The American SUV market has always been fiercely competitive, and the rivalry between the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango is no exception. Both vehicles have established themselves as popular choices among drivers, each offering an impressive blend of performance, comfort, and technology.
However, choosing the right SUV for your needs can be challenging, given the nuances and distinctions between these two models. In this comprehensive comparison, we will explore the key aspects of each vehicle, shedding light on their similarities and differences to help you make an informed decision.
Exterior Design
The Jeep Grand Cherokee boasts a rugged yet refined exterior design. Its iconic seven-slot grille, squared-off wheel arches, and sleek lines give it a distinctive look that sets it apart from the competition. Additionally, the Grand Cherokee offers a variety of wheel designs and sizes to suit individual tastes and preferences.
The Dodge Durango, on the other hand, presents a more muscular and aggressive stance. Its bold front fascia, prominent grille, and LED headlamps convey a sense of power and capability. The Durango’s chiseled body lines and available performance hood add to its commanding presence on the road.
Interior Design
Inside, the Jeep Grand Cherokee offers a luxurious and comfortable cabin. Premium materials, soft-touch surfaces, and stylish accents provide an upscale feel. The user-friendly Uconnect infotainment system, available in various screen sizes, ensures seamless integration with your smartphone and easy access to various vehicle settings.
The Dodge Durango’s interior is spacious and functional, with an emphasis on driver-focused controls. Its available Uconnect infotainment system provides a similar level of connectivity as the Grand Cherokee, and the sporty cabin design incorporates supportive seats and bold styling elements.
Seating
The Jeep Grand Cherokee can comfortably seat up to five passengers, with available leather upholstery and heated and ventilated front seats. The rear passengers benefit from ample legroom and headroom, ensuring a comfortable ride for all occupants.
In contrast, the Dodge Durango can seat up to seven passengers, making it a more suitable option for larger families. The available second-row captain’s chairs add extra comfort and convenience, and the third row can be easily accessed thanks to the Durango’s fold-and-tumble second-row seats.
Storage
The Grand Cherokee offers 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, which can be expanded to 68.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. This generous cargo capacity makes it ideal for road trips, camping adventures, or transporting larger items.
The Durango provides more overall cargo space, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 85.1 cubic feet with both rows folded down. This added versatility makes the Durango well-suited for families with varying storage needs.
Performance
The Jeep Grand Cherokee offers multiple engine options, ranging from a fuel-efficient 3.6-liter V6 to a powerful 5.7-liter V8. Its available Quadra-Drive II 4WD system provides exceptional off-road capability, and the Grand Cherokee’s towing capacity can reach up to 7,200 pounds, depending on the engine and configuration.
The Dodge Durango is also available with several engine options, including a 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter V8, and a performance-focused 6.4-liter V8. It boasts a towing capacity of up to 8,700 pounds with the right configuration, giving it an edge over the Grand Cherokee when it comes to towing capabilities. The Durango’s rear-wheel drive platform and available all-wheel drive system ensure confident handling and performance on various road conditions.
Fuel Efficiency
The Jeep Grand Cherokee offers respectable fuel efficiency, with the 3.6-liter V6 engine delivering an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The more powerful 5.7-liter V8 engine sees a slight dip in efficiency, with EPA estimates of 14 mpg city and 22 mpg highway.
The Dodge Durango’s fuel efficiency is similar to that of the Grand Cherokee. The 3.6-liter V6 engine offers an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, while the 5.7-liter V8 engine returns slightly lower figures of 14 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. The performance-oriented 6.4-liter V8 engine has the lowest fuel efficiency, with EPA estimates of 13 mpg city and 19 mpg highway.
Safety
Safety is a priority for the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which comes standard with a suite of advanced driver-assistance features. These include forward collision warning with active braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. Additional safety options are available, such as a surround-view camera and parallel and perpendicular park assist.
The 2023 Dodge Durango also emphasizes safety, offering a similar suite of standard and available driver-assistance features as the Grand Cherokee. The Durango’s safety options include forward collision warning with active braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, among others.
Trim Levels
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is available in various trim levels, each offering a unique blend of features, performance, and off-road capability. Trim levels include the base Laredo, the well-equipped Limited, the off-road-focused Trailhawk, the luxurious Overland, and the performance-oriented SRT.
