Starting at
Starting at
| Yes | Tri-Zone Climate Control: | No |
| 87.8 cu.ft. | Cargo Space: | 85.1 cu.ft. |
| 21/28 | MPG city/hwy: | 19/26 |
There is no denying that you have many options available to you these days when shopping for a great SUV, not only in terms of the different models available but also the sizes and classes you can choose from. While a compact model is great for singles or small families just starting out, and full-size SUVs are perfect for large families, sometimes you want something that falls in the middle of those. A midsize SUV can work great, but an increasingly popular option is a three-row model that is similar to a midsize model while giving you more room inside for passengers. This kind of vehicle is perfect if you need to have six or seven people along with you sometimes but do not want a full-size SUV.
Looking at three-row SUVs, one of the most popular models out there is the Ford Explorer, which gives you many options and great features inside and out. Figuring out if the Explorer is right for you can be tricky, however, so it helps to consider it alongside other models to see how it stacks up. Looking at the 2024 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Dodge Durango, for example, makes it easy to see how well the Explorer shines with what it delivers. The Ford SUV gives you a more powerful standard engine, and when you compare the second engine they each have available, the Explorer remains a more thrilling pick. Perhaps more importantly, Ford’s engines are not only bolder, but they also give you a superior fuel economy, so you make fewer gas stops while getting through your daily routine.
The Dodge Durango does have more powerful engines available, but we think they go overboard and create a vehicle that misses the mark. Not only that, but you also get a more spacious interior with the Ford Explorer, including more room inside for cargo that you need to bring along with you. Ford also provides gorgeous interior features and innovative tech options, so you get a three-row SUV that everyone will look forward to riding in each day. The fact that all of this comes at a lower price—the Explorer starts at nearly $5,000 less than the Dodge Durango—is the icing on the cake and demonstrates how well Ford knows what their drivers want.
Serious amounts of power might be most important when someone is looking at a sports car like the Ford Mustang or a hard-working truck like the F-150, but it still matters to some degree with any vehicle. You want an engine that makes your SUV fun to drive without going overboard, with efficiency that keeps you on the road longer so you can focus on the stuff that matters most to you. The 2024 Ford Explorer does a great job of delivering both of these things, while the Dodge Durango gives you some good options but leans more into the “going overboard” category when it comes to engineering.
Looking at performance, the Explorer starts with a standard 2.3L EcoBoost turbocharged I-4 engine that delivers 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The Dodge Durango, on the other hand, has a standard 3.6L V6 that offers 295 hp and just 260 lb-ft of torque, falling well short of the Explorer’s power. Ford also offers an available 3.0L EcoBoost turbocharged V6 engine that delivers an impressive 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The second engine offered on the Durango is a 5.7L HEMI V8 with just 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. This still falls short of what you get with the Explorer—for a vehicle that offers a ridiculous 710-hp engine as its highest option, the two starting powertrains are surprisingly meager compared to the Explorer.
Not only are these two engines less powerful than what Ford offers, but they are also substantially less efficient, so they leave drivers making more stops for gas. The Durango’s standard engine gets an estimated 19 MPG in the city, 26 MPG on the highway, and 21 MPG of combined fuel economy—its available engine does even worse at 14 MPG in the city, 22 MPG on the highway, and 17 MPG of combined efficiency. With the Explorer’s standard engine, you get an estimated 21 MPG in the city, 28 MPG on the highway, and 24 MPG of combined fuel economy—its available V6 still does well at 18 MPG in the city, 26 MPG on the highway, and 21 MPG of combined efficiency. With either engine, Ford lets you go further between stops for gas; you do not even want to know how bad the efficiency of Dodge’s Hellcat engine is.
Since most of your time with your vehicle is spent with you inside it, you always want to take a good look at the kinds of features you get. This is something Ford understands better than just about anyone else, making vehicles with interiors that are welcoming, comfortable, and decked out with all of the latest bells and whistles. The standard 2024 Explorer model comes with tri-zone automatic temperature control to keep all of your passengers comfortable, an integrated key fob and MyKey system so you can easily hit the road each day, and a 14-speaker B&O sound system. Looking at the Explorer Platinum model, you get numerous enhancements, such as heated and ventilated front seats, leather seating surfaces with tri-diamond perforated inserts, and an available 10.1-inch infotainment system with advanced SYNC 3 software.
Looking at the 2024 Dodge Durango, it has some good features inside and plenty of things available, but it comes up short in some key ways. The standard SXT model, for example, has dual-zone air conditioning and a six-speaker sound system that falls short of the Explorer’s standard features. Moving up to higher trims adds some good options like heated front seats and eventually you can get a 10.1-inch infotainment display and a Harman Kardon sound system, but you have to go above and beyond with Dodge’s trim levels to find them. Considering that can result in paying for many other features you do not care about, this can be frustrating.
The amount of space you get inside these two SUVs is also in favor of Ford’s offering. With the 2024 Explorer, you find more than 18 cu.ft. of rear cargo space, nearly 48 cu.ft. behind the second row of seats, and up to 87.8 cu.ft. of total cargo volume inside behind the front row. The 2024 Dodge Durango offers just about 17 cu.ft. of rear cargo space inside, about 43 cu.ft. of cargo volume behind the second row, and only 85.1 cu.ft. of total cargo space. Admittedly, these numbers are quite close, but when you are looking at volume, even a couple of cubic feet of space can make a big difference and leave you wishing you had more room.
At the end of the day, when choosing the right vehicle, you deserve to get a ride that offers the most value for what you spend on it. Even if you want luxury features and high-end options, you should still get the most for your dollar. Looking at the 2024 Ford Explorer and Dodge Durango, Ford does a better job of giving you more when it comes to overall value. The starting MSRP for the Explorer is $36,860 compared to the Durango that starts at $41,670 MSRP.[a] That is a significant difference that would suggest Dodge offers a lot more compared to what the Ford Explorer brings to the road.
But when you look at what you get, Ford gives you a more powerful starting engine that is also more efficient and refined interior features with more to offer while coming in at a much lower starting price. Even more surprisingly, the standard Durango SXT only has seating inside for five people; you have to pay more to make this three-row SUV actually have three rows of seating inside. At the end of the day, you can get a lot more with the Ford Explorer for the price without missing out on anything thanks to its impressive standard and available features.
As you can see, the Dodge Durango is a fine vehicle with impressive power available, but it comes at such a high price and ends up delivering somewhat ridiculous levels of performance that we think it is simply not worth it. With the Ford Explorer, you get a gorgeous SUV that was clearly designed and engineered by people who understand what you need from a three-row model, ensuring you have plenty of space inside, great features inside and out, and engines that are both powerful and efficient. The Dodge Durango might be fun to rent while on vacation, but it is not something we want to drive each day or use to pick up kids from school during the week.
Here at DePaula Ford, we are committed to helping you find the perfect vehicle with the features and options that will work best for you. Whether that means a compact SUV to keep costs down and fit into a downsized lifestyle, a full-size model for a big family, or a three-row option that gives you plenty of passenger space without going overboard, we are ready to ensure you get what you are looking for. With one of our friendly and knowledgeable salespeople by your side, it is easy to consider everything the Ford lineup has to offer, explore all of your options, and drive away in the right vehicle that will make your routine easier. Call or come visit us at DePaula Ford today to learn more. Let us show you how simple and rewarding it can be to shop for your next car, truck, or SUV.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.
