2025 Dodge Durango vs 2024 Kia Seltos

The 2024 Kia Seltos underwent a mid-cycle refresh, resulting in subtle yet impactful changes. The updated headlight and grille designs, along with a connecting light strip between the smaller taillight assemblies, gave the Seltos a rejuvenated appearance without a significant price increase. The test model, adorned in the new "Pluton Blue" paint, presented a sharp look. Inside, the Seltos introduced two new interior colors, "Gentle Brown" and "Midnight Green," although the test model featured the standard black interior. A prominent change was the large digital panel spanning two-thirds of the dash, integrating a fully digital instrument panel and a larger touchscreen infotainment system.

The 2025 Dodge Durango, particularly in the SRT Hellcat Premium trim with the Silver Bullet special edition package, showcased a bold and aggressive exterior. The Triple Nickel paint, satin black hood, unique wheels, dark badges, and black exhaust tips contributed to its assertive stance. Inside, the Durango maintained a subdued yet premium feel with dark red Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner. The cabin was well-constructed, though some plastic surfaces detracted from the overall luxury. The performance seats offered comfort and support, but lacked the secure hold needed for spirited driving.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The base model featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with Kia's Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). The LX trim came standard with all-wheel drive, while the S and EX trims offered front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive. The X-Line and SX trims boasted a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission. This turbo engine provided noticeable acceleration improvements, especially in 40-to-60 mph scenarios, despite some turbo lag at lower speeds. The Seltos handled various road conditions well, with responsive steering and minimal body roll.

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a simplified powertrain lineup. The GT model featured a 295-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, while the R/T had a 360-hp 5.7-liter V8. The SRT Hellcat, with its supercharged 6.2-liter V8, delivered a staggering 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. This powerhouse accelerated to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and reached a top speed of 180 mph. Despite its impressive performance, the Durango SRT Hellcat suffered from poor fuel economy, returning 12/17/13 mpg in city/highway/combined driving. The SUV's full-time all-wheel drive system, adaptive damping suspension, and Brembo brakes ensured excellent handling and control, making it feel track-ready.

The 2024 Kia Seltos provided up to 62.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 26.6 cubic feet with them in use. The SX trim offered a hands-free power liftgate. The Seltos featured an upright seating position, ample headroom, and good rear legroom, accommodating taller occupants comfortably. The front seating area included decently sized in-door cupholders and cubbies, while the SX trim added a removable cargo cover.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in interior space and functionality. The SRT Hellcat Premium model featured heated and ventilated front seats with Nappa leather, though they lacked secure support during spirited driving. The second-row captain's chairs offered good leg support and legroom, while the third-row seat provided ample space for adults. The Durango's power liftgate revealed 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 85.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The SUV included thoughtful features like rear climate controls, USB ports, and a household-style power outlet.

The 2024 Kia Seltos featured a consistent digital bezel across trims, with screen sizes varying. The base model had an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel and touchscreen. The infotainment system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with physical controls for volume and climate settings. The SX trim offered an eight-speaker Bose premium stereo system and Digital Key 2 Touch for smartphone access.

The 2025 Dodge Durango came equipped with a Uconnect 5 infotainment system featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and native navigation. The system supported dual-phone Bluetooth pairing, Alexa compatibility, and wireless charging. The SRT Hellcat included SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics. The test vehicle featured a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, providing excellent sound quality.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered standard driver assistance features like forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and driver attention warning. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and smart cruise control. The SX trim included traffic sign recognition and highway driving assist.

The 2025 Dodge Durango's safety features were limited, with standard offerings like forward-collision warning and blind-spot monitoring. Optional upgrades included adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The Durango received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a concerning performance in the IIHS small overlap frontal-impact test.