2021 Dodge Durango vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2021 Dodge Durango retained much of its exterior styling since its third generation debuted in 2011. Built alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee in Detroit, the Durango maintained a distinct look, aligning more with Dodge's muscle cars like the Charger and Challenger. The 2021 model year saw some revisions, particularly in the new SRT Hellcat model, which featured a cold-air scoop, throaty twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, rear spoiler, and a redesigned front end. The Durango offered a variety of wheel options and came in 11 exterior colors with six interior color schemes. The cabin featured a new instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The interior materials ranged from cloth to premium leathers, with contrast stitching and unique seat belt colors adding a funky flavor.

The 2022 Kia EV6, in contrast, presented a sportier and more svelte design, reminiscent of the Ford Mustang Mach-E. It appeared lower and wider, with a highback tail and a lip spoiler that doubled as a lightbar. The wheels were pushed to the corners, giving the body a curvy, stable stance similar to a Porsche 911. The headlights traced a V-shaped pattern, and the wedgy profile featured an angled roofline and twin ducts in the rear spoiler. The EV6's interior boasted dual 12-inch screens on a linear dash, a floating center console, and seats covered in suede and leather. Ambient lighting flowed around the dash, and the car featured a hockey-puck shifter and digital controls, making it feel more like a futuristic vehicle.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered four engine options: a 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, a 392 HEMI V8, and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8. All engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions, with rear-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. The V6 produced 293-295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the 5.7-liter V8 delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft. The 392 HEMI V8 in the SRT 392 model offered 475 hp and 470 lb-ft, and the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 in the SRT Hellcat produced a whopping 710 hp and 645 lb-ft. The Durango's steering was precise, but its chassis showed its age, with a suspension that allowed bumps to be felt in the cabin. The SRT models featured SRT Performance Pages for detailed performance metrics, and the R/T model offered a Tow N Go Package with a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line e-AWD, tested with two electric motors, produced 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. It featured a 77-kilowatt-hour battery, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The top-power GT trim, expected in fall 2022, promised 576 hp and a 0-60 time of less than 3.5 seconds. The base EV6 Light had a smaller battery and a single motor with 167 hp and 258 lb-ft. The dual-motor GT-Line offered quick torque distribution, making it agile and responsive. The EV6 featured multiple regenerative braking settings, including a strong I-Pedal mode for one-pedal driving. However, its driving range was disappointing in cold weather, achieving only 65 percent of its 274-mile EPA estimate. Charging was efficient, with the EV6 accepting up to 240 kW, but real-world charging speeds were often lower than advertised.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler, offering comfortable seating, ample storage space, and family entertainment options. It could seat up to seven across three rows, with spacious front and second-row seats and a more accommodating third row than many competitors. The Durango provided 21 seat options and had average cargo space for its class. Its fit and finish had improved significantly, making it a versatile and athletic family SUV.

The 2022 Kia EV6 featured innovative functions like pop-out door handles, paddle shifters, and a twisting rotary shifter. The climate controls and stereo shortcuts were combined in a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating to use while driving. The EV6 offered generous legroom and headroom, with reclining rear seats and optional heated cushions. However, its cargo space was limited, with just 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 when folded. The RWD models had a small front trunk, but the AWD models did not. The EV6 had a towing capacity of 2,300 pounds and an onboard power generator for 120-volt equipment.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the SXT and GT models, with higher trims getting a 10.1-inch screen running the new Uconnect 5 system. Uconnect 5 was five times faster than its predecessor and offered user profiles, connected services, dual Bluetooth connections, Amazon Alexa, TomTom navigation, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates. The system was easy to navigate, with clear graphics and responsive touch. The Durango also offered a family entertainment system with Blu-ray and DVD players and two 9-inch screens. SRT models had unique appearance features and a "smoke show" start-up animation. The gauge cluster, however, made it difficult to read the exact speed due to its design. The TomTom navigation system was user-friendly and responsive, though a head-up display would have enhanced its usability.

The 2022 Kia EV6's infotainment system was simple and quick, with full connectivity except for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which required a wired connection. The instrument panel showed live feeds of blind spots and a 3D bar graph of power and speed. The 360-degree surround-view cameras were sharp, and the head-up display used augmented reality for directional arrows and adaptive cruise control tracking. The EV6 came standard with many tech features, including Highway Driving Assist, blind-spot monitoring, fast-charging, dual 12-inch screens, a wireless charger, and navigation. Higher trims offered a 14-speaker Meridian stereo and a remote parking system. However, Kia Connect features were disabled for Massachusetts residents due to compliance issues with state laws.

The 2021 Dodge Durango lagged behind its rivals in safety features. It came standard with a rearview camera and passive safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, rear-cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and forward-collision warning. The NHTSA gave the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating, but front crash testing ratings were not yet available.

The 2022 Kia EV6 had no published test results from U.S. agencies, but it came equipped with impressive safety tech. Standard features included lane-keeping, cyclist and pedestrian detection, front and rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention monitor, rear parking sensors, safe exit warning, and rear occupant alert. Higher trims added front parking sensors, automatic rear braking, 360 cameras, evasive steering assist, and adaptive cruise control with "machine learning."