 2022.