The Durango has long been one of the most feared SUVs on the market. This is thanks to the raw power of the vehicle. But is it as good as they say? That’s what we want to find out. We’ll be putting it up against one of the more popular rivals, the 2025 Ford Explorer, to see if the Durango is what people claim it to be.
Key Takeaways:
- The Durango has a better towing capacity, no matter the configuration.
- The Durango has more trims, a better starting price, and even better speeds.
- While the Explorer does have a bigger screen on the base trim, the other features are similar, and when paired with the max towing capacity, it sits just behind the Dodge Durango.
How Much can the 2025 Ford Explorer Tow?
Looking at the utility aspect of the SUV, the Explorer has a max capacity of 5,000 pounds. While this will compete with most other SUVs on the market, the Durango isn’t like most other SUVs.
When equipped with the 3.6L V6, the Durango can tow 6,200 pounds. But if you want the best towing, then you’ll want an AWD model equipped with a 5.7L V8. This has a max towing capacity of 7,200 pounds.
But if you want to push this even further, then you can opt for the Tow and Go package. This will get your max towing capacity to 8,700 pounds. Nearly 4,000 more pounds than the Explorer, this will be able to do much more than it.
Is the 2025 Dodge Durango Cheaper than the 2025 Ford Explorer?
When looking at the prices of the two models, the Durango is just a bit cheaper. Having a starting price of $38,495, compared to the Explorer’s starting price of $39,785.
The Explorer is also limited in trim selection, only coming in 4 trims, while the Durango offers 10 trims. For those who value more options, the Durango can’t be beat.
The features that you can find on the Durango are 3-zone automatic temperature control, a 10.1-inch touchscreen display with phone connectivity, and 7-passenger seating with heated front seats.
The Explorer offers similar features, but at a higher price. These are tri-zone automatic temperature control, phone connectivity, and first-row heated seats.
While the infotainment screen is larger on the Explorer, the other features are similar at a higher price.
Is the 2025 Dodge Durango a Fast Vehicle?
The Durango comes as an SRT Hellcat. The SRT Hellcat trim designates only the best of the best. This gives the Durango a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds, crushing the Explorer's 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds in the quarter-mile; the Durango SRT Hellcat can do that in 12 seconds; the Explorer takes nearly 14 seconds. These tests were conducted by Car and Driver using the same criteria. Car and Driver says that the SRT Hellcat has the “V-8's ridiculous power” and “silly straight-line acceleration”.
This adds some fun to a fairly stagnant segment of the market.
Should you choose the 2025 Dodge Durango or the 2025 Ford Explorer?
If you’re looking for a 2025 3-row SUV with muscle car power, then the Durango can't be beat. Whether you want the base model that has a better starting price, better towing capacity, or even better speeds, the Durango does it all. Come on down to Alan Jay CDJR here in Wauchula today for more info and a test drive!