Compare the2023 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2023 Dodge Durango

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the Chevrolet Traverse’s middle seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The Dodge Durango doesn’t offer comfort guides on its middle seat belts.

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 Traverse 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 Traverse has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Durango doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The Traverse’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 Traverse (except LS) offers an optional Surround Vision 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 Traverse and the Durango have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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

	Traverse	Durango
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	15.6%	34%
Neck Stress	198 lbs.	236 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	53/40 lbs.	339/364 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Stress	128 lbs.	156 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	86 lbs.

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Chevrolet Traverse is safer than the Durango:

	Traverse	Durango
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	61	119
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	3 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	18 cm	26 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Femur Force R/L	.5/0 kN	5.3/2.5 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	6%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.74/.35	1.53/.59
Tibia forces R/L	1.4/0 kN	1.9/1.4 kN

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 Chevrolet Traverse is safer than the Dodge Durango:

	Traverse	Durango
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Hip Force	204 lbs.	236 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	554 lbs.	714 lbs.

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 Traverse is 2.9% to 6.2% less likely to roll over than the Durango.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Traverse the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 233 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Durango was not even a “Top Safety Pick” for 2016.

Warranty

The Traverse’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Durango’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 20 percent more Chevrolet dealers than there are Dodge dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

Reliability

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

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Traverse has a 170-amp alternator. The Durango’s standard 160-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Traverse’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 17 more horsepower (310 vs. 293) and 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (266 vs. 260) than the Durango’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The Traverse’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 15 more horsepower (310 vs. 295) and 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (266 vs. 260) than the Durango’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Traverse is faster than the Dodge Durango:

	Traverse	Durango V6	Durango V8
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	8 sec	6.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	16.1 sec	15 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.9 MPH	86.9 MPH	93.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Traverse
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	17 city/25 hwy
Durango
	RWD	5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy
	AWD	5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Traverse uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Durango with the 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 51.4 cents more per gallon.

The Traverse 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 nine-speed automatic is standard on the Chevrolet Traverse, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Durango.

Brakes and Stopping

The Traverse stops much shorter than the Durango:

	Traverse	Durango
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	144 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	160 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Chevrolet Traverse’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 Traverse has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Durango doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the Durango (120.9 inches vs. 119.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Traverse is 3.4 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Durango.

The Traverse RS handles at .84 G’s, while the Durango GT pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Traverse RS AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Durango GT 4x4 (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Traverse’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Durango’s (39 feet vs. 41 feet).

Chassis

The Chevrolet Traverse may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 450 pounds less than the Dodge Durango.

The front grille of the Traverse 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 Traverse 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 Traverse has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Durango can only carry 7.

The Traverse has 2.9 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, 3.4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room, 4.5 inches more rear shoulder room, .4 inches more third row headroom, 6.1 inches more third row hip room and 7.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Durango.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Traverse	Durango
Behind Third Seat	23 cubic feet	17.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	57.8 cubic feet	43.3 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	98.2 cubic feet	85.1 cubic feet

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Traverse High Country’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Durango doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Traverse Premier/High Country’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

All models of the Traverse can be flat towed on all four wheels, allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Traverse can be unhitched and driven around locally. Only the Durango V8 4WD can be dinghy towed.

Ergonomics

The Traverse’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.

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Traverse LT/RS/Premier/High Country has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Durango doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Traverse is less expensive to operate than the Durango because typical repairs cost much less on the Traverse than the Durango, including $12 less for a muffler, $86 less for a starter, $275 less for front struts and $139 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Traverse, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Dodge Durango isn't recommended.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the Dodge Durango by 75% during 2022.

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