2021 Dodge Durango vs 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5

The 2021 Dodge Durango retained much of its exterior styling since its third generation debuted in 2011. Built alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee in Detroit, the Durango maintained a distinct muscular stance and athletic styling, especially evident in the 2021 SRT Hellcat model. This model featured a cold-air scoop, throaty twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, rear spoiler, and a redesigned 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. The cabin boasted a new-for-2021 instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen running FCA’s Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The interior ranged from standard cloth upholstery to options like leather, suede, Nappa leather, and Laguna leather, with various contrast stitching and Demonic Red-colored seat belts adding a funky flavor.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 marked a significant departure from the original Ioniq, focusing solely on electrified mobility. The Ioniq 5 featured a polished exterior with minimal character lines and a unique Parametric Pixel design, reminiscent of 8-bit graphics. This design extended to all the vehicle's lights, creating a concept car-like appearance. The Ioniq 5's aerodynamic wheels and silver-contrast plastic bits added to its futuristic look. Inside, the cabin adopted a "Living Space" theme with a mellow, comfortable design available in black, gray, and dark green hues. The interior utilized sustainable materials, including recycled fibers and bio-materials, and featured a "Relaxation" mode for the driver's seat, enhancing comfort and usability.

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. All engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions, with rear-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. The V6 engine produced 293-295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the 5.7-liter V8 delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The 392 HEMI V8 in the Durango SRT 392 offered 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier 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 precise, but its chassis showed its age, with a reactionary suspension that transmitted bumps to the cabin. The Durango SRT models featured SRT Performance Pages for detailed performance information, and the R/T model offered a Tow N Go Package with a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 came in three trims (SE, SEL, and Limited) and two drive configurations (RWD and AWD). The base SE Standard Range model featured a 128-kW rear-mounted electric motor with 168 horsepower and a 220-mile range. The extended-range models had a 168-kW rear motor producing 225 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, with a 303-mile range. The AWD variants had a dual-motor system with a total power output of 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque, but the range dropped to 256 miles. The Ioniq 5 handled well on various road conditions, with four drive modes, including Sport mode, which added excitement but reduced range. Paddle shifters allowed for adjusting regenerative braking levels, and the vehicle featured noise-reducing technologies for a quiet ride.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler with comfortable seating, ample storage space, and family entertainment options. It offered seating for five in two rows, with an optional third row increasing capacity to seven. The front and second-row seats were spacious, and the third row was more accessible and roomy than many competitors. The Durango provided 21 seat options and had average cargo space for its class. The fit and finish of the Durango had improved significantly, making it a solid choice for families.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5, built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), offered a spacious interior with a longer wheelbase than the seven-passenger Hyundai Palisade. The Ioniq 5 had a total interior volume of 133.7 cubic feet, surpassing competitors like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4. The cabin featured soft touch points and a moveable center console, enhancing usability. The leatherette seats were comfortable and supportive, and the interior design focused on creating a relaxing "Living Space" for passengers.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the SXT and GT models, with higher trims getting a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the new Uconnect 5 system. This system was five times faster than its predecessor and offered user profiles, connected services, dual Bluetooth connections, Amazon Alexa, TomTom navigation, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates. The family entertainment system included a Blu-ray and DVD player with two 9-inch screens. The gauge cluster had some readability issues, but the TomTom navigation system was user-friendly and responsive.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 boasted advanced technology, including a high-voltage, energy-dense system with vehicle-to-load capabilities. It supported ultra-fast charging, reaching 80% battery capacity in 18 minutes and gaining 68 miles of range in 5 minutes. Hyundai partnered with Electrify America to offer unlimited 30-minute fast-charging sessions for two years. The Ioniq 5 featured a redesigned Blue Link app, digital key, enhanced smartphone pairing, AI-powered voice recognition, and over-the-air updates. The 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment were elegant, intuitive, and anti-glare coated.

The 2021 Dodge Durango lagged behind its rivals in safety features. It came standard with a rearview camera and passive safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Optional safety features included 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. The NHTSA gave the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating, but front crash testing ratings were not yet available.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 included Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) with features like blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and front- and rear-collision avoidance. Hyundai Highway Drive Assist I (HAD) was also standard, offering Level 2 semi-autonomous driving with machine-learning adaptive cruise control. The Ioniq 5 featured a head-up display (HUD) with augmented reality overlays, though it could be distracting. While crash-safety ratings were not yet available, Hyundai's recent track record suggested high marks were likely.