2025 Dodge Durango vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2025 Subaru Outback was a standout in the dwindling wagon market, especially in Canada where wagons were more appreciated than in the U.S. Its design incorporated crossover trends like chunky wheel-arch flares and skid plate-like fascias, giving it a rugged appearance. The Outback was clearly intended for off-road adventures, with its design elements conveying a sense of durability and capability. While the Crimson Red Pearl paint was unavailable in Canada, the Outback looked best in earthy tones, enhancing its adventurous aesthetic.

Subaru focused on appealing to buyers interested in off-road capabilities, a strategy that proved successful. The Outback, along with the Crosstrek and Forester, shared a similar rugged design, contributing to their popularity. For 2025, the Outback maintained its features, including heated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard in Canada. The Premier XT trim offered Nappa leather upholstery and ventilated front seats, adding a touch of luxury to its rugged persona. The interior was well-executed, with minimal use of chrome and glossy black plastic, and featured easy-to-read gauges and a digital display.

The 2025 Dodge Durango, priced from $56,511 in Canada, offered a range of trims from the base GT with a V6 engine to the high-performance SRT Hellcat with a supercharged V8. The Silver Bullet special edition added visual flair with a satin black hood and dark badges, enhancing the Hellcat's aggressive look. Inside, the SRT Hellcat featured dark red Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner, though some plastic surfaces detracted from its premium feel.

The Durango SRT Hellcat's interior was designed for comfort, with premium materials and thoughtful features. However, the performance seats, while comfortable, lacked the support needed for spirited driving. The second-row captain’s chairs provided good leg support, and the third row was surprisingly spacious for adults. The Durango offered ample cargo space, with 487 litres behind the third row and up to 2,409 litres with seats folded, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured a horizontally opposed "Boxer" engine, available in two versions. The standard 2.5-litre engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged 2.4-litre engine offered 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines ran on regular unleaded gas and were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive. The turbocharged engine provided better acceleration, making it a recommended choice for those with the budget.

The Outback's 22 centimetres of ground clearance and X-Mode system optimized traction on slippery surfaces. The Wilderness model increased ground clearance to 24.1 centimetres and added a front skid plate for serious off-road enthusiasts. The Outback's smooth ride, light steering, and powerful brakes made it a comfortable companion on rough roads, though the stop/start technology and CVT had some drawbacks.

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a simplified powertrain lineup. The GT model had a 295-horsepower 3.6-litre V6, the R/T had a 360-hp 5.7-litre V8, and the SRT Hellcat boasted a 710-hp supercharged 6.2-litre V8. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The SRT Hellcat's engine delivered 645 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 96 km/h in 3.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of 290 km/h.

Despite its power, the Durango SRT Hellcat had poor fuel economy, with ratings of 20.5 L/100 km in the city and 13.8 on the highway. However, its full-time AWD system, adaptive damping suspension, and Brembo brakes provided excellent handling and performance. The Durango felt track-ready, with outstanding grip and body motion control, making it a formidable competitor to performance-tuned German SUVs.

The Subaru Outback's wagon shape offered practicality with easy entry and exit, a low roof height for loading, and a low centre of gravity for agile handling. It provided 923 litres of cargo space with the rear seat up and 2,141 litres with the seat folded. The Outback's total passenger volume of 3,044 litres surpassed its crossover competitors, offering more front headroom and legroom, though the rear seat was slightly smaller.

The Outback's towing capacity was 1,225 kilograms, increasing to 1,588 kilograms with the turbocharged engine. Buyers were advised to test different trims, as the driving experience varied significantly between models.

The Dodge Durango excelled in interior space and features. The SRT Hellcat had heated and ventilated front seats with Nappa leather, though they lacked support for spirited driving. The second-row captain’s chairs were comfortable, and the third row offered ample space for adults. The Durango provided 487 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,409 litres with seats folded.

The Durango's interior featured a large centre console, rear climate controls, USB ports, and a household-style power outlet. The power liftgate and generous pass-through to the third row added convenience, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package included an 11.6-inch touchscreen with large icons, though the Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a Harman Kardon audio system available. The dashboard featured a mix of physical controls and touchscreen functions, with a CD player and USB ports for older devices.

The 2025 Dodge Durango featured a Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Harman Kardon audio system. The system supported dual-phone Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging. The SRT Hellcat included SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics, adding a sporty touch to the family-friendly SUV.

The Subaru Outback came with EyeSight driver-assist technology, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. The system had some side-to-side movement, but overall, it performed well. The Outback earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The Dodge Durango's safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. However, its safety ratings were less impressive, with a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and concerns in IIHS tests. The adaptive cruise control was overly cautious in curves, causing some driver irritation.