Dodge Durango vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2026 Dodge Durango retained its classic design, despite its competitors undergoing multiple redesigns since its third generation debuted in 2011. Dodge managed to keep the Durango appealing with minor updates, such as a refreshed grille, lighting, and bumpers in 2021, along with new wheels and colours. Its signature wraparound LED taillight, reminiscent of a racetrack, remained a standout feature. The Durango's robust stance and front end exuded a tough, no-nonsense attitude, making it a popular choice for police cruisers. Inside, the Durango's age showed through its switchgear and materials, but its analog controls were refreshingly straightforward. The interior featured a large touchscreen, leather, carbon fibre, and microsuede in upper trims, though the quality was akin to aftermarket builds. Despite its age, the Durango's timeless style and driving performance continued to impress.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV maintained a familiar look, with slight styling changes that made it resemble a conventional gas-powered car. The 2027 model continued the EUV body style, offering a tall and narrow design that prioritized utility and interior space. The interior underwent a more significant makeover, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The push-button gear selector moved to the steering column, freeing up storage space. While the cabin was dominated by hard plastics, the Bolt offered practical features like storage pockets and a flat floor. The RS trim added Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching, enhancing the interior's appeal. Despite its budget feel, the Bolt provided ample space and comfort for passengers.

The 2026 Dodge Durango was initially available with a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 in Canada, but most trims were later offered with a 3.6-litre V6 engine. The V6 produced 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, which struggled to move the nearly 5,000-pound vehicle. The optional 5.7-litre Hemi V8 delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, significantly boosting towing capacity to 3,945 kilograms. The SRT Hellcat Jailbreak model featured a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 with 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, offering exhilarating performance. The Durango's eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD system provided smooth operation, while its handling was commendable with minimal body roll. However, steering accuracy was lacking, and the ride was stiff, especially in the Hellcat model.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and reliance on rare earth minerals. Its motor, sourced from the Equinox EV, produced 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque, achieving a 0-100 km/h time in the low seven-second range. The Bolt's acceleration was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs, and it offered one-pedal driving with adjustable brake regeneration. The ride was firm but not overly intrusive, and the Bolt's low centre of gravity contributed to its agility on curvy roads. With an estimated range of 422 kilometres on a full charge, the Bolt improved over previous models. It featured a Tesla-derived NACS charge port and increased charging speed to 150 kW, allowing for a quick recharge.

The 2026 Dodge Durango offered seating for five to seven passengers, depending on the trim. The third row was tight, reflecting its shared chassis with older models like the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Headroom and legroom in the first and second rows were adequate, though seat padding was firm. Cargo space was competitive, with 487 litres behind the third row, 1,226 litres behind the second row, and 2,409 litres with both rows folded.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt provided an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants. The rear seats offered good headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor enhancing comfort for centre-seat passengers. The Bolt's cargo capacity was 459 litres behind the rear seats, with additional storage available under the floor. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, and the vehicle offered ample storage for personal items, including a large bin with dividers and a wireless phone charger.

The 2026 Dodge Durango featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 5, offering navigation, HD Radio, SiriusXM 360L, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The GT Plus and Hellcat trims included a nine-speaker Alpine stereo, while a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system was optional. The Durango lacked advanced features like semi-automated driving and rear-seat entertainment, but the Hellcat's infotainment system included performance functions like launch control.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera, digital rear-view mirror, and wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system helped locate charging stations and preconditioned the battery for optimal charging rates. It also offered vehicle-to-load charging for backup power.

The 2026 Dodge Durango received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, but IIHS ratings were unavailable. It included a driver's knee airbag and central side airbag, but its dated body structure limited crash performance. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and forward collision warning, with additional features available in higher trims.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were pending, but it was expected to perform well based on its platform. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitors. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera, digital rear-view mirror, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise system was available for hands-free highway driving.