Compare the2024 Dodge Durango SRTVS 2023 Tesla Model Y

The Durango SRT 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 Y doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Durango SRT’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 Y doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Durango SRT has standard 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 Y 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 SRT and the Model Y 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

The Dodge Durango SRT weighs 980 to 1212 pounds more than the Tesla Model Y. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 SRT is safer than the Tesla Model Y:

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 SRT’s warranty.

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 Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 117 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 33rd, below the industry average.

The Durango SRT’s standard 6.4 V8 produces 150 more horsepower (475 vs. 325) than the Model Y Long Range’s standard electric motors. The Durango SRT’s 6.4 V8 produces 20 more horsepower (475 vs. 455) than the Model Y Performance’s standard electric motors. The Durango SRT Hellcat’s standard 6.2 supercharged V8 produces 255 more horsepower (710 vs. 455) and 158 lbs.-ft. more torque (645 vs. 487) than the Model Y Performance’s standard electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the Dodge Durango SRT V8 is faster than the Model Y Long Range:

The Durango SRT’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Model Y doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Durango SRT stops shorter than the Model Y:

For better traction, the Durango SRT has larger tires than the Model Y (295/45R20 vs. 255/45R19). The Durango SRT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model Y (295/45R20 vs. 255/35R21).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Durango SRT has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Model Y.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the Durango SRT can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Model Y doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Durango SRT has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Model Y; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

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

The Durango SRT has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Model Y’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Durango SRT has a standard automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Model Y doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango SRT’s wheelbase is 6 inches longer than on the Model Y (119.8 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The Durango SRT Hellcat handles at .90 G’s, while the Model Y Long Range pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Durango SRT Hellcat executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Model Y Long Range (25 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 25.6 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Durango SRT has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Model Y (7.8 vs. 6.6 inches), allowing the Durango SRT to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Durango SRT uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Model Y doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Durango SRT has 35.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model Y (141.4 vs. 106).

The Durango SRT has 3.2 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 4.9 inches more rear hip room, 3.7 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.2 inches more third row headroom, 7 inches more third row legroom, 5.9 inches more third row hip room and 9.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Model Y.

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

The Durango SRT’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Model Y’s (8700 vs. 3500 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Durango SRT uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Model Y doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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

The Durango SRT’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model Y 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 SRT has standard extendable sun visors. The Model Y doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Durango SRT keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Model Y doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Durango SRT has a 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 Y doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.