If you’re in the market for a new SUV and don’t know where to start your search, we have you covered. Since the 2020 Ford Expedition and 2020 Dodge Durango are both popular in the SUV market, we’ve put together a comparison of these two vehicles for your convenience. The Durango starts out at a reasonable price of $30,795, whereas its competitor, the Expedition, starts out quite a bit higher at $52,810. We understand that budget and price point are a big consideration when purchasing a new vehicle. So, let’s find out if that price difference is worth the leap or not.
Fuel Efficiency
Due to its larger size, the Expedition has a fuel efficiency of 17 mpg City / 23 mpg Highway compared to the Durango which sits slightly higher at 19 mpg City / 26 mpg Highway.
Power
The Durango comes standard with an 8-speed Automatic Transmission whereas the Expedition comes equipped with a 10-speed making each drive a smoother one. The Expedition is also equipped with significantly higher power output in comparison to the Durango. If you are looking for a strong and capable vehicle, the Expedition easily wins this battle. Its standard 3.5L Turbo V6 engine produces an impressive 375 horsepower and 470 lb. ft. of torque. If you’re looking for even more power, the Platinum trim’s 3.5L Turbo V6 engine can pump out an astounding 400 horsepower and 480 lb. ft. of torque.
On the other hand, the Durango offers four engines instead of two, which may play a part in its lower starting price. The standard 3.6L V6 engine produces a mediocre 293 horsepower and 260 lb. ft. of torque. The next step up in its engine lineup is the Dual Exhaust 3.6L V6 which allows the Durango to produce an unimpressive two additional horsepower.
If you are in the market for a more powerful engine you will need to upgrade to one of the two V8 engines offered for the Durango. The 5.7L V8 can produce up to 360 horsepower and 390 lb. ft. of torque and the top-of-the-line 6.4L V8 finally gets up into the same league as the Expedition and is able to pump out an impressive 475 horsepower and 470 lb. ft. of torque. However, the 6.4L V8 engine is only available on the top trim level in the Durango lineup. The price for the SRT trim starts at $59,740 which brings your price point up to the Expedition’s standard engine lineup.
Even with the largest and most powerful engine that the Durango offers it can still only tow up to 8,700 lbs. in comparison to the 9,300 lbs. of maximum towing capacity the Expedition is able to achieve.
Comfort and Convenience
The Durango and Expedition can both provide a luxurious driving experience with their available front Leather-Trimmed, heated and ventilated seats, and standard Leather Steering Wheel. You even have the option in both SUVs to upgrade the steering wheel to be heated so you won’t have to worry about cold hands no matter the time of year.
The Expedition also offers a hands-free power liftgate whereas the Durango only offers a normal power / remote operated liftgate. The Expedition’s Platinum trim adds a computer-generated Active Noise Cancellation System which is not a feature found in the Durango.
Space
If you are looking for a larger vehicle with the ability to pack around a lot of people and a great deal of cargo, the Expedition fits that bill. It has the ability to seat up to eight passengers, whereas the Durango can only seat up to seven. On top of providing added cargo room, the Expedition also makes things a bit easier and more comfortable with its available automatic folding and reclinable second and third row seats which are both features not available in the Durango. Here is a breakdown of the max cargo dimensions for each vehicle.
Expedition’s Cargo Volume:
- 104.6 Cubic Feet Behind First Row
- 63.6 Cubic Feet Behind Second Row
- 20.9 Cubic Feet Behind Third Row
Durango’s Cargo Volume:
- 84.5 Cubic Feet Behind First Row
- 47.7 Cubic Feet Behind Second Row
- 17.2 Cubic Feet Behind Third Row
Technology
Once again, it is hard to deny the more impressive features the Expedition has to offer in comparison to its competitor. In the technological sector, the Expedition comes equipped with a Wi-Fi Hotspot, four 12V power points, and four smart charging USB ports. The Expedition also offers tech upgrades such as Wireless Charging, two additional smart charging USB ports, a 110V/150W AC Power Outlet, and a 12-Speaker B&O Sound System.
The Durango has an available 115V Auxiliary power outlet, which is not offered in the Expedition. It also offers an available Wi-Fi Hotspot. Instead of four 12V power points like the Expedition, you only have two in the Durango. The Durango has up to four USB ports, however, only two come standard. Lastly, the Alpine® Sound System the Durango offers only includes 9-speakers, which falls short in comparison to the Expedition’s 12-speaker system.
Safety
When looking through the list of standard and available features for these SUVs, the Durango comes in second for this battle as well. Not only does the Expedition get a Five-Star Rating by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in comparison to the Durango’s Four-Star Rating, its list of safety features is almost triple that in the Durango. On top of an impressive list of safety features, the Expedition has what is called a LIMP system. This unique system prevents the driver from being stranded due to the loss of the engine’s coolant. It enables the engine to only run on half of its cylinders so the driver can continue to drive to a safe nearby destination. Here is a list of standard and available safety features for an easy comparison at how they stack up.
Expedition
Standard Safety Features:
- Auto High-Beam Headlamp
- Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking
- Reverse Sensing System
- AdvanceTrac® w/RSC® (Roll Stability Control™)
- Electronic Stability Control
- Traction Control
- Hill Start Assist (included on 4x2 and 4x4 models)
- Hill Descent Control™ (included on 4x4 models only)
- Auto Stop-Start Technology
- Rear View Camera with Backup Assist Grid Lines and Washer
Available Safety Features:
- Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross-Traffic Alert with Trailer Tow Monitoring
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go
- Lane-Keeping System (Includes Lane-Keeping Assist, Lane-Keeping Alert and Driver Alert)
- Pro Trailer Backup Assist™
- Rain-Sensing Front Wipers
- Forward Sensing System
- Enhanced Active Park Assist
- System with Parallel Parking
- Park Out Assist
- Reverse Perpendicular Parking
- 360-Degree Camera with Split View and Front/Rear Washer
Durango
Standard Safety Features:
- Electronic Stability Control
- Enhanced Accident Response System
- Hill Start Assist
- ParkView® Rear Back-up Camera
- Trailer Sway Damping
Available Safety Features:
- ParkSense® Front and Rear Park-Assist with Stop
- Remote Start System
- Security Alarm
Conclusion
After comparing all the top notch and luxurious features these competitors have to offer, it isn’t hard to determine that although the Expedition comes at a greater cost, its standard and optional features far outweigh the price difference. The sheer power and towing capabilities that come standard on the Expedition combined with its lengthy list of safety features, more impressive cargo and passenger space, additional interior power points, and luxurious comfort, make the Expedition a family vehicle that is ready and willing to conquer the world.