2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2023 Dodge Durango

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse was a practical choice for those who needed the utility of a minivan but preferred the styling of an SUV. It offered a range of trims starting from the base LS at $33,700, with the High Country trim reaching $53,400. The Traverse featured a modest restyle for 2022, with new headlights, taillights, and grille designs, along with various appearance packages like the Redline Edition. The RS trim, which was tested, showcased blacked-out trim and 20-inch wheels, making it one of the more visually appealing options in its segment. Inside, the Traverse RS boasted black leather upholstery with contrasting stitching, though it was criticized for its use of hard plastics in areas where comfort was expected. The interior layout was logical, with user-friendly controls for the stereo and climate systems.

The 2023 Dodge Durango, despite its age, maintained an attractive and clean design, avoiding the oversized grille trend. It featured Dodge's signature "racetrack" taillights and offered unique styling cues for the SRT models, such as a Viper-like hood and distinctive wheels. The Durango's interior, while not as distinctive as its exterior, provided a comfortable environment with materials appropriate for its price point. Higher trims like the Citadel and SRT models added luxury features such as Nappa leather and heated seats. The Durango also expanded its color palette for 2023, adding options like Frostbite and Triple Nickel. The SRT Hellcat test car stood out with its bold red leather upholstery, emphasizing its performance-oriented nature.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a single engine option, a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped and featured various driving modes, including Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road. The Traverse delivered a firm yet compliant ride, with a fuel economy rating of 20 mpg in combined driving for the AWD model. It excelled on highways, though road and wind noise were noticeable. The Traverse's handling was predictable, with limited body roll and a flat cornering attitude, but its all-season tires and softer suspension at higher speeds detracted from its overall performance.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, producing up to 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8, standard on the R/T trim, delivered 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The SRT 392 model featured a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 475 horsepower, while the SRT Hellcat boasted a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 710 horsepower. The Hellcat's performance was exhilarating, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. Despite its size, the Durango handled well on highways, with minimal wind and tire noise. The adaptive-damping suspension and Brembo brakes made managing its power easy, though its size was a challenge on twisty roads.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven with captain's chairs in the RS trim, though it lacked a second-row bench option. It featured power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The Smart Slide function and long rear doors facilitated access to the third row. The Traverse provided ample storage, including a hidden compartment behind the infotainment screen and another under the cargo floor. Cargo space was generous, with 23 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 98.2 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2023 Dodge Durango was available in six or seven-seat configurations, with captain's chairs standard on higher trims. It offered competitive interior space compared to rivals, though it lagged in cargo capacity, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row and 85.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The Durango excelled in small-item storage, with a large wireless charging pad and USB ports. It also boasted impressive towing capabilities, with a maximum of 8,700 pounds for V8 models. However, the lack of a power-folding third row was a drawback for higher trims.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with the latter available on higher trims. It supported Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and offered a WiFi hotspot. The RS trim included a Bose premium sound system and a digital rearview mirror. The infotainment system was praised for its voice recognition capabilities, though the screen size was considered small by modern standards.

The 2023 Dodge Durango came with an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen, depending on the trim. The larger screen featured the Uconnect 5 system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SRT models included Performance Pages, providing performance data and gauges. The infotainment system was responsive and user-friendly, with unique animations for SRT models. A 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on the SRT Hellcat.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included features like forward-collision warning and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims offered additional safety technologies, such as adaptive cruise control and rear pedestrian alert. The Traverse received top "Good" ratings in most IIHS tests, though it was rated "Acceptable" in a new side-impact test. NHTSA ratings were not available at the time of writing.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed safety ratings. It earned "Good" marks in some IIHS tests but was rated "Marginal" in the driver-side small overlap front test. NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating, with five stars in the side crash test. Standard safety features were limited, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert included on all trims. Advanced features like forward collision warning were only standard on the Citadel trim.