2020 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

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 the same platform but had received more significant updates. The Durango was in desperate need of a refresh, which was expected to arrive with the 2021 model year.

Trims for the 2020 Durango included SXT, GT, Citadel, R/T, and SRT. The SXT came 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 touches and a power moonroof. The SRT had a more aggressive look, auto-leveling headlights, and 20-inch black wheels, with optional red leather performance seats.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey had a familiar look that had been tweaked for the new model year. The grille and front bumper were new, and every trim level got standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation. A new gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretched the width of the taillights, and new wheel designs debuted for the top three trim levels. These minor modifications served to modernize the Odyssey by reducing brightwork.

Buyers could select from five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. Base prices ranged from $31,790 to $47,820, with certain paint colors costing an additional $395. The Elite trim included perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and handsome new 19-inch wheels with Shark Gray paint and machined surfaces. The Odyssey Elite aimed to serve as the Acura of minivans with its more luxurious interior and toned-down chrome.

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 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, which was also available on the Citadel. The range-topping SRT came with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, branded the "392" for its displacement size in cubic inches, 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 engine provided decent power, making the Durango competitive with other three-row family haulers like the Toyota Highlander. The 5.7-liter V8 in the R/T offered confident acceleration, while the SRT's 392 cubic inch V8 delivered strong low-end power and impressive high-speed performance. The SRT also featured a performance-tuned suspension and Brembo performance brakes, with Dodge SRT performance pages available in the 8.4-inch touchscreen for detailed engine status updates and drive mode customization.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels. The engine produced 280 horsepower, and the transmission included Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, as well as paddle shifters. The V6 and automatic transmission combination provided smooth, effortless power, with variable cylinder management for fuel efficiency. The EPA estimated 22 mpg in combined driving, and testing averaged 21.8 mpg.

All-wheel drive (AWD) was unavailable, putting the front-wheel-drive (FWD) Odyssey at a disadvantage in snowy regions. However, Honda added a new electronic brake booster for improved brake pedal feel and response. The Odyssey's ride and handling qualities contributed to a pleasurable driving experience, with firm but comfortable ride quality and expertly managed body motions. The brakes, however, did not withstand much abuse, heating up and fading during a Southern California heatwave test.

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 towing capacity ranged from 6,200 pounds 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 more cramped for adults but suitable for kids. The driver and front passenger had access to 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 Honda Odyssey featured legible instrumentation, logical controls, and ample storage. A 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat was standard in all but the base LX trim, with the Elite trim adding a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats. The front passenger’s seat lacked height adjustment, but passengers did not complain about this omission.

Storage space was excellent, with the Elite’s standard wireless smartphone charger taking up some room on the center console’s top tray. The Magic Slide second-row seat layout allowed for various seating modes, with two outboard captain’s chairs that could slide forward, back, and side to side. The third-row seats accommodated both children and adults with ease.

Cargo space behind the third-row seat measured 32.8 cubic feet, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third-row seat tumbled into the cargo well, and a maximum volume of 144.9 cubic feet. However, the second-row seats had to be physically removed to use the maximum cargo volume, which was not particularly enjoyable.

The 2020 Dodge Durango's SXT and GT trim levels came with a 7-inch touchscreen, while an 8.4-inch touchscreen was optional on the GT and standard on all other trims. Both screen sizes utilized Dodge’s Uconnect infotainment system, known for its straightforward menu layout and simple page navigation. The Durango came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the R/T, Citadel, and SRT trims featuring navigation and SiriusXM Travel Link with real-time traffic and weather updates. These trims also came with an Alpine premium audio system, with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system available.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, starting with EX trim, was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, text-messaging support, basic HondaLink connectivity, and a Cabin Control smartphone app. Touring trim added a navigation system, HondaLink subscription service plans, WiFi capability, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk in-vehicle PA system. Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium sound system, multi-zone listening options, and wireless smartphone charging.

Touring and Elite trims were available with HondaLink Security, Remote, and Concierge subscription plans. However, the Odyssey lacked a tuning knob, and the voice-recognition technology was not as advanced as modern smartphone or smart home voice assistants. Touring and Elite trims also included a rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray disc player, and built-in streaming apps.

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 all other trims. The R/T, Citadel, and SRT trims came standard with front- and rear parking sensors. 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 for driver’s side small-front overlap testing from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety with the standard Honda Sensing suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) on all trims. Honda Sensing added low-speed follow capability to the adaptive cruise control, pedestrian braking, a road-sign recognition system, and a new Honda Sensing menu button. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning was available starting with EX trim. The Odyssey's ADAS worked accurately but could apply uneven braking and had a lane-departure warning system that wobbled the steering wheel. The Odyssey earned top five-star ratings from the NHTSA for every assessment except rollover resistance, for which it earned a four-star score.