2021 Dodge Durango vs 2022 GMC Terrain

The 2021 Dodge Durango maintained its muscular and athletic styling, reminiscent of its Charger and Challenger siblings. Despite its third-generation design dating back to 2011, the Durango's exterior received updates for the 2021 model year, particularly evident in the high-performance SRT Hellcat model. This version featured a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, and a rear spoiler, enhancing its aggressive look. The Durango offered a variety of wheel options and a choice of 11 exterior colours, allowing buyers to personalize their SUV. Inside, the Durango's cabin was updated with a new instrument panel and a choice of touchscreen sizes, running the advanced Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The interior materials ranged from cloth to premium leather, with options for contrast stitching and unique seat belt colours, adding a touch of flair to the SUV.

The 2022 GMC Terrain underwent a refresh with updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The introduction of the AT4 trim level brought a bolder grille, black alloy wheels, and sport-terrain tires, along with a steel skid plate for off-road protection. Our test vehicle featured the AT4's blacked-out treatment and a black leather interior, complemented by a suite of packages including the Tech Package and Infotainment Package II. The Terrain's interior was equipped with power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone climate control, ensuring comfort in various weather conditions. The AT4 trim's leather upholstery with caramel-coloured stitching added an upscale touch. Despite its entry-level status, the Terrain offered a spacious back seat and numerous storage solutions, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered a range of engine options, including a 3.6-litre V6, a 5.7-litre HEMI V8, a 392 HEMI V8, and a supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V8. The V6 engine, standard in the SXT, GT, and Citadel trims, produced up to 295 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-litre V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, while the SRT 392 boasted a 392 HEMI V8 delivering 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The pinnacle of performance was the SRT Hellcat's supercharged 6.2-litre V8, generating an impressive 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. Despite its power, the Hellcat was manageable in city traffic and excelled on highways. The Durango's steering was precise, but its chassis showed its age, with a suspension that transmitted bumps to the cabin. The SUV's braking system, featuring Brembo six-piston brakes, provided ample stopping power, even on the track. The R/T model offered a Tow N Go Package, enhancing its towing capacity to 8,700 pounds, while the SRT models included SRT Performance Pages for track enthusiasts.

The 2022 GMC Terrain was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. The engine's power delivery was delayed off the line, but the nine-speed automatic transmission kept the Terrain in its torque band once moving. The Terrain's competitors were not significantly more powerful, and its turbocharging provided an advantage at higher elevations. The Terrain AT4 offered FWD and AWD modes, with an Off-Road mode and Hill Descent Control for challenging conditions. The SUV's suspension provided a smooth ride on highways and city streets, though it exhibited more body motion on uneven surfaces. Off-road, the Terrain AT4's ground clearance was insufficient, leading to scraping on rough terrain. The SUV's steering was numb, and its brakes had a subtle dead spot, but its powertrain delivered satisfactory fuel economy, matching official ratings.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler, offering comfortable seating, ample storage space, and family entertainment options. It struck a balance between elegance and bulkiness, with a midsize design that accommodated up to seven passengers across three rows. The front and second-row seats provided generous space, while the third row was more spacious than many competitors, with easy access. The Durango's cargo space was average for its class, but its fit and finish had improved significantly, earning awards for initial vehicle quality.

The 2022 GMC Terrain simplified life with its roomy interior and numerous comfort-enhancing features. The AT4 trim included power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone climate control. The back seat offered ample legroom and support, with a rear USB charging port for convenience. The Terrain's interior featured perforated leather upholstery with caramel-coloured stitching, adding an upscale touch. Storage solutions were abundant, with various slots and shelves throughout the cabin. Cargo space measured 838 litres behind the second row, expanding to 1,792 litres with the rear seat folded. The front passenger seat could also be folded for loading long items.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen as standard, with higher trims offering a 10.1-inch screen running the Uconnect 5 system. This system was five times faster than its predecessor, offering personalization, connected services, and wireless smartphone connectivity. The Durango's infotainment system was user-friendly, with clear graphics and responsive touch controls. A rear-seat family entertainment system was available, featuring a Blu-ray and DVD player with dual 9-inch screens. The TomTom navigation system was a standout feature, providing easy-to-read graphics and quick route adjustments.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems, with a 7-inch screen standard on the SLE trim and an 8-inch screen on higher trims. Both systems included wireless smartphone connectivity, SiriusXM, and GMC Connected Services. The larger screen added connected navigation and a Bose premium sound system. The voice recognition system was exceptional, accurately responding to various prompts. The Terrain's Tech Package included a head-up display, park assist sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The Tire Fill Alert system and remote engine start added convenience.

The 2021 Dodge Durango lagged behind rivals in safety, with a standard back-up camera as its only active feature. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The IIHS rated the Durango as Marginal for small overlap frontal impact, while the NHTSA gave it a five-star side crash rating and a four-star front crash and rollover rating.

The 2022 GMC Terrain came standard with the GMC Pro Safety Package, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assist. The Pro Safety Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Terrain received mostly "Good" crash-test scores from the IIHS, with a Marginal rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain at the time of review.