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 made it easy to load children into car seats, even in tight parking spaces, and the spacious third-row seat provided comfort for additional passengers. The Odyssey's design, while adhering to traditional minivan aesthetics, included stylish elements like kinked sliding doors and dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels on the Touring trim. Inside, the Odyssey offered a classic open-concept design with quality leather upholstery and a user-friendly centre stack, although the switchgear placement initially seemed haphazard. The expansive windshield and small front quarter windows enhanced visibility, making it a great choice for those who wanted to see and be seen.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Durango maintained its familiar yet attractive appearance, avoiding the trend of oversized grilles and opting for clean, car-like styling. The Durango's slim design, forward-leaning headlights, and distinctive "racetrack" taillights gave it a unique presence. The SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models featured subtle yet distinctive styling cues, such as a Viper-like hood and unique wheels. The Durango offered various appearance packages, including the Blacktop and Hemi Orange packages, allowing buyers to customize their vehicle's look. Inside, the Durango's materials were suited to their price points, with higher trims offering luxurious features like Nappa leather upholstery and heated seats. The interior, while not as distinctive as the exterior, provided a comfortable and functional space for passengers.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It was a front-wheel-drive minivan, lacking the all-wheel-drive and hybrid options available in some competitors. The Odyssey's fuel consumption was estimated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, which was higher than hybrid rivals like the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica. Despite this, the Odyssey offered an enjoyable driving experience, with responsive handling and quick acceleration. However, its brakes tended to heat up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling, especially when fully loaded.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine producing 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 pound-feet of torque. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with all-wheel drive standard in Canada. The Durango R/T and Citadel trims offered a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine with 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The SRT 392 model boasted a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 with 475 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, achieving impressive acceleration times. The SRT Hellcat took performance to another level with a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine producing 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque, delivering exhilarating speed. The Durango's adaptive-damping suspension, Pirelli P Zero tires, and Brembo brakes ensured that all this power was manageable, although its size made it less agile on twisty roads.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height, making it convenient for families. Inside, the Odyssey Touring featured quality leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The minivan provided ample storage space, including shelving in the front door panels and a floor tray between the dashboard and centre console. 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 offered 929 litres of cargo space behind it, expanding to 2,452 litres with the third-row seat folded. Removing the second-row seats provided a massive 3,984 litres of cargo space, although the seats were heavy and challenging to reinstall.

The 2023 Dodge Durango was available in seven-seat or six-seat configurations, with second-row captain's chairs standard on higher trims. The Durango offered competitive interior space compared to other midsize SUVs, with headroom and legroom similar to rivals. However, its cargo space was less generous, with 487 litres behind the third row, 1,226 litres with the third row folded, and 2,409 litres behind the first row. The Durango provided ample small-item storage, including a large wireless charging pad and well-placed USB ports. While a power liftgate was available, the lack of a power-folding third row was a drawback for higher trims. The Durango excelled in towing capacity, with V6 models capable of towing up to 2,812 kilograms and V8 models up to 3,946 kilograms.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with a range of technology features, although its infotainment system was becoming outdated compared to rivals. It featured an 8-inch touchscreen with satellite radio, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. The Touring trim included HondaLink connected services, CabinWatch, and CabinTalk technology, as well as a rear entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display. However, the system lacked modern features and required specific voice commands for navigation. The Odyssey's infotainment package was underwhelming, and a major upgrade was needed in future redesigns.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on lower trims, while higher trims featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity. The Uconnect infotainment system was responsive and user-friendly, with added personality for SRT models. The Performance Pages app provided performance information, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on higher trims. Despite its age, the Durango's infotainment experience remained competitive with more recently redesigned rivals.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was well-equipped with safety features, including the Honda Sensing suite, which encompassed adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. However, the system lacked refinement, occasionally issuing false warnings or responding abruptly. The Odyssey earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed results in IIHS crash tests, with top marks in some areas but a "Marginal" score in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA awarded it a four-star overall safety rating, with five stars in the side crash test. The Durango offered limited standard driver-assist tech, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert standard on all trims. Forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control were not standard but available on higher trims.