2023 Dodge Durango vs 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar was a testament to Land Rover's long-standing tradition of crafting luxury SUVs. It exuded class and elegance, with a design that was unmistakably Range Rover. The Velar's sleek, sporty package was a scaled-down version of the big Range Rover's iconic profile, featuring a long wheelbase, short overhangs, and a distinctive trapezoidal roof. Its exterior was a blend of blocky and streamlined elements, highlighted by flush door handles and intricate taillight lenses. The interior, though less opulent than previous models, maintained high-quality materials and a polished black center stack, with three sharp screens providing a sophisticated interface.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Durango, despite entering its 12th model year without a redesign, remained an attractive and familiar face. Dodge opted for clean, car-like styling, avoiding oversized grilles and instead featuring slim styling with forward-leaning headlights. The Durango's signature "racetrack" taillights added a distinctive touch. The SRT models, including the muscular SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat, boasted unique styling features like a Viper-like hood and unique wheels. The interior, while not as distinctive as the exterior, offered a comfortable space with materials suited to their price points. The Durango Citadel added luxurious features like Nappa leather upholstery and heated seats, while the SRT Hellcat test car featured bold red leather upholstery.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar shared its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, offering handling and steering that set it apart from previous Land Rover models. Its lower center of gravity and lighter weight contributed to improved cornering and braking. The base engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, producing 247 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The Velar also offered an optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, available in two states of tune: 340 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque for the base S and R-Dynamic models, and 395 hp and 405 lb-ft for the R-Dynamic HSE. This powertrain provided high performance while reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, producing 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 pound-feet of torque. The Durango R/T featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The SRT 392 model boasted a 6.4-liter naturally-aspirated Hemi V8, delivering 475 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The Durango SRT Hellcat took performance to another level with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, producing 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The Hellcat's acceleration was exhilarating, and its adaptive-damping suspension, Pirelli P Zero tires, and Brembo brakes made managing its power a breeze.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar offered a tighter interior compared to midsize SUVs, with limited headroom and visibility due to its stylish design. Cargo space was modest, with 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Velar's design sacrifices included a lack of a discrete parking brake control, replaced by a multifunctional P button. The Pivi Pro infotainment system improved the interface, but the Velar's redesign of critical controls was seen as a frustrating trend.

The 2023 Dodge Durango provided a more spacious interior, available in seven-seat or six-seat configurations. It offered competitive headroom and legroom compared to other three-row midsize SUVs, though cargo space was less than some rivals, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.1 cubic feet behind the first row. The Durango excelled in small-item storage, with a large wireless charging pad and well-placed USB ports. It also boasted impressive towing capabilities, with V6 models towing up to 6,200 pounds and V8 models up to 8,700 pounds.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system was surprisingly reliable, with a simplified layout and customizable features. It included a voice assistant, a PM2.5 air filter, and a heated windshield. The navigation system offered intelligent features like traffic detours and automatic directions for commuting. The Velar also featured a 360-degree camera system and an optional adaptive cruise control with steering assist.

The 2023 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on SXT and GT models, while the Citadel and SRT models received a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity. The Uconnect 5 system was responsive and user-friendly, with added personality for SRT models. The SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat included the Performance Pages app, providing performance information on the main touchscreen. A 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on the SRT Hellcat.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar scored well in the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), with a five-star rating and a 93-percent score for front and side impact tests. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and parking sensors. Optional features included 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed results in IIHS tests, with top "Good" marks in some tests but a "Marginal" score in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall safety rating, with five stars in the side crash test. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert, while forward collision warning and other advanced features were limited to higher trims.