2020 Dodge Durango

For 2020, the Dodge Durango's trim lineup remains the same which includes SXT, SXT Plus, GT, GT Plus, Citadel, R/T, and SRT. The SRT trim priced at $62,995 is the performance-oriented and track-ready version of the regular Durango thus we have covered it in a separate review. The base variant, RWD Durango SXT starts at $30,495 and comes with a 3.6-liter V6 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission system. The SXT Plus trim adds a couple of minor creature-comfort features and starts at $34,590. Optional features available on the SXT Plus trim includes a sunroof for $1,295, blind-spot monitor w/ rear cross-traffic alert for $495, leather upholstery for $795, etc.

Moving up you have the GT and GT Plus trim priced at $34,695 and $38,995 respectively that add a couple of nifty features like a 115-volt household-type power outlet, heating and ventilation for the seats, etc. Optional features for the GT and GT Plus trim include the Premium Group package for $2,495 which adds an 8.4-inch touchscreen with a 9-speaker Alpine audio system, sunroof, and navigation. Though, if it's about features then at $46,270, the Durango Citadel Anodized Platinum trim, offers the best in the market. The Citadel Anodized Platinum trim is based on the Citadel trim priced at $42,995. 

The Citadel trim also offers the option of upgrading to the V8 engine found on the R/T trim for a premium of $3,995. While a premium 19-speaker Harman & Kardon sound system can be added on Citadel for $995. The two HEMI V8-powered trims in the Durango lineup, the R/T, priced at $43,995, and the SRT trim make the two performance-oriented trims. The Durango R/T trim adds a 5.7-liter V8 engine with a couple of performance upgrades while the rest of the features are carried over from the Citadel trim. All Durangos come with an optional AWD for which you need to pay a premium and for exact pricing details refer to the table below.

Trim	SXT	SXT Plus	GT	GT Plus	Citadel	R/T
MSRP (RWD)	$30,495	$34,590	$34,695	$38,995	$42,995	$43,995
MSRP (AWD)	$33,395	$37,490	$37,595	$41,895	$45,595	$46,995
Key Features	295 hp, 3.6 Liter V6 engine	Adds to SXT -	Adds to SXT Plus -	Adds to GT -	Adds to GT Plus -	Adds to Citadel -
	Three-zone automatic climate control	8-way power driver seat w/ power-adjustable lumbar support	Universal garage door opener	Power liftgate	Heated front and second-row seats	360 hp, 5.7-liter V8 engine
	4-way manual front seats	Third-row seats	115-volt power outlet	Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats with Suede Inserts	8-way power-adjustable front seats	Luxury Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats
	Auto-dimming rearview mirror	Fabric-trimmed Bucket Seats	Remote ignition	Heated Second Row seats	Automatic high beam headlights	Ventilated Front Seats
	7-inch touchscreen infotainment system w/ a six-speaker sound system		Rear parking sensors	20-inch wheels	Sunroof	Performance tuned steering
	Apple CarPlay and Android Auto		Fold and tumble second-row bench seats		Rain-sensing windshield wipers
	18-inch wheels				8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment
	Cruise control				Nine-speaker Alpine sound system
	Load-leveling rear suspension				Heavy-duty brakes
	Fabric upholstery				Power-folding and heated outside mirrors
	Rearview camera				Front parking sensors

We Recommend

We would recommend the Durango GT. The Durango is not a luxury SUV per se for which you should spend upwards of forty grands, rather this is a rough and tough wild machine that you would ideally take out for those weekend mud splashing. For a vehicle that serves that purpose, the GT for $38,995, brings along adequate features like leather seats, navigation, powered and heated front seats, etc. Anything over this price for the Durango doesn't make much sense unless you are hell-bent on getting the V8 engine available on the higher-priced Citadel and standard on the above trims.

The 2020 Dodge Durango powered by the V6 has an EPA estimated gas mileage of 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined. While slapping in the AWD sees a drop of 1 mpg across the three conditions. If you go for the Durango R/T trim with a V8 then you get an EPA estimated gas mileage of 14 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

The sheer size of the Durango does not work in favor of fuel efficiency. For an SUV weighing over 4,600 pounds, the power required to set this huge SUV in motion requires a lot of fuel (remember the Hummer). That's why with a best combined efficiency of just 21 mpg the Durango is definitely not one of the environmentally friendly SUVs.

