Both Dodge and Jeep are part of the Chrysler Group, and so the vehicles each company makes have a lot in common. The 2018 Durango and the 2018 Grand Cherokee are in the same vehicle class, and they share the same basic platform. However, while the skeleton is the same on both vehicles, the differences start adding up soon after.
Interior Space
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a two-row crossover that offers plenty of room for adults in all five positions. You also get 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space that goes up to 68.3 cubic feet once you fold down the back seats. The Durango also starts with two rows, but everything above the base SXT trim comes standard with a third row that adds two extra seats. The third row isn’t as roomy as the first two, but overall the interior has more space than the Grand Cherokee because the Durango’s max cargo space is 84.5 cubic feet.
Engine Power
Both the Grand Cherokee and the Durango start with the same 3.6-liter V-6 engine on their starting trims. However, both also let you swap in larger V-8 engines that deliver more power at the cost of fewer miles per gallon. Both trims also come with a performance SRT trim that uses a 6.4-liter V-8 that delivers up to 475 horsepower. However, the 2018 Grand Cherokee has a new top-level trim, the Trackhawk, and this vehicle comes with the same supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 that gives the Charger and Challenger Hellcat trims 707 horsepower.
Off-Road Performance
This is the single biggest difference between the Durango and the Grand Cherokee. While the Durango offers interior space, power, and on-road performance, the Grand Cherokee lives up to the Jeep name by offering off-road features and a sturdy design that can safely wander off the pavement. That’s why the Grand Cherokee offers available four-wheel drive instead of the Durango’s all-wheel drive system. On a trim like the Trailhawk you get standard features like an electronic rear limited-slip differential and the SelecTerrain Traction Control system that lets you change settings based on the terrain.
Luxury Options
This is where the 2018 Grand Cherokee and Durango have the most in common. Top-level trims for both SUVs come with comfort features like leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and eight-way adjustable driver’s and front passenger’s seats. Both can come with an 8.4-inch touch screen for the infotainment display, but while the Grand Cherokee can come with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system the Durango’s premium audio system is nine speakers by Beats. Both vehicles can also come with a dual-screen rear entertainment system complete with 9-inch screens and wireless headphones.
In the end, both the 2018 Dodge Durango and the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee would make excellent additions to any family’s garage. Since they also come with a similar price range, the two most important questions to ask are whether you need that third row in the Durango and whether you need the off-road features of the Grand Cherokee. Once you’ve figured that out, you’ll know which one to buy.
‘Scale Question Importance‘ via Pixabay by qimono. Used with permission via CC0 1.0 / cropped from original
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