2023 Dodge Durango vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors were a standout, making it easier for parents to load children into car seats, especially in tight parking spaces. The Odyssey's third-row seating was notably comfortable, accommodating adults without the usual cramped feeling found in many SUVs. This minivan also boasted impressive cargo space, rivaling that of larger SUVs like the Chevrolet Suburban when the seats were folded down or removed. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Odyssey managed to maintain a sense of style, particularly in the Elite trim with its dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels and kinked sliding doors that added character to its clean design.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Durango maintained a familiar yet attractive appearance, avoiding the oversized grille trend and opting for a sleek, car-like styling. Its signature "racetrack" taillights and subtle SRT model features, like the Viper-like hood, added to its distinctive look. The Durango offered various appearance packages, such as the Blacktop and Hemi Orange, allowing for customization. Inside, the Durango provided a comfortable environment with materials that matched its price point, and higher trims like the Citadel and SRT models added luxury touches like Nappa leather and heated seats. The Durango's interior, while not as distinctive as its exterior, was still a pleasant place to be.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. While it lacked the all-wheel-drive and hybrid options available in some competitors, the Odyssey offered a respectable EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. During testing, it averaged 22.6 mpg on a varied driving route. The Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration and responsive handling, but its brakes tended to heat up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and noise.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine producing 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and offered rear-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. The Durango R/T featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, while the SRT 392 boasted a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 475 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The SRT Hellcat took performance to another level with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, generating 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, achieving a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. The Durango's performance was exhilarating, especially in the Hellcat model, with minimal wind and tire noise at highway speeds and a thrilling supercharger whine.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather, power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and a tri-zone climate control system. Storage was abundant, with numerous compartments and a handy floor tray. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing safety and convenience. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey provided 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind it, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded. Removing the second-row seats created a massive 144.9 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered seating for six or seven, with standard configurations including front bucket seats, a second-row bench, and a third-row bench. Higher trims featured second-row captain's chairs. The Durango's interior space was competitive with other midsize SUVs, though it offered less cargo space than some rivals, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.1 cubic feet behind the first row. Small-item storage was generous, and the Durango excelled in towing capacity, with V6 models towing up to 6,200 pounds and V8 models up to 8,700 pounds.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with a range of technology features, though its infotainment system was becoming outdated compared to rivals. Starting with the EX trim, it included an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services. CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies were available on Touring and Elite trims, providing rear-seat monitoring and communication. The rear-seat entertainment system, standard on Touring and Elite, featured a 10.2-inch display but was considered behind the times. The Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad.

The 2023 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on SXT and GT models, while the Citadel and SRT models had a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity. The larger screen used the Uconnect 5 system, offering a responsive and user-friendly experience. SRT models included Performance Pages for performance data, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on the SRT Hellcat. The Durango's infotainment system was up-to-date, with unique touches like Easter Eggs for SRT models.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came equipped with Honda Sensing, a comprehensive suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed safety ratings. The IIHS awarded it "Good" marks in some tests but "Marginal" in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating, with five stars in the side crash test but lower scores in other areas. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, but advanced features like forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control were limited to higher trims.