Compare the2024 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2024 Dodge Durango

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Traverse are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Durango doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Traverse has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Durango doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Traverse has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Durango doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Traverse Z71’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Durango doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Traverse’s 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 Traverse has a standard HD Surround Vision 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 Traverse and Durango have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Traverse has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (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 Traverse (except LS)’s optional 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 Traverse and the Durango have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

The Traverse’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Durango’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 20 percent more Chevrolet dealers than there are Dodge dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

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

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Traverse has larger alternators than the Durango:

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Traverse first among midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Durango isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 141 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 34th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 9th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 1 place higher in reliability than Dodge.

The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 35 more horsepower (328 vs. 293) and 66 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 260) than the Durango’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 33 more horsepower (328 vs. 295) and 66 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 260) than the Durango’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Traverse uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Durango with the 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 51.4 cents more per gallon.

The Traverse has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Durango doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Traverse offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Durango’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Chevrolet Traverse’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Dodge Durango only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Durango (121 inches vs. 119.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Traverse is 3.6 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Durango.

For better maneuverability, the Traverse’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Durango’s (39 feet vs. 41 feet). The Traverse with optional 22-inch wheels’ turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the Durango’s (40.7 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Chevrolet Traverse may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 600 pounds less than the Dodge Durango.

The front grille of the Traverse uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Durango doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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

The Traverse offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Durango can only carry up to 7.

The Traverse has 15.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Durango (157 vs. 141.4).

The Traverse has 2.7 inches more front headroom, 4 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front hip room, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 2.9 inches more rear legroom, 3.1 inches more rear hip room, 4.5 inches more rear shoulder room, .5 inches more third row headroom, 6.2 inches more third row hip room and 7.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Durango.

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

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Traverse RS’ second row seats and pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Durango doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Traverse’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind 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.

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

The Traverse’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Durango doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Traverse (except LS)’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Durango doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the Dodge Durango by 79% during 2023.