2021 Dodge Durango vs 2020 GMC Acadia

The 2020 GMC Acadia positioned itself as a premium SUV, bridging the gap between the more budget-friendly Chevrolets and the upscale Cadillacs within the General Motors family. Though it shared a platform with models like the Chevrolet Blazer and the Cadillac XT5, the Acadia stood out with its own unique character. For the 2020 model, the Acadia came in various trims: SL, SLE, SLT, the new rugged AT4, and the luxurious Denali. The Denali trim, known for its upscale features, was our test vehicle, adorned with Satin Steel Metallic paint and equipped with the optional Technology Package, totaling $52,385 with destination charges.

Design changes for the year were most evident at the front with a flatter, blunter face, squared-off headlights, and a more intricate, boxy grille. The brightwork on the Denali variant highlighted the Acadia's premium aspirations. Inside, the cabin featured minimal changes aside from new electronic transmission shift switches, a redesigned center console, and open-pore wood trim for Denali models. The interior, like its competitors, boasted a mix of soft surfaces and hard plastic panels, and though it included leather upholstery and wood trim, it struggled to establish itself definitively as a premium choice.

In contrast, the 2021 Dodge Durango maintained its muscular and athletic stance reminiscent of the broader Dodge lineup, including the Charger and Challenger. Built alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee in Detroit, the Durango's styling saw minor revisions since its 2011 debut but received notable updates in 2021, especially visible on the new SRT Hellcat model. This variant sported a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, a rear spoiler, and a different front end, perfectly fitting its athletic persona.

The Durango offered a range of 20-inch and 18-inch wheels, 11 exterior colors, and six interior color schemes for further customization. The 2021 model's cabin featured a refreshed instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen running the latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Upholstery options ranged from standard cloth to luxurious Nappa and Laguna leathers, enhanced with contrast stitching and distinctive red seat belts in higher trims. The upgrades to the dashboard gave the Durango a modern vibe, complementing its rugged exterior.

The 2020 GMC Acadia provided three engine choices. The base models featured a 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The SLT trim offered a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, delivering 230 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The AT4 and Denali trims came with a robust 3.6-liter V6 engine, yielding 310 horsepower, which was also available on other models. All engines were paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission. The Acadia could be equipped with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive, but the AT4 trim exclusively featured a dual-clutch AWD system with all-terrain tires, ideal for off-road ventures.

This V6 engine, combined with the nine-speed automatic, provided a smooth and refined driving experience, with a towing capacity of up to 4,000 pounds. The Acadia Denali's AWD system could be switched to FWD to conserve fuel, though this resulted in occasional torque steer. The test vehicle's powertrain included features like automatic engine stop/start and cylinder deactivation to improve fuel economy, achieving an EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving, with an observed average of 20.1 mpg.

The 2021 Dodge Durango, however, offered an array of powerful engine options, starting with the standard 3.6-liter V6, producing 293 or 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, depending on the exhaust setup. The R/T trim boasted a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine, delivering 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The SRT 392 variant featured a 475-horsepower 392 HEMI V8 with 470 pound-feet of torque. Topping the range was the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 in the SRT Hellcat model, producing an impressive 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. All engines were equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard, though all-wheel drive was available and mandatory on certain models.

The Durango's V6 and various V8 engines ensured robust performance across the range, with the Hellcat variant offering remarkable power that was surprisingly manageable. The Durango's steering was precise, instilling confidence in the driver. While the suspension allowed for bumps to be felt in the cabin, the advanced suspension technology helped tackle corners with ease. The Hellcat model's Brembo brakes delivered substantial stopping power, suitable even for track conditions. Additionally, the Durango R/T’s Tow N Go Package offered substantial towing capabilities, with a maximum capacity of 8,700 pounds.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered seating configurations for five, six, or seven passengers, depending on the trim and configuration. The Denali trim tested featured six-passenger seating with second-row captain’s chairs, although a bench seat was also available. The leather-appointed 10-way power-adjustable front seats, with heating and ventilation, ensured comfort, making long road trips enjoyable.

Though the modern Acadia was smaller than its predecessors, the third-row seat provided more space than expected, especially if the second-row occupants moved their seats forward. However, the limited distance between the third-row seat and the SUV's back posed a safety concern in rear-impact collisions. The center console's redesign and new electronic transmission controls improved interior storage space.

In terms of cargo, the Acadia offered 12.1 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 41.7 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and a maximum of 79 cubic feet with the second-row seats down, average for the segment.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler, offering comfortable seating and decent storage space. It came standard with seating for five in two rows but could accommodate up to seven passengers across three rows. The optional third row was notably spacious and easier to access compared to other SUVs, offering comfort similar to the Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot.

The Durango's cargo space was also adequate, typical for its class, but not extraordinary. Dodge offered a variety of seat options, allowing buyers significant customization potential. The interior's fit and finish had significantly improved, reflecting Dodge’s recent awards for initial vehicle quality and marking a notable enhancement over earlier models like the Dodge Journey and Grand Caravan.

The 2020 GMC Acadia was well-equipped with essential infotainment features. All models included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and GMC Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch touchscreen in our test vehicle had higher resolution, simplified usability, and enhanced voice recognition. Despite occasional hiccups, the system's voice-recognition technology performed adequately.

The Acadia's infotainment system was user-friendly, with additional technology upgrades for 2020, such as new USB-C ports, an optional wireless charging pad, and a high-definition surround-view camera. The rear camera mirror offered an unobstructed wide-angle view, useful when the cargo area was packed.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the base SXT and GT trims, with higher trims getting a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the advanced Uconnect 5 system. This system was notably faster than its predecessor, offering user profiles, two simultaneous Bluetooth connections, Amazon Alexa connectivity, TomTom navigation, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates via the 4G LTE WiFi hotspot.

The system in the Durango was easy to navigate, visually appealing, and responsive. A family entertainment system with a Blu-ray and DVD player and dual 9-inch screens was available for higher trims. Dodge provided unique infotainment screen and instrument cluster appearances for its models, with SRT variants featuring special animations and fonts.

The 2020 GMC Acadia needed improvement in the safety department. It came standard with a rear-seat reminder and Teen Driver technology. Standard GMC Connected Services offered automatic collision notifications and emergency calling, although the free trial period was short. Standard safety features for trims from SL upwards included a blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning system.

However, advanced features like forward collision warning and low-speed automatic emergency braking were only available from the SLT or higher trims as part of a Driver Alert Package, which included lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, pedestrian braking, parking sensors, automatic high-beam headlights, and a head-up display. Enhanced automatic emergency braking was exclusive to the Denali trim.

The Acadia received commendable crash-test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with 5-star ratings in most assessments and a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) provided high marks in select tests, but the Acadia had not been evaluated for headlight performance or small overlap frontal-impact protection for the front passenger.

The 2021 Dodge Durango lagged behind its rivals in terms of safety. It included a rearview camera as its only standard active safety feature. Other safety features like airbags and electronic stability control were federally mandated. Depending on the trim or package, buyers could add adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and forward-collision warning. Unlike many competitors, these features were not standard across the lineup.

Crash-test ratings from the IIHS for the 2021 Durango were not available, but the NHTSA awarded it a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating. Front crash testing ratings for the updated 2021 model were pending.