2021 Dodge Durango vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2021 Dodge Durango maintained its muscular and athletic styling, reminiscent of its Charger and Challenger siblings. Despite its third-generation design dating back to 2011, the Durango received updates for 2021, particularly evident in the SRT Hellcat model. This version featured a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, and a rear spoiler, enhancing its aggressive look. The Durango offered a variety of wheel options and a choice of 11 exterior colors, with six interior color schemes. Inside, the cabin was updated with a new instrument panel and a choice of touchscreens running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The interior materials ranged from cloth to premium leather, with options for contrast stitching and unique seat belt colors, providing a modern and customizable feel.

The 2022 Genesis GV70, while inheriting some styling elements from other Genesis models, presented a unique appearance with its quad LED headlights and taillights, shield-shaped grille, and sloping roofline. The Sport Prestige model added character with its specific front fascia, 21-inch wheels, and dark chrome trim. The interior featured an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing, with a minimalistic design and a touchscreen perched atop the dashboard. The GV70 offered a wide array of interior color options, with Nappa leather upholstery and suede seat inserts in the Sport Prestige model. The base models, however, came with leatherette seats. The GV70's design combined ruggedness with sleek, car-like elements, making it stand out in its segment.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered four engine options: a 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, a 392 HEMI V8, and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8. The V6 produced up to 295 horsepower, while the 5.7-liter V8 delivered 360 hp. The 392 HEMI V8 offered 475 hp, and the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the SRT Hellcat model boasted 710 hp. All engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions, with rear-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. The Durango's steering was precise, but its chassis showed its age, with a suspension that allowed bumps to be felt in the cabin. The SRT models included SRT Performance Pages for track days, and the R/T model offered a Tow N Go Package with a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came with two engine options: a 2.5-liter turbo-four producing 300 horsepower and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 hp. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The GV70 included a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty character. The Sport+ drive mode sharpened throttle response and held high revs, but the chassis lacked the sharpness of some competitors. The steering was adequate but not precise enough for spirited driving. The GV70 felt more comfortable on highways, though the ride was firm with 21-inch wheels. The exhaust sound was not particularly pleasant, despite the sporty design.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler with comfortable seating, ample storage space, and family-friendly entertainment options. Its midsize packaging made it versatile, with a spacious optional third row that was easy to access. The Durango offered 21 seat options, providing plenty of choices for buyers. The cargo space was average for its class, but the fit and finish had improved significantly since the early days of the current generation.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for its segment, with adequate legroom and good rear-seat visibility. The cargo space was 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The front seats in the Sport Prestige model were heavily bolstered, offering heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions. The GV70 included a covered storage cubby with USB ports and rear-seat climate controls, but the ride was firm with 21-inch wheels, and the feeling of solidity was lacking compared to true luxury vehicles.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the SXT and GT models, while higher trims received a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The system offered connected services, dual Bluetooth connections, Amazon Alexa connectivity, TomTom navigation, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates via a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system was user-friendly, with clear graphics and a pleasing blue color. SRT models had unique appearance features, including a "smoke show" start-up animation and SRT serpentine font. The TomTom navigation system was praised for its easy-to-read graphics and quick response to changes.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered a 14.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The screen's landscape orientation and pinch-and-zoom functionality made it user-friendly. Higher trims included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 also featured a digital-key, a cloud-based driver profile, and a radar-based rear-seat monitor. The 360-degree camera system could be activated remotely through an app, allowing drivers to see their surroundings before getting in. The GV70's tech offerings were praised for being user-friendly and innovative compared to many competitors.

The 2021 Dodge Durango came with a standard rearview camera and passive safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Optional active safety features included lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. However, many of these features were standard on rival models. The NHTSA gave the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating, while IIHS ratings were not available.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver-attention monitor. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. The Highway Driving Assist system provided smooth control inputs but struggled with sharp curves. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time.