Model	2020 Dodge Durango	2020 GMC Acadia	2020 Ford Explorer	2020 Toyota Highlander
MPG (city)	19	21	21	21
MPG (highway)	26	27	28	29
MPG (combined)	21	23	24	24
Fuel Capacity (gallons)	24.6	19.0	17.9	17.9
Range (City / Highway) (mi.)	467 / 640	399 / 513	376 / 501	376 / 519

Compare to the other SUVs here, all of them have an average combined fuel rating equal to or above 23 mpg. So, fuel consumption-wise, Durango is definitely not at an advantage. What's surprising is though the Highlander which also is powered by a V6 engine delivers a class-leading 21/19/24 mpg in the city/highway/combined respectively. But the Durango comes with the biggest 24.6-gallon fuel tank which helps it beat the range of other fuel-efficient SUVs by a big margin.

"With one of the best infotainment systems on the market perched atop its sculpted dashboard, the Durango is better than many of its rivals, but only if buyers choose the optional 8.4-inch touchscreen." -Car and Driver

2020 Dodge Durango Seating and Comfort

The 2020 Dodge Durango has a seating capacity for 5, 6, or 7 people, depending on which trim/package you choose. The first and second rows have a decent interior space. The third row feels a bit compromised, as they usually are, but an average-sized adult can easily seat in there for short rides. Ingress/Egress is quite easy, and kudos to Dodge engineers for thinking about making life easier even for the last row passengers. The second row folds easily from the front as well as the back, and there are overhead AC vents for everyone.

The seats are comfortable and are padded enough to offer a luxurious experience. They also come with lumbar support, apart from different levels of electrical adjustment settings, which makes the seats on the Durango pretty comfortable you also get heating and ventilation option on higher trims as standard or as a paid extra on lower trims.

Unless you're not expecting German quality, the interior is just fine. Though there are a lot of cheap bits around, which is quite natural in an SUV at this price range, Dodge has managed to keep the quality in line with the segment and the interior certainly does not lack a premium touch, and compared to the previous models, the 2020 Dodge Durango has better interiors.

Model	2020 Dodge Durango	2020 GMC Acadia	2020 Ford Explorer	2020 Toyota Highlander
Passenger Capacity	5	7	7	8
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	39.9 / 58.5 / 40.3	40.0 / 59.4 / 41.0	40.7 / 61.8 / 43.0	41.2 / 59.0 / 42.0
Second Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	39.8 / 57.7 / 38.6	39.6 / 58.7 / 39.7	40.5 / 61.9 / 39.0	39.4 / 58.7 / 41.0
Third Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	N/A	37.2 / 54.3 / 31.1	38.9 / 54.6 / 32.2	36.1 / 55.0 / 27.7

In comparison, the Dodge Durango does offer the least space of all but that doesn't mean it is less on comfort. But then again, after reading the above stats the Durango does feel a bit constricted compared to its competitors.

Interior Features:

• Three-zone automatic temperature control
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Fabric-trimmed seats
• Tilt/telescoping steering column
• Available power-adjustable front seats
• Available heated and cooled front seats
• Available heated second-row seats
• Available second-row captains chair
• Available leather upholstery

2020 Dodge Durango Infotainment System

The 2020 Dodge Durango comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard. Higher up the trim, 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment dons the dashboard which is the one that has received the most praise by reviewers for being the best in the business at this price point.  That said, the Uconnect 4 is standard across the range.

There is an optional Uconnect 4C NAV system available as well. Other features include:

• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Integrated Voice Command
• Bluetooth Streaming Audio
• SiriusXM
• 6-speaker sound system
• Available 9-speaker Alpine sound system
• Available 19-speaker Harman & Kardon sound system
• Available satellite radio

The Uconnect 4C NAV comes only with the 8.4-inch touchscreen and gets more SiriusXM features (Guardian, Navigation, Traffic Plus, and Travel Link) as well.

2020 Dodge Durango Cargo Capacity

The 2020 Dodge Durango in the base form with only two-row seats offers a total cargo capacity of 43.3 cubic feet with all the seats up. While the higher models with three-row of seating offer just 17.2 cubic feet of space with all the seats up. 

However, Dodge has clever seat split ratios and that really helps in creating a lot of luggage space. For instance, the second-row seats have a 60/40 split ratio while the third-row seats have a 50/50 split ratio. While folding all the rows down gets you 85.1 cubic feet of space.

Model	2020 Dodge Durango	2020 GMC Acadia	2020 Ford Explorer	2020 Toyota Highlander
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	43.3	12.8	18.2	16.0

For the three-row model, the Durango, offering 17.2 cubic feet of space, is just behind the Ford Explorer which offers the highest 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space while the Acadia disappoints with the least 12.8 cubic feet of space on offer with all three rows up.