The Dodge Durango also comes in multiple trims, catering to different preferences and budgets. The lineup includes the base SXT, the well-equipped GT, the premium Citadel, the performance-focused R/T, and the high-performance SRT.
Pricing
Pricing for the Jeep Grand Cherokee starts at around $37,000 for the base Laredo trim and can reach up to $70,000 for the performance-oriented SRT model. Final pricing will depend on the chosen trim, engine, and optional features.
The Dodge Durango’s starting price is slightly lower than the Grand Cherokee’s, with the base SXT trim priced at around $34,000. The high-performance SRT model can reach upwards of $64,000. As with the Grand Cherokee, pricing will vary depending on the trim, engine, and selected options.
Key Differences
Seating Capacity:
The Grand Cherokee can comfortably seat up to five passengers, whereas the Durango can accommodate up to seven passengers, making it more suitable for larger families or those who need additional seating.
Cargo Space:
The Grand Cherokee offers 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats (expandable to 68.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down). The Durango provides more overall cargo space, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 85.1 cubic feet with both rows folded down.
Towing Capacity:
The Jeep Grand Cherokee can tow up to 7,200 pounds, depending on the engine and configuration. The Dodge Durango boasts a higher towing capacity of up to 8,700 pounds with the right configuration, giving it an edge for those who prioritize towing capabilities.
Off-Road Capability:
The Grand Cherokee is known for its exceptional off-road capabilities, particularly in the Trailhawk trim. While the Durango offers available all-wheel drive and confident handling, it is not as focused on off-road performance as the Grand Cherokee.
Final Thoughts
In summary, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango both present strong cases as compelling SUV options. The Grand Cherokee stands out for its luxurious cabin, iconic design, and off-road capabilities, while the Durango excels with its seating capacity, towing prowess, and aggressive styling.
The right choice ultimately depends on your individual priorities and preferences. By examining the various aspects of each SUV, including design, performance, fuel efficiency, safety, and more, you can confidently select the perfect vehicle to fit your lifestyle and needs.
Features Breakdown
2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Features:
- Exterior Design:
- Rugged yet refined appearance
- Iconic seven-slot grille
- Squared-off wheel arches
- Variety of wheel designs and sizes
- Interior Design:
- Luxurious and comfortable cabin
- Premium materials and soft-touch surfaces
- User-friendly Uconnect infotainment system
- Seating:
- Accommodates up to five passengers
- Available leather upholstery
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Storage:
- 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind rear seats
- 68.3 cubic feet with rear seats folded down
- Performance:
- Multiple engine options (3.6-liter V6 to 5.7-liter V8)
- Available Quadra-Drive II 4WD system
- Towing capacity up to 7,200 pounds
- Fuel Efficiency:
- 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway with 3.6-liter V6 engine
- 14 mpg city/22 mpg highway with 5.7-liter V8 engine
- Safety:
- Standard advanced driver-assistance features
- Available surround-view camera and park assist
- Trim Levels:
- Laredo, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, SRT
- Pricing:
- Starts at around $37,000 (Laredo) and up to $70,000 (SRT)
2023 Dodge Durango Features:
- Exterior Design:
- Muscular and aggressive stance
- Bold front fascia and prominent grille
- Chiseled body lines and LED headlamps
- Interior Design:
- Spacious and functional cabin
- Driver-focused controls
- Sporty design with supportive seats
- Seating:
- Accommodates up to seven passengers
- Available second-row captain’s chairs
- Fold-and-tumble second-row seats for third-row access
- Storage:
- 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind third row
- 43.3 cubic feet behind second row
- 85.1 cubic feet with both rows folded down
- Performance:
- Multiple engine options (3.6-liter V6, 5.7-liter V8, 6.4-liter V8)
- Rear-wheel drive platform and available all-wheel drive system
- Towing capacity up to 8,700 pounds
- Fuel Efficiency:
- 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway with 3.6-liter V6 engine
- 14 mpg city/22 mpg highway with 5.7-liter V8 engine
- 13 mpg city/19 mpg highway with 6.4-liter V8 engine
- Safety:
- Similar suite of standard and available driver-assistance features as Grand Cherokee
- Trim Levels:
- SXT, GT, Citadel, R/T, SRT
- Pricing:
- Starts at around $34,000 (SXT) and up to $64,000 (SRT)
