Compare the2027 Dodge Durango VS 2026 Subaru Ascent

Both the Durango and the Ascent 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.

The Dodge Durango weighs 723 to 945 pounds more than the Subaru Ascent. 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 is safer than the Subaru Ascent:

	Durango	Ascent
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	236 lbs.	274 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	50	81
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	18 inches
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	52 G’s

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

There are almost 4 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Subaru 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 Ascent’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Durango has a standard 700-amp battery. The Ascent’s 530-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in initial quality. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is rated lower.

The Durango’s standard 5.7 V8 produces 100 more horsepower (360 vs. 260) and 113 lbs.-ft. more torque (390 vs. 277) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The Durango R/T 392’s standard 6.4 V8 produces 215 more horsepower (475 vs. 260) and 193 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 277) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Durango 5.7 V8 is faster than the Subaru Ascent:

	Durango	Ascent
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.9 MPH	88.6 MPH

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

The Durango has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Ascent (24.6 vs. 19.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Ascent doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

	Durango	Durango w/Tow N Go	Ascent
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	15 inches	13.1 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.8 inches	13 inches

The Durango stops shorter than the Ascent:

	Durango	Ascent
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Durango has larger standard tires than the Ascent (265/50R20 vs. 245/60R18). The Durango’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Ascent (295/45R20 vs. 245/60R18).

The Durango’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ascent Premium’s standard 60 series tires. The Durango’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Ascent Limited/Touring’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Durango has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Ascent Premium.

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

The Durango has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Ascent’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Durango offers an optional 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 Ascent’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

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

The Durango has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Ascent doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

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

The Durango’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Ascent’s (54.2% to 45.8%). This gives the Durango more stable handling and braking.

The Durango R/T 392 handles at .85 G’s, while the Ascent Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

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 Ascent doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Durango has 1.6 inches more third row headroom and 1.8 inches more third row legroom than the Ascent.

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

	Durango	Ascent
Second Seat Folded	85.1 cubic feet	75.6 cubic feet

The Durango’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Ascent’s (7200 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Subaru Ascent is only 5000 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 Ascent can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Durango uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Ascent uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Durango’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Ascent doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Ascent does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Durango and the Ascent have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Durango is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Ascent prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

On a hot day the Durango’s driver can lower the front windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Ascent can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Durango’s 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 Ascent’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Durango’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Ascent’s 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 is only available on the Ascent Limited/Touring.

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

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Dodge Durango retains 50.72% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 50.27% resale value of the 2026 Subaru Ascent after five years, which can save the Dodge’s owner.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Durango is less expensive to operate than the Ascent 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 Ascent, including $160 less for a water pump, $90 less for a starter and $122 less for front struts.

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 Ascent isn’t in the top three.

The Dodge Durango outsold the Subaru Ascent by 83% during 2025.