2020 Dodge Durango vs 2020 GMC Acadia

The 2020 GMC Acadia was positioned as a premium brand, intended to be nicer than Chevys but not as luxurious as Cadillacs. Built on the same platform as the Cadillac XT5, the Acadia shared powertrains and assembly origins in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The Acadia Denali, with its all-wheel drive, Satin Steel Metallic paint, and Technology Package, had a window sticker price of $52,385. The 2020 model featured a redesigned front with squared-off headlights and a boxier grille, while the cabin saw minor updates like new electronic transmission shift switches and real open-pore wood trim for Denali models. Despite these changes, the interior still had a mix of soft surfaces and hard plastic panels, with leather upholstery and wood trim being the primary indicators of its premium status.

The 2020 Dodge Durango carried over its styling from a 2014 update, with its third generation dating back to 2011. Sharing a platform with the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Durango had a longer wheelbase and overall length. While the Jeep received significant cabin updates, the Durango's interior felt dated and in need of a refresh, which was expected for the 2021 model year. The 2020 Durango came in SXT, GT, Citadel, R/T, and SRT trims, each offering various features from basic 18-inch wheels and a 7-inch touchscreen in the SXT to a more aggressive look and performance features in the SRT. The Citadel trim added luxury touches like premium leather upholstery and a power moonroof.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered three engine options. Lower trims had a 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The Acadia SLT featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 230 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. The AT4 and Denali trims came with a 310-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine, which was also available in other trims. All engines were paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, and the Acadia was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), except for the AT4, which had a dual-clutch AWD system. The V6 engine and nine-speed automatic provided smooth and refined power, with a towing capacity of up to 4,000 pounds. The test vehicle averaged 20.1 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA rating of 21 mpg.

The 2020 Dodge Durango offered a range of engines. The SXT, GT, and Citadel trims 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 SRT trim 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). The V6 engine provided decent power, while the 5.7-liter V8 offered confident acceleration. The SRT's 392 V8 delivered strong low-end power and impressive high-speed performance, with a performance-tuned suspension and Brembo brakes. The SRT also featured Dodge SRT performance pages for detailed engine status updates and drive mode customization.

The 2020 GMC Acadia could seat five, six, or seven passengers, depending on the trim level and configuration. The Denali trim offered 6-passenger seating with standard second-row captain’s chairs, with a bench seat available as a no-cost option. The front seats were wide and supportive, with 10-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated seats. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated, and rear passengers had access to air conditioning vents, USB ports, and a household-style power outlet. The third-row seat was roomier than expected, but cargo space was limited to 12.1 cubic feet behind the third row. Folding the third-row seat increased cargo space to 41.7 cubic feet, and with the second-row seats folded, the maximum cargo volume was 79 cubic feet.

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. With both the second and third rows folded, the Durango offered 84.5 cubic feet of cargo space. The Durango's towing capacity ranged from 6,200 pounds to 8,700 pounds, depending on the configuration. The cabin had 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 and best suited for children. The driver and front passenger had access to multiple cargo bins, bottle- and cupholders, and various trays for gear. The second row in the SRT trim had its own center console with cup holders.

The 2020 GMC Acadia included essential infotainment features like Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and GMC Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch touchscreen had a higher resolution display, simplified user experience, and improved voice recognition. The test vehicle had navigation and a Bose premium sound system, with voice-recognition technology that generally performed well. Additional technology upgrades for 2020 included new USB-C ports, a more powerful wireless charging pad, a high-definition surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror providing an unobstructed wide-angle view.

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 other trims. The Uconnect infotainment system stood out with its straightforward menu layout and simple navigation. The Durango also came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 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. A 19-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system was available on these trims.

The 2020 GMC Acadia came with standard safety features like a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology. Standard GMC Connected Services included automatic collision notification and SOS emergency calling, but the free trial period was short. The base Acadia SL and up had a standard blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning system. However, advanced safety features like forward collision warning and low-speed automatic emergency braking were only available on higher trims and as part of a Driver Alert Package. The Acadia received 5-star ratings in most NHTSA crash tests and a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS gave the Acadia high marks in most tests but had incomplete data for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection for the front passenger.

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 other trims. The R/T, Citadel, and SRT trims had front- and rear parking sensors. High-tech driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control, forward-collision avoidance, and lane-departure warning were available through the Technology Group package. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-path detection were also optional. The Durango earned a four-star rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in other phases. The IIHS gave the Durango a Moderate score for driver’s side small-front overlap testing and a Good score in other crash tests. The optional crash-prevention technology was rated Superior.