When you’re shopping for an SUV, you have more options than ever before. In the past, most of the choices for buyers in this segment came from Jeep. But now, just about every auto manufacturer has at least one SUV in its lineup, making it harder to find the right one for your needs. Check out this comparison of the 2017 Dodge Durango vs. the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee to determine which model will work for you.
Size
One of the major differences between these two SUVS is size. The 2017 Grand Cherokee has seating for five, while the Durango is available with seven seats. If you have a larger family or plan to transport additional people often, the Durango with the third-row seats will be a better option. Unlike other SUVs, which tend to have a cramped third row that can barely fit children comfortably, the Durango’s rear seats actually have enough space for adults. It’s also available with a V-8 engine, delivering more power and towing capacity.
Trim Levels
The 2017 Grand Cherokee comes in five trim levels. Even the base model is equipped with dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and a 5-inch touch screen display. Upgrade to one of the higher trims to get features like heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, extended leather upholstery, a self-parking system for perpendicular and parallel spots, and diamond-quilted leather upholstery. When you’re traveling with kids, the dual-screen rear entertainment system is definitely a necessary upgrade.
When you choose the 2017 Durango, you won’t get quite as many luxurious features in the base trim. Most of those extras are available in the higher of the four trims, along with an 8.4-inch touch screen display with voice controls and a nine-speaker audio system with a subwoofer. Black out your Durango with the Blacktop Appearance package, which adds black-painted wheels and other black exterior accents.
Both vehicles come equipped with standard tech features, including Bluetooth connectivity, a touch-screen display, a USB port, and an auxiliary jack.
Safety
The standard safety equipment on both models is comparable, with stability and traction control, plenty of air bags throughout the cabin, and antilock brakes. The base Durango doesn’t include a rearview camera or rear parking sensors, although they are available as options and come standard on the other three trims. Other active safety features are available in packages, such as blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning with automatic braking, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.
These same active safety features come standard on the top trim level of the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee, along with front parking sensors and the self-parking system. All trim levels come with a rearview camera.
Performance
When you want to handle rough terrain, the 2017 Grand Cherokee is the top choice. It’s tough to beat a Jeep when it comes to off-roading, and even the luxurious SUV can tackle all types of road conditions. The Trailhawk trim is the best for off-roaders. Rear-wheel drive is the standard configuration on the Durango, although all-wheel drive is available as an option.
Test drive both of these vehicles to find the perfect model for your lifestyle.
Photo by Zytonits via Flickr | Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 | Cropped from original
August 10