2021 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite being redesigned in 2019, retained a styling that appeared older due to its carryover design from the previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru seemed to follow the adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim level looked plain with 17-inch steel wheels, but the Forester's clean and unpretentious look stood out among compact crossovers. The Sport models added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact, especially with complementary paint colors like Dark Blue Pearl.

Underneath, the Forester rode on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with models like the Impreza and Outback. The interior was practical, with materials designed to withstand years of use. The Sport trim added orange accents and cross-stitching, while higher trims offered leather upholstery. The All-Weather Package, standard on Premium and higher trims, included heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, and a windshield de-icer.

The 2021 Dodge Durango, largely unchanged in exterior styling since 2011, maintained a muscular stance and athletic styling, aligning with Dodge's Charger and Challenger. The 2021 model year saw revisions, especially in the new SRT Hellcat model, which featured a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, and a rear spoiler. The Durango offered six different 20-inch wheel varieties and one 18-inch version, with 11 exterior colors and six interior color schemes.

Inside, the Durango featured a new instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The cabin became more premium with higher trims, offering cloth, leather, suede, Nappa leather, and Laguna leather options. The updates to the dashboard modernized the Durango, aligning it with Dodge's muscle cars. The Durango's variety of grades catered to different needs, from track-ready equipment to fine appointments.

The 2021 Subaru Forester was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity. Subaru quoted a 1,500-pound maximum towing capacity, with Trailer Stability Assist as standard. The Forester's power felt adequate but lacked the thrust needed for highway merging or overtaking. The suspension was softly tuned, resulting in poor body control and a bouncy ride on uneven pavement. However, the Forester's standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and 8.7 inches of ground clearance made it capable on mud and dirt.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered four engines: 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 293-295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the 5.7-liter V8 delivered 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The 392 HEMI V8 offered 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, and the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the SRT Hellcat produced 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. The Durango's 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 the chassis showed its age, with a reactionary suspension that passed bumps to the cabin. The SRT models offered impressive stopping power with Brembo brakes and track-ready features.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roof. The roofline also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feeling. The Forester had 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them down. It lacked a sliding second-row bench but offered a power liftgate on higher trims. The interior had decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, but the phone-storage cubby was too small, and wireless charging was not available. The Forester's controls were user-friendly, though the steering wheel had too many buttons.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler, with comfortable seating, ample storage space, and family entertainment options. It could seat up to seven across three rows, with spacious front and second-row seats. The third row was more spacious than many competitors and easy to access. The Durango offered 21 seat options, providing plenty of choices for buyers. The cargo space was average for its class, functioning as expected. The Durango's fit and finish had improved significantly, standing out compared to earlier models.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while higher trims included navigation and rear USB ports. The system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, but the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also had a secondary screen in the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, which seemed overly complex.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 10.1-inch touchscreen on higher trims, running the new Uconnect 5 system. Uconnect 5 was five times faster than its predecessor, offering 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 system was easy to navigate, with clear graphics and responsive touch. The Durango also offered a family entertainment system with a Blu-ray and DVD player and two 9-inch screens. The gauge cluster had a unique look but made it difficult to read the exact speed. The TomTom navigation system was user-friendly and responsive, though a head-up display would have enhanced usability.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. The Forester also offered a driver-monitoring system, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. EyeSight's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions performed adequately, though the latter's steering inputs were jerky.

The 2021 Dodge Durango lagged behind in safety, with only a rearview camera as a standard active safety feature. Optional 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 Durango received a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating from the NHTSA, but its front crash testing ratings were not yet available.