2024 Dodge Durango vs 2024 Ford Explorer
Big, capable, and mind-meltingly quick, the Dodge Durango faces off against the segment stalwart Ford Explorer in a case study of extreme SUVs.
The Better 3-Row SUV
The third-row SUV has been a mainstay on American roads since the Jeep Cherokee and Ford Explorer brought sport utility to suburbia back in the 1980 and ‘90s. While the basic formula of truck-like ruggedness married to minivan-like comfort remains the same, today’s SUVs feel more domesticated than ever with high end interiors and luxury-level ride quality.
Two SUVs that have not forgotten their roots are the Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer. Both offer spicier-than-usual powertrain options (the Durango being muy caliente) and capacious interiors. Their weaker points tend to converge just as their strengths do. The Explorer and Durango could each improve their cabin quality and fuel economy. Despite their similarities, there’s still plenty that set these two SUVs apart, from price to powertrains.
So, which three-row SUV is the better buy? We dig into the details below.
Specs
V8 power is not uncommon in large SUVs, so having eight cylinders alone does not make the Dodge Durango’s engine options notable. Rather, it’s what Dodge is doing with that basic formula that makes the Durango exceptional for its segment. The Durango’s base engine is an ordinary 3.6L V6 pumping out 293 horsepower and netting 19 city / 26 highway mpg. The basic 5.7L V8 with 360 horsepower is, again, typical. Things get interesting once we hit the SRT 392 trim which comes with a 6.4L V8 making 475 horsepower. But Dodge being Dodge wasn’t satisfied with this and went ahead and gave the Durango a 6.2L supercharged Hellcat V8 putting up an absurd 710 horsepower. Of course, this crushes fuel economy to a prehistoric 12/17 mpg. All engines come with the same eight-speed automatic transmission and the option of all-wheel drive. The Durango is rated to tow up to 8,700 lbs. when properly equipped.
The Ford Explorer doesn’t quite get to Hellcat levels but still offers a bit more pep than average among bigger SUVs. The Explorer’s base engine is a turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder capable of 300 horsepower and 21/28 mpg. For more power, there’s the Explorer ST’s 3.0L twin-turbo V6 with 400 horsepower. Again, both engines come with the same 10-speed automatic transmission and available all-wheel drive. Ford discontinued the hybrid option for the Explorer for 2024, relegating it to Police Interceptors only. Towing for the Explorer maxes out at 5,600 lbs.
Driving & Performance
The Dodge Durango is no sports car. Though ponderous due to its size, the Durango manages its weight and footprint well with strong brakes, limited body roll, and a forgiving suspension tune. The base V6 decently motivates the SUV and the 5.7L and 6.4L V8s improve performance incrementally. The supercharged 6.2L Hellcat’s 710 horsepower is apparently what it takes to rocket nearly three tons from zero to sixty in 3.6 seconds (and scorch the quarter mile in just 12 seconds). Is this practical or necessary? Of course not. But this is a Dodge after all.
The Ford Explorer delivers about what you’d expect from your run-of-the-mill SUV. It is neither sporty nor nimble, but ride quality is good, and the 10-speed automatic seamlessly rolls through gears. The turbo four-cylinder punches above its weight but isn’t going to smoke any dragstrip records. The Explorer ST’s powerful twin-turbo V6 delivers livelier driving working in tandem with a stiffer suspension tune. Though still worlds away from the Hellcat-equipped Durango, the Explorer ST does a decent job scratching that itch.
Comfort & Interior
The Dodge Durango’s interior impressed us. Though that may be because the average Dodge interior has consistently underwhelmed for the past 10-15 years. Dodge has tended to let what’s under the hood make up for any and all interior deficiencies, but the current Durango manages to offer both superior material quality inside and fantastic engine options as well. With that said, design isn’t the Durango’s strong point as the cabin looks every bit the ten years since its last major overhaul. The first and second rows are spacious and comfortable and though it will be cramped for adults, the third row is more than serviceable for even bigger kids. The Durango comes with an 8.4-inch or larger 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and an optional Harman Kardon premium stereo. Cargo measures 17.2 cu.-ft. behind the third row, 43.3 with it folded down, and a total of 85.1 cu.-ft. in total.
The Ford Explorer’s cabin suffers from both a deficiency of new ideas design-wise and mediocre material quality. Climbing up to the upper trims, like the King Ranch and Platinum, grants access to nicer materials like genuine leather seats and wood trim, but that only emphasizes the cost-cutting measures of the base and lower trims. With that said, the Explorer’s first and second rows offer plenty of room for comfortable extended highway travel. The Explorer’s third row isn’t hard to access, but it is uncomfortable for most adults given how low the seats are mounted, restricting legroom. The Explorer comes equipped with a base eight-inch touchscreen or a larger 10.1-inch screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also in the offing, as is an optional premium Bang and Olufsen stereo. Cargo measures 18.2 cu.-ft. behind the third row, 47.7 behind the second row, and 87.8 cu.-ft. with both rows folded down.
Trims & Features
The Dodge Durango offers a full 14 different trim levels, allowing buyers to pinpoint their desired features and final sticker price. Things starts at $41,265 for its entry-level SXT trim which comes equipped with 18-inch wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, the base 3.6L V6 engine, and heated front seats and steering wheel among other features. Way, way on the other end of the Durango trim spectrum lies the SRT Hellcat at $99,995 with its 6.2L supercharged V8, 20-inch gloss-black wheels, and Brembo performance brakes. Packages include the Lightweight Performance package with third row delete and the Tow N Go package with Brembos, the SRT sport suspension, and trailering features.
The Ford Explorer isn’t as extravagant as the Durango, in price or power. It starts at $36,760 for the base Explorer and comes with an eight-inch touchscreen, cloth upholstery, and driver assistance features like lane keep assist and pedestrian detection. The upper trims of the Explorer are the King Ranch ($54,525) and the Platinum ($54,670). The former gets a lightly western-themed interior with real leather seats, a digital gauge display, and a Bang and Olufsen stereo. The Platinum, meanwhile, gets 21-inch wheels, wood trim, and premium items like adaptive headlights.
The Verdict
Purely as vehicles, it’s an easy call for the Durango in this comparison. The Dodge Durango offers a nicer interior compared to the Ford Explorer, a greater range of powertrain options including the banana pants crazy Hellcat, and significantly greater towing capacity. With all that said, the Ford Explorer is a good deal less expensive, especially at the high end, compared to even the mid-trim Durangos, and offers slightly greater cargo space.
Were Ford to offer a hybrid option again for the Explorer, the gains in fuel economy might offset the Durango’s horsepower advantage, but as it stands, it’s hard to argue against the Dodge’s beefy V8s and its nicer interior.
