2021 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Audi Q5

The 2021 Audi Q5 was a sharp-looking crossover SUV that carried the Audi design language well while maintaining its individual character within the lineup. It had an expressive face with LED headlights beside the big Audi Singleframe grille, emphasizing width. The body featured crisp character lines, and the rear showcased bold, large taillights. The plug-in Q5 wore S-Line trim pieces and enhancements, including standard 19-inch wheels or optional 20-inch wheels, giving it an even better appearance. Inside, the Q5 was classy and modern, packed with technology yet maintaining an uncluttered look. The 10.1-inch touchscreen floated at the top of the center stack, and the second row was nicely appointed with standard leather seating surfaces.

The 2021 Dodge Durango retained much of its exterior styling since its current generation debuted in 2011. Built alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Durango had a muscular stance and athletic styling, especially apparent in the new 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat model. This model featured a cold-air scoop, throaty twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, rear spoiler, and a different front end. The Durango offered six different 20-inch wheel varieties and one 18-inch version, with 11 exterior colors and six interior color schemes available. Inside, the Durango featured a new-for-2021 instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen running FCA’s fresh Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The cabin became increasingly more premium and sophisticated as one moved up through the trim levels.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV took the already fun-to-drive Q5 and made it better by adding an additional 114 horsepower and 96 pound-feet of torque with a 14.1-kWh battery. The total combined output for the PHEV was 362 hp and 373 lb-ft of torque, matching well with the crossover’s 4,665-lb curb weight. The Q5 PHEV could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds and achieved impressive fuel-economy figures of 65 MPGe combined. In gasoline-only mode, it was rated at 27 mpg combined. The battery pack could be recharged overnight with household current or in 2.4 hours with Level 2 service. The Q5 PHEV used a seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission with full-time Quattro all-wheel drive and offered various driving modes for battery power management. Handling was good, with a slightly stiff, sporty setting that balanced comfort with road feel, and braking was powerful and predictable.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered four different engines: a 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, a 392 HEMI V8, and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8. All engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions, with rear-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. The V6 made 293 hp (single exhaust) or 295 hp (dual exhaust) and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 5.7-liter V8 produced 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, while the 392 HEMI V8 delivered 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 in the Durango SRT Hellcat produced 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. The Durango's steering was on-point, but the chassis showed its age, with the suspension allowing bumps to be passed on to the cabin. The Durango R/T with the Tow N Go Package had a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds and felt stable when towing. The SRT models offered SRT Performance Pages for vehicle performance information.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV managed to carry its battery pack under the luggage compartment floor, preserving cargo space. It offered 25.1 cubic feet of space behind the second row and up to 53.1 cubic feet with the second row folded down. The second row provided 37.8 inches of legroom, 37.7 inches of headroom, and 56.5 inches of shoulder room. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, with a wide range of adjustments, heating, and ventilation on the Prestige trim. The front row featured cupholders, cubbies, and a small storage bin in the center-console armrest.

The 2021 Dodge Durango was a versatile family hauler with comfortable seating, good storage space, and family entertainment options. It came standard with seating for five in two rows and could seat up to seven across three rows. The front and second-row seats were spacious, with enough room for taller drivers and passengers. The optional third row was more spacious than many other models' third rows and was easy to access. The Durango offered 21 seat options, providing plenty of choices for buyers. The cargo space was about average for its class and functioned as advertised. The Durango's fit and finish had improved significantly since the early part of the last decade.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV featured Audi’s latest MMI 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which was impressive and easy to use. The Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus 12.3-inch HD instrument cluster offered three views and elevated the cabin's futuristic tech. The Prestige Package included the Navigation Package, which optimized fuel consumption and battery usage in hybrid mode. The Integrated Toll Module (ITM) was standard on all Q5 models, and a Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system was available on Premium Plus models and standard on the Prestige trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay was included and worked seamlessly.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the SXT and GT, with higher trim levels getting a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Uconnect 5 was five times faster than the old system and offered greater personalization, connected services, Amazon Alexa connectivity, TomTom navigation, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates. The system was easy to navigate and responsive. The Durango also offered a family entertainment system with a Blu-ray and DVD player and two high-resolution 9-inch screens. SRT models received unique appearance features, including SRT’s “smoke show” start-up animation and SRT serpentine font. The TomTom navigation system was a clear winner, with easy-to-read graphics and quick response to changes.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV hadn’t been rated by the IIHS yet, but the 2020 Q5 received top “good” ratings in every category except headlights, which received a “marginal” rating. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Audi Q5 gasoline model five stars but hadn’t yet rated the PHEV. Safety features included six airbags, an anti-lock braking system with brake assist, Audi Pre Sense basic preventative occupant protection, low-speed collision assist, power child safety locks, electronic stability control, electronic vehicle immobilization, anti-theft alarm, interior motion sensor, LED daytime running lights and taillights, LATCH connectors, a rearview camera, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Available driver-assistance features included Audi Advanced Key, Audi Pre Sense rear, Audi Side Assist with rear cross-traffic alert, Parking System Plus, adaptive cruise control, park steering assist, traffic-sign recognition, and a top-view camera system.

The 2021 Dodge Durango fell short in safety compared to its rivals. It came standard with a rearview camera and passive safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Depending on the trim level 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. Many rivals offered these features as standard across most of their lineup. The IIHS hadn’t yet rated the 2021 Durango, but the NHTSA gave it a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating. The front crash testing ratings were not yet released.