2022 Dodge Durango vs. 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L ・ Photo by Jeep

The comparison between the 2022 Dodge Durango and the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L might not be a fair fight. The Durango is an old and time-tested design while the Grand Cherokee L recently came on the market. It is the first three-row Grand Cherokee ever, and Jeep has hopes it will boost the brand’s already strong presence in the booming mid-size family SUV market. In a segment that is filled with front-drive-oriented crossovers, both the Dodge Durango and Grand Cherokee L are anomalies with their rear-drive-biased platforms. Both vehicles in this comparison can be equipped with optional V8 power, another key difference. Because of that, both are very good tow vehicles, something crossover SUVs aren’t as good at. The Durango and Grand Cherokee L will seat up to seven. One big difference: the Dodge Durango offers some performance-oriented variants. The Grand Cherokee L is a family-hauler.

Exterior Style

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L and Dodge Durango feature attractive exterior designs, but the emphasis is different. Depending upon the trim choice, the Durango is not only sleek and understated, but it can also look positively sinister. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L proudly sports the Jeep seven-slot grille. It has a classic SUV look that leverages other Jeep styling elements like the wheel openings. The Grand Cherokee L is four inches longer than the Durango, and it rides on a wheelbase that is two inches longer than the Dodge. The Citadel trim is the most chrome-decorated of all the Durangos, while the R/T and SRT have sleek, performance-car designs. And to further the musclecar image, the Durango offers the SRT performance look with all powertrains. It includes a distinctive front fascia and functional SRT hood with a center air inlet duct.

: Dodge Durango

Photo by Dodge

Interior Design

The 2021 Grand Cherokee L’s standard seating arrangement is for six passengers in three rows of bucket seats. The second-row seats tip and slide, offering seven inches of fore-and-aft travel. This makes entry into the third row an easy process, aided by the wide rear doors that open an impressive 64 degrees. The third-row seats are among the most accommodating in any mid-size three-row SUV. They will accept two adults with significantly more headroom than most third-row seats. Power-folding third-row seats are optional as is a second-row bench belted for three passengers. The Durango is available in six- and seven-passenger interior configurations. The available second-row captain’s chairs offer a pass-through to the two-person third row. Those seeking to transport more people can opt for the 60/40 split folding second-row seat. The interiors of both vehicles are well-designed and well-finished. The instruments are legible and easy to understand, and the controls gathered in the center stack area of the dash are easy to understand and operate.

: Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Photo by Jeep

Infotainment &Technology

Since both the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee are built by Stellantis, the owner of the Dodge and Jeep brands, it should come as no surprise that the two mid-size SUVs have similar infotainment offerings. What is surprising is the fact the offerings are virtually identical. Uconnect 4C is the standard infotainment system in the Durango STX and GT trims. It offers an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a SiriusXM trial subscription. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L Laredo and Limited trims have the same system. Some high-level Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee L models are fitted with the newer Uconnect 5 NAV system. It has a 10.1-inch display, and it includes wireless Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, HD radio, real-time traffic, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and integrated navigation. The Durango offers both Alpine and Harmon Kardon premium audio systems. The Grand Cherokee L counters with a very similar Alpine system and a top-of-the-line McIntosh high-performance audio sound system with 19 speakers, 10-inch subwoofer, and a 17-channel 950-watt amplifier.

: Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Photo by Jeep

Powertrains

The Dodge Durango gives it buyers more powertrain choices than those available on the Jeep Grand Cherokee. But again, because the vehicles are built by the same company, similarities abound. The Durango offers a base V6 engine and two high-horsepower V8s. The high-performance Durango SRT 392 has a 6.4-liter (392-cubic-inch) V8 that delivers 475 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. The Durango R/T has a 5.7-liter V8 engine that produces 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, and that engine is optional the Citadel trim. A very similar 5.7-liter 357-horsepower V8 engine is optional on the Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The Durango’s base engine, a 295-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, is also the base engine in the Grand Cherokee L. Both Durango and Grand Cherokee L use very similar eight-speed automatic transmissions. Grand Cherokee and Durango are available in rear-drive and 4x4 configurations. The Jeep offers three different four-wheel-drive systems.

: Dodge Durango

Photo by Dodge

Driving Impressions

When equipped with either of its V8 engines, the Dodge Durango is a tall musclecar that can also tow a boat and take the family on camping vacation. The Durango SRT 392 is a performance vehicle that has a lot in common with the Dodge Challenger and Charger. For driving fun, seven-passenger carrying capacity, and serious towing capabilities, the V8-equipped Durango R/T and Citadel trims are worthy choices. At the same time, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L offers better ride quality, quiet, and interior craftsmanship. In addition, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has much superior off-road abilities. It offers not just one 4-wheel-drive system but three. It has better base ground clearance than the Durango, and the Quadra-Lift air suspension system that is available on the Overland and Summit trims kicks that up a notch. If you seek a three-row that performs like a sports sedan on the highway, the Durango SRT 392 is your ticket to ride. If you seek to do serious off-roading, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is the obvious play. It offers excellent on-road ride and handling while taking all-terrain driving to the next level.

: Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Photo by Jeep

Safety & Driver Aids

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L offers a virtually unprecedented array of electronic advanced driving assistance systems for a vehicle in its class. Leading the list is the available hands-on-the-wheel active driving assist that uses lane centering and adaptive cruise control. All Grand Cherokee Ls have automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go. A night-vision camera system is available on Overland and Summit models. Other optionally available features include driver attention monitor, traffic sign recognition, and intersection collision-avoidance assist. The Dodge Durango upped its safety quotient for the 2022 model year by making blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert standard across the entire lineup. The Durango's optional Technology Group and Plus Group include adaptive cruise control with stop, forward-collision warning with active braking, advanced brake assist, and lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist.

: Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Photo by Jeep

Fuel Economy

The Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee L are big family haulers, so they are not designed to get fuel economy like a small hatchback or sedan. Since the two vehicles weigh about the same and have very similar powerplants, it is not surprising that their fuel economy is about the same. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Durango with the base 3.6-liter V6 and rear-drive delivers an estimated 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway. So does the Grand Cherokee L when equipped with the same engine. Equipping the SUVs with all-wheel drive costs about 1 mpg in both city and highway driving. A 5.7-liter V8-equipped all-wheel-drive Durango offers 14 mpg city/22 mpg on the highway. So does the similarly equipped Grand Cherokee L 4x4. The 475-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT 392 delivers 13 mpg city/19 mpg highway, according to the EPA. Drivers can expect a 5.7-liter V8-equipped Durango or Grand Cherokee L to get about 16 mpg in all-around driving.

: Tie

Photo by Jeep

Cargo Space & Towing

Cargo space is an important facet of a family-oriented vehicles. Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee L and the Dodge Durango measure up well, with the Jeep holding a slight edge. The Dodge Durango has a combined 141.4 cubic feet of passenger space in three rows of accommodations. The Grand Cherokee L has 151.9 cubic feet. With the third-row seats up for use, the Durango has 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat backs. So does the Grand Cherokee L. With the third-row seats folded, the Durango has 43.3 cubic feet of cargo area, while the Grand Cherokee L has 46.9 cubic feet. With both rows of rear seats folded, the Durango offers 85.1 cubic feet of cargo area, while the Grand Cherokee has 84.6 cubic feet. Equipped with the 3.6-liter V6 engine, the Grand Cherokee L and Durango both offer maximum towing of 6,200 pounds. When fitted with the 5.7-liter V8 engine, the rear-drive Durango’s tow rating is 7,400 pounds. The 4x4 Grand Cherokee L with its V8 offers 7,200 pounds of towing. The Durango SRT 392 delivers best-in-class towing capability of 8,700 pounds.

: Tie

Photo by Dodge

Pricing & Value

Some versions of the Dodge Durango are more expensive than the Grand Cherokee L. Other versions are less expensive. On a comparable-model basis, the prices of the Durango and Grand Cherokee L reflect the fact that Jeep is generally regarded as premium versus Dodge. And, of course, the Grand Cherokee L is a newer model, while the current Durango has been with us for years. A rear-drive Grand Cherokee L Laredo trim, the least expensive, has a suggested list of about $42,000. In comparison, the rear-drive Durango SXT, the least expensive trim, has a list price of about $39,000. The mid-range Durangos with V8 engines are priced between $50,000 and $60,000. A Grand Cherokee L 4x4 Overland trim with the V8 engine is priced at about $64,000. The major deviation comes at the top of the line. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve lists at around $65,000. The Durango SRT 392 lists at almost $70,000, but it has a higher-horsepower V8 than the Jeep does.

: Dodge Durango

Photo by Dodge

The Verdict

Both of these vehicles are strong contenders in the crowded mid-size SUV space. Both offer the advantages and disadvantages associated with rear-drive platforms. Both can be equipped with V8 engines, and both can do a serious amount of towing. It you seek at high-performance three-row SUV, the choice is very clear — the Dodge Durango SRT 392 is the pick. The Durango R/T is another less expensive choice that offers the same basic feel. For all-around use, however, you can’t argue against the newer tech and superior off-road and poor-weather capabilities of the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. So that is the winner of this comparison. Much as we like the Dodge Durango, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is our choice. 

: Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Photo by Jeep