Compare the2024 Dodge DurangoVS 2024 Cadillac XT6

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 XT6 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Durango and the XT6 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, 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 and rear 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 Cadillac XT6:

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

There are over 4 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Durango’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Durango has a standard 850-amp battery. The XT6 only offers a 730-amp battery.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 8th.

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 Cadillac 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, Cadillac is rated lower.

The Durango has more powerful engines than the XT6:

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Durango V8 is faster than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport 3.6 DOHC V6:

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 XT6 with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 31.4 cents more per gallon.

The Durango has 5.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the XT6 FWD’s standard fuel tank (24.6 vs. 19 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Durango has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the XT6 AWD’s standard fuel tank (24.6 vs. 22 gallons).

The Durango has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XT6. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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 Cadillac XT6 is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

For better stopping power the Durango’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT6:

The Durango stops shorter than the XT6:

For better traction, the Durango has larger standard tires than the XT6 (265/60R18 vs. 235/55R20). The Durango R/T Tow N Go’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT6 (295/45R20 vs. 265/45R21).

The Durango SXT’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT6’s standard 65 series tires.

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 XT6 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 XT6; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Durango offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The XT6 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango’s wheelbase is 7.1 inches longer than on the XT6 (119.8 inches vs. 112.7 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Durango has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT6 (8.1 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Durango to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Durango has .1 inches more front headroom, 6.9 inches more front hip room, .2 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear shoulder room, .6 inches more third row headroom, 4 inches more third row legroom and 2.9 inches more third row hip room than the XT6.

The Durango’s cargo area provides more volume than the XT6.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Durango easier. The Durango’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.4 inches, while the XT6’s liftover is 33 inches.

The Durango’s cargo area is larger than the XT6’s in almost every dimension:

The Durango’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT6’s (6200 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Cadillac XT6 is only 4000 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 XT6 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The engine in the Durango is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XT6. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

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 XT6 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Durango’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The XT6’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Durango’s headlight performance “Good” to “Very Good” (depending on model and options), a higher rating than the XT6’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The Durango 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 is only available on the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport.

The Durango 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 XT6 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Durango owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Durango will cost $10 to $2820 less than the XT6 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 51.68% to 56.07% of its original price after five years, while the XT6 only retains 49.6% to 50.95%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Durango is less expensive to operate than the XT6 because it costs $337 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Durango than the XT6, including $219 less for a water pump, $419 less for a muffler, $202 less for fuel injection, $116 less for a timing belt/chain and $110 less for a power steering pump.

The Dodge Durango outsold the Cadillac XT6 by almost four to one during 2023.