Compare the2024 Mercedes GLSVS 2024 Dodge Durango

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLS have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Dodge Durango doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The GLS’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Durango doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The GLS offers an optional Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Durango doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GLS. But it costs extra on the Durango.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GLS’ standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The Durango doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLS has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Durango doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

The GLS’ 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 GLS has a standard Surround View System 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 GLS and Durango have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GLS has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Durango’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

The GLS’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Durango doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GLS and the Durango have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

The GLS comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Durango’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Reliability

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS second among large premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Durango isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The GLS has more powerful engines than the Durango:

	Horsepower	Torque
GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	375 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
GLS 580 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	510 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
Maybach GLS 600 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	550 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
Durango 3.6 DOHC V6	293 HP	260 lbs.-ft.
Durango 3.6 DOHC V6	295 HP	260 lbs.-ft.
Durango 5.7 V8	360 HP	390 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Dodge Durango:

	GLS	Durango V6	Durango V8
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	8 sec	6.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	16.1 sec	15 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	86.9 MPH	93.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
GLS
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/24 hwy
Durango
	RWD	5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy
	AWD	5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the GLS’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Durango doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Regardless of its engine, the GLS’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Dodge only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Durango V6.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLS, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Durango.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLS’ standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Durango:

	GLS	Durango
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	13.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	13 inches

The GLS stops much shorter than the Durango:

	GLS	Durango
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	143 feet	160 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLS has larger standard tires than the Durango (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. 265/60R18).

The GLS’ standard 275/45R21 front and 315/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Durango SXT’s standard 60 series tires. The GLS’ optional 285/40R23 front and 325/35R23 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Durango R/T Tow N Go’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Durango SXT. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Durango.

Suspension and Handling

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

The front and rear suspension of the GLS uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Durango, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Dodge doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Durango.

The GLS’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Durango doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLS’ wheelbase is 3.6 inches longer than on the Durango (123.4 inches vs. 119.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the GLS is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 3.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Durango.

The GLS 450 handles at .92 G’s, while the Durango GT pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLS 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.4 seconds quicker than the Durango GT 4x4 (26.4 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GLS has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Durango (10.1 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLS Off-Road Package’s minimum ground clearance is 3.2 inches higher than on the Durango (11.3 vs. 8.1 inches).

Cargo Capacity

The GLS’ cargo area provides more volume than the Durango.

	GLS	Durango
Behind Third Seat	17.4 cubic feet	17.2 cubic feet

The GLS has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Durango doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the GLS’ second and 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 GLS’ 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

The GLS’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the Durango’s (7716 vs. 6200 pounds).

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Durango (except SXT), the GLS has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLS’ standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Durango, and is not available on all models.

The GLS offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Durango doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The GLS’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Durango’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The GLS’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Durango’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the GLS the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Durango can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GLS’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Durango’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Durango doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GLS has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Durango doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GLS also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLS has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Durango doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GLS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Durango doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The GLS has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Dodge doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Durango.

The GLS has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Durango doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The GLS offers an optional center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The Durango doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

The GLS offers optional massaging front and second row seats, which keep the driver and middle row passengers. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Durango.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLS has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console and one for the rear passengers. Wireless charging costs extra on the Durango.

The GLS’ Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Durango doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GLS is less expensive to operate than the Durango because typical repairs cost much less on the GLS than the Durango, including $568 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS third among large premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Durango isn’t in the top three in its category.