Compare the2023 Dodge DurangoVS 2023 Land Rover Discovery

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 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Dodge Durango has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Discovery doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Durango and the Discovery 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and front parking sensors.

Dodge’s powertrain warranty covers the Durango 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Land Rover covers the Discovery. 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 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.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Durango’s reliability 13 points higher than the Discovery.

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 optional 5.7 V8 produces 5 more horsepower (360 vs. 355) and 21 lbs.-ft. more torque (390 vs. 369) than the Discovery P360’s optional 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Durango V8 is faster than the Discovery P360 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid:

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

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Durango V8’s fuel efficiency. The Discovery 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 requires premium, which can cost on average about 31.4 cents more per gallon.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Dodge Durango at emission levels ranging from “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) to “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Land Rover Discovery is only certified to “Low Emissions Vehicle” (LEV) standards.

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

The Durango stops shorter than the Discovery:

For better traction, the Durango has larger standard tires than the Discovery (265/60R18 vs. 255/55R20). The Durango R/T’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Discovery (295/45R20 vs. 285/40R22).

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 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango’s wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the Discovery (119.8 inches vs. 115.1 inches).

The Durango R/T 4x4 handles at .80 G’s, while the Discovery R-Dynamic S pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Durango R/T 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Discovery R-Dynamic S (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The Durango is 5.8 inches narrower than the Discovery, making the Durango easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Durango has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more rear headroom, 1.2 inches more rear legroom, .4 inches more third row hip room and 3.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Discovery.

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

The Durango’s cargo area is larger than the Discovery’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 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Durango’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Discovery’s (6200 vs. 5925 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Land Rover Discovery is only 8200 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 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

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 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

On a hot day the Durango’s driver can lower the front windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Discovery can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Durango is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Discovery 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 $2250 to $6830 less than the Discovery 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 only retains 50.7% to 50.86%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Dodge Durango will be $17829 to $22895 less than for the Land Rover Discovery.

The Dodge Durango outsold the Land Rover Discovery by almost 41 to one during 2022.