2021 Ford Expedition vs 2020 Dodge Durango

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 yet simple, sharing a platform with the Jeep Grand Cherokee but with a longer wheelbase and overall length. While the Jeep received significant cabin updates, the Durango felt somewhat dated and in need of a refresh. This refresh was anticipated for the 2021 model year, promising more aggressive exterior styling and a heavily reworked cabin.

Trims for the 2020 Durango included SXT, GT, Citadel, R/T, and SRT. The SXT came standard with 18-inch wheels, three-zone climate control, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The GT added 20-inch wheels, a sport-inspired grille, and remote start. The R/T featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, rain-sensing wipers, and leather-and-suede upholstery. The Citadel was the luxury trim with unique chrome exterior touches and premium leather upholstery. The range-topping SRT had a unique look with a more aggressive lower front fascia, auto-leveling headlights, and 20-inch black wheels.

The 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum was a sight for sore eyes after a restless redeye flight from Maui. The Platinum trim denoted the most luxurious version of the Expedition, capping a lineup that started with the XL STX and included the XLT, Limited, and King Ranch. The test vehicle had Magnetic gray paint, 4WD, a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package, and second-row captain’s chairs, totaling $80,510. Power-deploying running boards and a power rear liftgate were welcoming features, but the Expedition struggled to accommodate all the cargo, highlighting the utility of minivans.

The Expedition Platinum wore an intricately detailed chrome grille, massive 22-inch machined-face aluminum wheels, and tastefully applied brightwork. The extended-length MAX version would have easily carried up to eight people and their luggage. The leather-lined cabin served the six-person crew well, with materials and fittings justifying the Platinum’s price. However, acres of hard plastic reminded occupants of the Expedition’s origins. The Lincoln Navigator offered a similar vehicle with a much nicer interior.

The 2020 Dodge Durango offered a range of engines across its trims. 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 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, also available on the Citadel. The range-topping SRT came with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, branded the "392," delivering 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 provided decent power, suitable for family haulers like the Toyota Highlander or Volkswagen Atlas. The 5.7-liter V8 in the R/T offered confident acceleration, making the Citadel a robust near-luxury SUV. The SRT was a different beast, with strong low-end power and impressive high-speed performance. The 8-speed automatic transmission required double-tapping the paddle shifter to downshift or upshift two full gears, replicating the gap in ratios of a traditional muscle car transmission. The SRT also featured a performance-tuned suspension and Brembo performance brakes, with Dodge SRT performance pages providing detailed engine status updates and drive mode customization.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 4WD. The engine produced 375 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm in most versions, with the Platinum trim getting a boost to 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, depending on the specification. Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology allowed the driver to steer the trailer using a dashboard knob while the SUV controlled the actual steering.

Acceleration was impressive, even with a full load of passengers and cargo. The twin-turbo V6 emitted a pleasant engine note, and the transmission operated smoothly. The Platinum’s 22-inch wheels affected ride quality, transmitting road shock into the cabin despite the adaptive damping suspension. The Expedition’s four-wheel independent suspension kept it stable on the road. The FX4 Off-Road Package added off-road capabilities, but the test vehicle did not have this option. The Expedition averaged 17.1 mpg on the evaluation loop, with an EPA rating of 19 mpg in combined driving.

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 comparable to the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot, though the VW Atlas offered more space. The Durango’s power rear hatch button placement was less intuitive than competitors. Towing capacity ranged from 6,200 to 8,700 pounds, depending on the configuration.

The Durango’s cabin offered plenty of space for occupants, with comfortable front seats and a choice of a three-passenger bench or second-row captain's chairs. The third row was cramped for adults on longer trips but suitable for kids. The large second-row doors and easy-fold seats made access to the third row simple. The driver and front passenger had multiple cargo bins, bottle- and cupholders, and various trays for gear. The second row of the SRT test model included a center console with cup holders.

The 2021 Ford Expedition excelled in comfort and utility, though the regular-length model struggled to transport more than five people and their luggage simultaneously. The Expedition MAX offered more cargo space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 121.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Expedition’s independent rear suspension ensured comfort in every seating position, with large, wide seats for all passengers. The front seats offered a massage function, but the rear seats did not.

Storage for odds and ends was plentiful, with cargo volume expanding from 19.3 cubic feet to 57.5 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded. The maximum volume behind the front seats was 104.6 cubic feet. The cargo floor’s liftover height was high, making it challenging to load heavy items. The Expedition MAX provided more cargo space but still less than most minivans.

The 2020 Dodge Durango featured a 7-inch touchscreen on the SXT and GT trims, with an optional 8.4-inch touchscreen on the GT and standard on higher trims. The Uconnect infotainment system stood out with its straightforward menu layout and simple page navigation. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a tablet-inspired layout and dock icons for easy access to functions. The semi-digital instrument panel was helpful, with a directional pad on the steering wheel for easy navigation.

Higher trims like the R/T, Citadel, and SRT included navigation, SiriusXM Travel Link, and an Alpine premium audio system with nine speakers and a subwoofer. An optional 19-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system was also available.

The 2021 Ford Expedition used the Sync 3 infotainment system, which was aging but still user-friendly. The 8-inch touchscreen display looked small and was sometimes slow to respond. Sync 3 included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system. Amazon Alexa compatibility and enhanced voice recognition were also part of Sync 3.

The test vehicle had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging. An available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system included dual viewing screens, a DVD player, gaming system inputs, and the ability to stream content from a mobile device.

The 2020 Dodge Durango came equipped 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 R/T, Citadel, and SRT included front- and rear parking sensors. Optional driver-assistance features included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. The Durango earned a four-star rating from the NHTSA and a Moderate score in IIHS driver’s side small-front overlap testing.

The 2021 Ford Expedition had a minimum curb weight of 5,368 pounds, providing a safety advantage. The NHTSA awarded the Expedition a five-star overall crash-test rating, though the RWD model had a three-star rollover-resistance rating. The Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, a semi-autonomous parking assistance system, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system.