Compare the2023 Dodge DurangoVS 2023 Tesla Model X

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 Model X doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Durango’s standard Rear Cross Path Detection uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model X doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Durango offers optional Uconnect 9-1-1, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model X doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Durango and the Model X 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, 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, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and front parking sensors.

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 Dodge Durango is safer than the Tesla Model X:

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

There are almost 16 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Tesla 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 Model X.

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 Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 83 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 28th, below the industry average.

For better traction, the Durango R/T’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model X (295/45R20 vs. 265/35R22).

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 Model X doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Durango offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Model X; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Durango has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Model X’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango’s wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the Model X (119.8 inches vs. 116.7 inches).

The Dodge Durango may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 450 pounds less than the Tesla Model X.

The Durango has 1.3 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more rear shoulder room, .7 inches more third row headroom, 3.7 inches more third row legroom, 3.7 inches more third row hip room and 9.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the Model X.

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

The Durango’s available rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Model X 6-Passenger doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

The Durango’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Model X’s (6200 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Tesla Model X is only 5000 pounds. The Durango 4x4 offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

While the Model X w/22” wheels can only tow 3500, any Durango can tow a minimum of 6200 pounds.

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 Model X can’t be towed flat on the ground.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Durango to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model X.

The Durango’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model X has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

The Durango’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model X’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Durango has a standard rear wiper. The Model X doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Durango’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model X doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

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 Model X doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Durango’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The Model X’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

The Durango has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Model X doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

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 Model X doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Durango is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Model X 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 $10360 to $11935 less than the Model X over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Durango is less expensive to operate than the Model X because typical repairs cost much less on the Durango than the Model X, including $743 less for a water pump and $567 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Dodge Durango will be $45521 to $54282 less than for the Tesla Model X.

The Dodge Durango outsold the Tesla Model X by over two to one during 2022.