2020 Dodge Durango vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Dodge Durango carried its styling over from a 2014 update, with its third generation dating back to a complete redesign in 2011. The connections to the Charger muscle sedan were evident, but the Durango was based on a decade-old platform. Its cabin design was straightforward but felt somewhat dated, especially compared to the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which shared its platform but had more significant updates. The Durango was in desperate need of a refresh, which was expected for the 2021 model year.

Trims for the 2020 Durango included SXT, GT, Citadel, R/T, and SRT. The SXT came with 18-inch wheels and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The GT added 20-inch wheels and a sport-inspired grille. The R/T featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine and additional luxury features. The Citadel was the luxury trim with unique chrome touches and premium leather upholstery. The SRT had a more aggressive look with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine and performance seats.

The 2020 Honda CR-V, in its fifth generation since 2017, had a familiar and fun design. Its lines were curvy and car-like, with a family resemblance to Honda’s sedan lineup. The CR-V’s styling leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, defining modern family transportation. Inside, the CR-V’s interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery clashing with low-quality plastics.

The base CR-V, a front-wheel-drive (FWD) model in LX trim, started at an MSRP of $26,270. Honda kept things simple with just four trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. All-wheel drive (AWD) was a $1,500 option on all trims. The CR-V featured 17-inch alloy wheels as standard, with 18-inch wheels on EX trims and 19-inch wheels on the Touring. Fabric seating adorned the lower trims, while leather was available in the top trims. A retractable moonroof was standard on all but the LX trim, and roof rails were only on the Touring model.

The 2020 Dodge Durango offered a range of engines. The SXT, GT, and Citadel came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, also available on the Citadel. The range-topping SRT had a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, branded the "392," with 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. All engines were paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD) depending on the trim.

The V6 engine provided decent power, while the 5.7-liter V8 in the R/T offered confident acceleration. The SRT was a different beast, with strong low-end power and impressive high-speed performance. The SRT also featured a performance-tuned suspension and Brembo performance brakes. The Dodge SRT performance pages in the 8.4-inch touchscreen provided detailed engine status updates and drive mode customization.

The 2020 Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the previous base engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, making 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The CR-V’s CVT was well-matched to the engine, providing a quick response, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V’s car-like demeanor was reflected in its excellent road manners, with nimble handling and minimal body roll.

The CR-V’s low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its acceleration, handling, and fuel economy. FWD CR-V models were rated at 30 miles per gallon combined, while AWD models managed 29. The CR-V Hybrid, introduced for 2020, offered even higher fuel economy, competing with hybrid versions of the RAV4 and Escape.

The 2020 Dodge Durango provided 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 47.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.5 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. This was on par with the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot. The Durango had a towing capacity ranging from 6,200 pounds to 8,700 pounds. The cabin offered plenty of space, with comfortable front seats and a choice of a three-passenger bench or second-row captain's chairs. The third row was best suited for kids, but access was easy with large second-row doors and easy-fold seats.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in packaging, with a roomy cabin comparable to the Volkswagen Tiguan. Head- and legroom were good in both the driver’s seat and passenger seats. The CR-V’s excellent seating position and low cowl provided great front visibility. The cargo compartment matched the Tiguan in volume, with a two-position load floor allowing for 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. The CR-V also featured clever storage solutions, including a deep center console bin and large door pockets.

The 2020 Dodge Durango’s SXT and GT trims came with a 7-inch touchscreen, while an 8.4-inch touchscreen was optional on the GT and standard on higher trims. The Uconnect infotainment system was user-friendly, with a tablet-inspired layout and dock icons for easy navigation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and higher trims included navigation and SiriusXM Travel Link. The R/T, Citadel, and SRT trims came with an Alpine premium audio system, with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system available.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age. The base LX trim had a 5-inch screen with limited features, while higher trims had a 7-inch touchscreen. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available only with the larger screen. The CR-V Touring trim added a wireless phone charger. The CR-V had plenty of USB ports in the EX trim and above, with two in the front and two high-powered ports in the backseat.

The 2020 Dodge Durango came with front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, and trailer sway control. Rear parking sensors were available on the SXT and standard on higher trims. The Technology Group package added adaptive cruise control, forward-collision avoidance, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-path detection were also available. The Durango earned a four-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Moderate score in driver’s side small-front overlap testing from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2020 Honda CR-V included the “Honda Sensing” system as standard, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control. Automatic high beams were standard, while blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring were available on EX trims and above. The CR-V earned five stars from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS, with the Touring trim’s LED headlights improving nighttime visibility.