2020 Dodge Durango vs 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar presented a balanced approach to styling within the Range Rover family, avoiding the extremes of its siblings. Its low roof and steeply-raked windshield gave it a unique profile, distinct from the traditional upright Range Rover. The Velar maintained an intimidating presence with its broad front end, while its short overhangs improved off-road capabilities. The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition added sportier touches, including larger air intakes and quad exhaust tips, enhancing its aggressive look. Inside, the Velar offered a luxurious experience with high-quality leather and metal trim, creating a cockpit-like feel that was more suited to urban environments than rugged terrains.

In contrast, the 2020 Dodge Durango carried over its styling from a 2014 update, with a design rooted in a decade-old platform. Its cabin design was straightforward but felt dated compared to its Jeep Grand Cherokee sibling. The Durango was set for a refresh in 2021, promising more aggressive styling and a reworked cabin. The 2020 model offered various trims, each adding features like larger wheels, sport-inspired grilles, and premium upholstery. The SRT trim stood out with its unique look and performance-oriented features, including ventilated seats and optional racing stripes, making it a menacing presence on the road.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar introduced a significant performance upgrade with the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition, featuring a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, allowed the Velar to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, reaching a top speed of 177 mph. Despite these impressive figures, the Velar's performance was not class-leading, with competitors like the BMW X3 M Competition and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S offering quicker acceleration. The Velar's aluminum platform provided a solid and refined driving experience, but its size made it less agile on tight roads. The rest of the Velar's powertrain lineup included a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and a 3.0-liter supercharged V6, both offering respectable performance. Off-road capabilities were supported by Land Rover's Terrain Response system, although the Velar's road-focused design limited its off-road prowess.

The 2020 Dodge Durango offered a range of engines across its trims, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, standard on the SXT, GT, and Citadel trims. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, providing confident acceleration. The SRT trim took performance to another level with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, delivering 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. This engine, combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available all-wheel drive, offered impressive power and a thrilling driving experience. The SRT's performance-tuned suspension and Brembo brakes enhanced its handling, while the Dodge SRT performance pages allowed for detailed drive mode customization. The Durango SRT surprised with its car-like handling, minimal body roll, and strong acceleration, making it a standout in its class.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar occupied a unique position in terms of size, being larger than small luxury SUVs but smaller than midsize counterparts. Despite its size, the Velar's interior space was not as generous as expected, with competitors like the Mercedes-Benz GLC offering more legroom and the BMW X3 providing more headroom. Cargo space was competitive, with 15.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 48.9 cubic feet with them folded. The Velar's avant-garde styling, including a chopped roof, limited headroom and visibility, creating a somewhat claustrophobic interior. The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition and V6 models had a towing capacity of 5,511 pounds, while the base four-cylinder model could tow 5,291 pounds.

The 2020 Dodge Durango offered ample interior space, with 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 made it competitive with other three-row SUVs like the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot. The Durango's cabin provided comfortable seating, with the option of second-row captain's chairs or a three-passenger bench. The third row was best suited for children, but access was easy thanks to large second-row doors and easy-fold seats. The Durango's towing capacity ranged from 6,200 to 8,700 pounds, depending on the configuration, making it a versatile choice for families and adventurers alike.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, with dual 10.0-inch touchscreens, a WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The upper screen handled smartphone, navigation, and media functions, while the lower screen managed vehicle settings and climate control. While the system offered high-quality graphics and a sleek design, it was criticized for slow response times. Additional tech features included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and capacitive steering-wheel controls, which fit the minimalist cabin design but were prone to glare.

The 2020 Dodge Durango came equipped with the Uconnect infotainment system, featuring a 7-inch touchscreen on the SXT and GT trims, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen on higher trims. Uconnect was praised for its straightforward menu layout and ease of use, with a tablet-inspired layout and dock icons for easy navigation. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it simple to switch between interfaces. Higher trims offered navigation, SiriusXM Travel Link, and premium audio systems, including a 19-speaker Harman Kardon option. The semi-digital instrument panel was user-friendly, and the 2021 update promised further improvements.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar lacked safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, as low-volume luxury vehicles were not prioritized for crash testing. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and front and rear parking aids. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring were available as part of an option package. However, Land Rover's offerings were less sophisticated compared to competitors, with some features being optional rather than standard.

The 2020 Dodge Durango came with a comprehensive set of 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 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 NHTSA, with five stars in side crash testing. The IIHS rated it as Good in most tests, with Superior crash-prevention technology, though these features were optional.