Compare the2027 Dodge Durango VS 2026 Mercedes GLS

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 GLS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Durango and the GLS 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, all-wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

Dodge’s powertrain warranty covers the Durango 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLS. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the GLS ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 6 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Durango’s warranty.

The Dodge Durango’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the GLS’ engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

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 12 points higher than the GLS.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in initial quality. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

As tested in Car and Driver the Durango R/T 392 6.4 V8 is faster than the GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid:

	Durango	GLS
Zero to 60 MPH	4.5 sec	5.5 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	12.2 sec	14.4 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5.4 sec	6.2 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	2.8 sec	3.4 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.2 sec	4.5 sec
Quarter Mile	13.2 sec	14.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	104 MPH	99 MPH
Top Speed	155 MPH	129 MPH

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

			MPG
Durango
	AWD	5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy
		6.4 OHV V8	13 city/19 hwy
GLS
	AWD	580 4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	14 city/20 hwy
		600 4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	13 city/18 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Durango’s fuel efficiency. The GLS doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Durango 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 GLS doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Durango w/Tow N Go’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the GLS:

	Durango w/Tow N Go	GLS
Front Rotors	15 inches	14.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13.6 inches

For better traction, the Durango’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLS (295/45R20 vs. 285/40R23).

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires optional 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 GLS 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 GLS; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Dodge Durango may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 850 pounds less than the Mercedes GLS.

The Durango is 4.1 inches shorter than the GLS 450, making the Durango easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

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

	Durango	GLS
Third Seat Folded	43.3 cubic feet	42.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	85.1 cubic feet	84.7 cubic feet

Maximum trailer towing in the Mercedes GLS is limited to 7700 pounds. The Durango offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Durango GT 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 GLS can’t be towed flat on the ground.

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Durango, using 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. A trailer sway program costs extra on the GLS.

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 GLS does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Durango has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLS only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Durango’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the GLS’ headlights, which were rated “Good.”

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 costs extra on the GLS.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Durango is less expensive to operate than the GLS because it costs $146 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Durango than the GLS, including $520 less for a water pump, $264 less for a muffler, $93 less for front brake pads, $227 less for a starter, $350 less for fuel injection, $39 less for a fuel pump, $59 less for front struts and $550 less for a power steering pump.

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

The Dodge Durango outsold the Mercedes GLS by almost four to one during 2025.