2023 Dodge Durango vs 2022 Volvo XC90

The 2022 Volvo XC90 represented a significant evolution from the brand's earlier boxy designs, maintaining its family-friendly and safety-oriented image while stepping into the luxury class. After Volvo's acquisition by China's Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010, the company developed new platforms, including the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) for the XC90, which debuted as a 2016 model. The 2022 XC90 showcased a sleek and athletic profile, with a long roofline and pronounced wheel arches. Its interior was a testament to Scandinavian Modern and Swedish Luxury, featuring natural wood and metal trim, and options for Nappa leather or a tailored wool blend upholstery.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Durango, despite entering its 12th model year without a redesign, maintained an attractive and familiar presence. 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 SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat, boasted unique styling features like a Viper-like hood and dual exhaust outlets. The interior, while not as distinctive as the exterior, offered a comfortable space with materials suited to various price points, and options for Nappa leather and heated seats in higher trims.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered a range of powertrains, starting with the T5 model's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 model enhanced this with a supercharged and turbocharged version, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 plug-in hybrid combined a supercharged/turbocharged engine with an electric motor, achieving a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. The XC90's driving experience was notable for its minimal body roll and spirited acceleration, particularly in the T8 Inscription extended range model, which provided a smooth power delivery.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a variety of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, standard on SXT, GT, and Citadel trims, producing 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8, standard on the R/T and optional on the Citadel, delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft. The SRT 392 model featured a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 475 hp and 475 lb-ft, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The SRT Hellcat took performance to another level with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, producing 710 hp and 645 lb-ft, reaching 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The Hellcat's acceleration was exhilarating, though its size made it less agile on twisty roads.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with easy access to the third row via a one-handed slide and fold of the second row. While the third row was suitable for children, adults might find it lacking in legroom. The XC90 provided 15.9 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, expanding to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 85.7 cubic feet with both rows down. It could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration. The interior was spacious and airy, enhanced by a panoramic moonroof, and the air-conditioning system performed well even in high temperatures.

The 2023 Dodge Durango was available in seven-seat or six-seat configurations, with standard front bucket seats, a second-row bench, and a third-row bench on SXT, GT, and R/T models. The Citadel, SRT 392, and SRT Hellcat models featured second-row captain's chairs. The Durango offered competitive interior space compared to other midsize SUVs, with 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 43.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.1 cubic feet behind the first row. It excelled in towing capacity, with V6 models capable of towing 6,200 pounds and V8 models up to 8,700 pounds.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a nine-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen, offering intuitive smartphone-like gestures. However, the system was occasionally glitchy and slow, performing better with Apple CarPlay. The XC90 included a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system. The standard Harman Kardon sound system could be upgraded to a Bowers & Wilkins system. The vehicle offered USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care app for remote functions.

The 2023 Dodge Durango's SXT and GT models came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, while the Citadel and SRT models featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 5. The system was responsive and user-friendly, with unique features for SRT models, including performance information and animations. The SRT models also had the Performance Pages app for detailed performance data. A 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on the SRT Hellcat.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping aid. Volvo's Pilot Assist system provided assisted driving capabilities on highways. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed safety ratings, with "Good" marks in some IIHS tests but a "Marginal" score in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA awarded it a four-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, with additional features available on higher trims.