2023 Jeep Wrangler vs 2023 Dodge Durango

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler had a distinct appearance that resonated with its rugged DNA. Designed to appear as a brick on wheels, the fourth-generation JL Wrangler showcased a no-nonsense aesthetic. Customers had the choice between a two-door Wrangler and the four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, both of which could be driven without doors for a more open-air experience. The optional Dual-Door Group added half doors for improved visibility while maintaining a sense of safety. The Wrangler's windshield could be folded down for that wind-in-your-face adventure, and variations in top options allowed for various levels of open-air driving experiences.

Wide fenders—which proudly displayed the American flag—alongside the iconic seven-slot grille, round headlights, and external hood latches, emphasized Jeep’s historical design touches. The rear tailgate swung out while the rear glass lifted up, facilitating easy access to the cargo area. Despite typically sticking to simple color schemes, Jeep introduced a daring limited-edition purple color dubbed Reign, adding a vibrant burst to its palette. Additionally, the new Earl color provided a subtle yet interesting gray hue with hints of aquamarine.

Inside, practicality was the primary theme with easy-to-clean floor mats and seats, devoid of unnecessary embellishments. For those seeking luxury features like ambient lighting or massaging seats, alternatives like the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen were recommended. The interior emphasized utilitarianism with its body-colored dash, sizable HVAC controls, and manual transfer case shifter.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Durango, even in its 12th model year without a redesign, retained a compelling and somewhat classic exterior look. Dodge sidestepped the faux ruggedness, leaning towards a clean and almost car-like styling. The Durango’s front fascia featured slim styling, bordered by forward-leaning headlights and a large lower air intake, providing an assertive presence without resorting to oversized grilles. The rear was marked by Dodge’s recognizable “racetrack” taillights.

The more powerful SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models had unique yet subtle styling differences, such as a Viper-like hood with functional air inlets and heat extractors. These models also received distinct wheels and a different front fascia with a chin splitter, engine-oil cooler duct, and induction snorkel, maintaining a similar shape to the standard front end. Styling features from the SRT models were also available on less powerful trims through packages like the Blacktop and Hemi Orange appearance packages, which added performance-inspired designs to V6 or V8 Durangos.

Inside, the Durango presented fewer remarkable styling details but maintained a pleasant atmosphere with appropriate material quality for each trim level. The R/T Plus Package offered a wrapped instrument panel, while the Durango Citadel included luxurious features like Nappa leather upholstery and heated seats. The sportier Durango SRT Hellcat model stood out with bold red leather upholstery.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler excelled in off-road performance, thanks to its solid axles and optional differential lockers. The versatile powertrain options provided something for every type of off-roader. The base Wrangler came with either a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque or a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Both engines could be paired with either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.

For those who valued torque, the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 generated 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. High-performance enthusiasts could opt for the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 with a 6.4-liter V8 engine delivering a massive 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, enabling this beast to hit 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Additionally, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe delivered a plug-in hybrid variant with two electric motors and a 17.3 kWh battery pack, yielding 21 miles of electric range.

Our test vehicle, the Wrangler Rubicon 392, exhibited impressive off-road prowess with its full-time 4WD and 35-inch BFGoodrich KO2 All-Terrain tires. However, it showed some deficiencies in on-road performance—specifically in its brakes and steering. The brakes weren't upgraded for the V8’s extra power, necessitating early and forceful braking. The vague steering added another layer of unpredictability.

In comparison, the 2023 Dodge Durango offered a broad range of powertrains, starting with the standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, producing 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 pound-feet of torque. All models paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with either standard rear-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8, standard on the Durango R/T and optional on the Citadel, generated 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque.

The performance-oriented Durango SRT 392 housed 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. But the Durango SRT Hellcat took the spotlight with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 producing a staggering 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, accelerating from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. Our Hellcat test car demonstrated this acceleration prowess vividly, albeit it felt somewhat unwieldy on twisty roads due to its size. Nevertheless, it offered an exhilarating highway experience with minimal wind and tire noise, complemented by the thrilling supercharger whine and exhaust rumble within the cabin.