"In general, the 2020 Durango's styling roams a territory that encompasses a certain toughness, a fair amount of chrome in a few trim levels, and a subtly sporty look in others." -Kelly Blue Book

2020 Dodge Durango Dimensions and Weight

Thie 2020 Dodge Durango SUV is heavy, undeniably so, it's heavier than its competitors. Dodge employs the classic muscle car strategy along with a bigger engine to compensate for the extra bulk. For faster progress, buy the V8s. In fact, the engine makes up the majority of the mass in the car. The dimensions are large too, largest amongst all SUVs here, another classic muscle car move. It's over 200 inches in length, which is quite a lot in crowded cities. Thus negotiating city traffic becomes a bit difficult. Although the Durango isn't the widest SUV among all which does make life a bit easier but compromises the cabin space and especially the available shoulder room.

The 2020  Dodge Durango is extremely simplistic in its approach to styling. The headlamps are large, bulbous, and clear, adorned by LEDs. The hood scoop on the bonnet adds more character to the design. The tail section spells the Dodge family name inside the Dodge-style long, horizontal running taillight strip. The top-end SRT trim has a clear front grille, as opposed to the large cross on the front grille of other Durango trims. There isn't much more to the style, as it has mostly been kept the same and the rest of the Durango looks just like a typical SUV.

Model	2020 Dodge Durango	2020 GMC Acadia	2020 Ford Explorer	2020 Toyota Highlander
Curb weight (lbs.)	4680	3923	4345	4145
Length(in)	201.2	193.6	198.8	194.9
Width(in)	75.8	75.4	78.9	76.0
Height(in)	70.9	66.0	69.9	68.1
Ground clearance (in)	8.1	7.2	7.9	8.0
Wheelbase (in)	119.8	112.5	119.1	112.2
Track width (in) F/R	63.9 / 64.1	64.5 / 64.5	66.9 / 66.9	65.3 / 65.4

It is no doubt that the Durango being the longest SUV among all also enjoys the longest wheelbase. Add to that it has a massive road presence thanks to its 70.9-inch height and 8.1-inch ground clearance which is second to none in this comparison. That said, the Explorer is the closest in terms of dimensions to Durango while beating it on only the width part where the Explorer is 3.1-inches wider than the Durango.  

Exterior Features:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Rear parking sensors
• Power liftgate
• Sunroof
• Automatic high beams
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Front parking sensors

Safety-wise the 2020 Dodge Durango has pretty acceptable numbers. Though, when it comes to offering standard safety features, Dodge has offered many of them as options with additional cost. That said, the NHTSA gave the 2020 Durango an overall safety rating of four out of five stars while the IIHS has given the highest rating of 'Good' to the Durango in only four out of five parameters.

Safety Features:

• Parkview Rear Back-Up Camera
• Available Parksense Front / Rear Park-Assist
• Available blind-spot monitor w/ rear cross-traffic alert
• Available adaptive cruise control
• Available forward-collision warning w/ automatic emergency braking
• Available automatic high beam

2020 Dodge Durango vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander is a great car if you're looking for a vehicle that can carry a lot of people. With a full load, the Highlander has clearly a bigger cabin compared to the Durango. The only advantage that the Durango gets is in the form of the engine options. With a V6 engine and a cargo space of more than 80 cubic feet, the Durango is much more practical.

But when it comes to fuel efficiency, the Highlander is a logical choice, also, despite having a bigger engine, the Highlander still has quicker 0-60 figures. All thanks to its, light build body compared to the heavier Durango.

2020 Dodge Durango vs 2020 Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer is a spacious SUV with plush ride quality. Compared to the Durango you'd also save money on fuel bills in the Ford, especially with the EcoBoost engine. Although the exhaust note of the Explorer is a tad disappointing over the raspy exhaust note of the Durango's V6, which isn't really a problem but deserves a mention.

The Explorer also boasts the best power and torque figures for its class but the Durango offers a better towing capacity and is quicker in both the 0-60 mph and quarter-mile run. The Explorer recently has switched to a unibody construction resulting in a further improved ride and handling making it a perfect family SUV. The Durango on the other hand also offers a supple ride quality but suffers from ponderous handling. 

So far the Durango has been raised as a muscle car rather than an SUV. There is plenty of power on offer and towing capabilities are impressive. Even the base engine can pull upwards of 6,000 pounds, which is significantly more than its competitors. The affordability is this vehicle's biggest weapon, which is another brownie point. The butch proportions and macho looks also entice prospective buyers.

But with an aging design that seldom sees any major upgrades, unlike other vehicles in this range, the Durango has started feeling dated and not value-for-money. This makes for its biggest drawbacks and is the reason why Durango will fall short of appealing against modern and updated rivals like the Explorer and the Highlander. Buying one now will be a bit tricky but if macho SUVs appeal to you then the Durango is still a good buy.