In terms of interior comfort, the Jeep Wrangler offered functional yet limited amenities. While the front seats were comfortable, features like seat heating were available only through specific packages or on the 392 model. The rear seats had a tighter fit, especially in the two-door models, with small rear doors complicating entry and exit. Storage space was also limited; the dash didn’t provide any convenient cubby for small items, and both the glove box and center console were small. Cargo space measured just 72.4 cubic feet with rear seats folded, trailing behind competitors slightly.

The Wrangler provided flexible roof options, such as a hard top that could be removed in one piece or in front panel sections for quicker exposure. The Sunrider version offered a soft top option for partial open-air driving. Meanwhile, the Sky One-Touch power soft top allowed the roof to slide back in 17 seconds, even while driving up to 60 mph. Charging points were generous, with USB-A and USB-C ports available in both the front and back, alongside various 12-volt outlets and a 115-volt outlet in the center console.

The Dodge Durango’s interior provided more configurability with seven-seat or six-seat layouts. Standard models came with a second-row bench and third-row seats, while premium trims featured second-row captain’s chairs. The interior space in the Durango was generally on par with other midsize three-row SUVs, though its cargo space fell short. The Durango offered 17.2 cubic feet with all rows in place, 43.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.1 cubic feet behind the first row, which was less than the Chevrolet Traverse.

Small-item storage in the Durango was generous, with a large wireless charging pad and strategically placed USB ports. Models with the second-row captain’s chairs also had a large center console for added convenience. However, while the power liftgate was a nice feature, the lack of a power-folding third row was a downside, particularly for higher-end trims.

Regarding towing capabilities, the Durango offered a formidable advantage. V6 models could tow up to 6,200 pounds, while V8 models could handle up to 8,700 pounds, significantly outpacing the Wrangler's towing capacity.

The Jeep Wrangler came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect system, though the test model featured an upgraded 8.4-inch touchscreen. Despite the lack of physical buttons, the screen was intuitive once drivers familiarized themselves with it. Jeep’s off-road pages provided detailed information on various performance metrics and geographical coordinates. The system also supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ensuring seamless smartphone integration.

Beyond the infotainment system, the Wrangler included a forward-facing camera to aid off-road navigation and four auxiliary switches for aftermarket accessories. However, features like a digital key were absent, and over-the-air updates were limited to the Uconnect system.

The Dodge Durango's technology offerings included an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on the SXT and GT models, while the Citadel and SRT models received a larger 10.1-inch screen with wireless connectivity options. The bigger screen featured the latest Uconnect 5 system, offering a responsive and user-friendly experience. The SRT models added personalized touches like a burnout-themed animation on startup and a performance-focused environment.

The Durango’s SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat trims also featured the Performance Pages app, allowing drivers to access various performance metrics and additional gauges akin to those found in Dodge's performance cars. A premium 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available with the Premium Package on the SRT Hellcat.

Safety features in the 2023 Jeep Wrangler were lacking, with only a rearview camera, electronic roll mitigation, and stability control as standard across all trims. Advanced safety features like blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control were standard only on the top 392 model, with other trims requiring an option package. Lane-keeping assist wasn’t available at all.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ratings for the Wrangler were a mix of Good and Marginal scores across various categories, with headlights receiving a Poor rating on some trims. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Wrangler four out of five stars for frontal crash safety and three out of five for rollover safety. However, side crash ratings were not available.

The Dodge Durango also didn’t receive a full set of IIHS crash tests, garnering top scores in the moderate front overlap, side, and roof strength tests, but only marginal in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA rated the Durango with an overall four-star safety rating, including five stars for side crashes and four for frontal crashes. The rollover rating was four stars for rear-wheel drive models but dropped to three stars for all-wheel drive.

Standard driver-assist features were sparse in the Durango, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert standard across all trims. However, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking were standard only on the Citadel trim and unavailable on the base SXT model.