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| 9-Speed Automatic | Transmission | 8-Speed Automatic |
| 98.2 | Max Cargo Space (cu.ft.) | 84.5 |
| 157.3 | Passenger Volume (cu.ft.) | 99 |
Sport utility vehicles have quickly captured the auto market, becoming the most popular form of vehicle on the road today. This is because consumers have realized the value in having a vehicle with space for passengers and cargo that handles better than a minivan. There are tons of SUVs on the market, though, so picking the best one can be a challenge. That said, two of the most popular midsize SUVs are the Chevy Traverse and the Dodge Durango. Both the Traverse and Durango have won a number of awards. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration awarded the 2020 Chevy Traverse a 5-star overall vehicle score for safety, while Dodge was named the number one domestic brand in initial quality by J.D. Power and Associates. But despite these accolades and similarities, there are a number of key differences when completing an in-depth comparison of the 2020 Chevy Traverse vs 2020 Dodge Durango.
One thing you are sure to notice right off the bat is that Dodge offers three engine options on the 2020 Durango while Chevy equips every model of the 2020 Traverse with the same engine. The standard engine on the Dodge Durango is a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that can produce up to 295 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The two engine options on the Durango are eight-cylinder models. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 produces 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, while the very powerful 6.4-liter Hemi V8 can provide up to 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. In contrast, every 2020 Chevy Traverse features a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 310 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque.
As you can see, the base engine on the Chevy Traverse outperforms the one on the Dodge Durango. It has better pickup and overall speed. If you want to get better performance on the Durango, then you are going to have to opt for one of the other two V8 engines.
The 2020 Chevy Traverse comes with a 9-speed automatic transmission, while the 2020 Dodge Durango is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Having the extra gear speeds improves engine efficiency by providing greater spread between the various gears. As a result, you are going to get better performance with the transmission on the Traverse.
The 2020 Dodge Durango is rear-wheel drive with all-wheel drive available as an option. The 2020 Chevy Traverse is front-wheel drive standard with all-wheel drive available. Having a front-wheel drive SUV will give you greater control in inclement weather than rear-wheel drivetrains, which can fishtail on ice or get stuck in the snow. The two vehicles have a similar wheelbase, the Durango with 119.8 inches and the Traverse with 120.9. As a result, they will have similar turn radiuses and are equally challenging to park in tight parallel spots.
The Traverse has a base MSRP of $29,800 for the L trim level and offers a total of seven trims, plus two special editions. The LS trim has an MSRP of $32,900 and adds Traction Mode Select, high-intensity discharge headlamps, 18-inch wheels, and LED daytime running lights to the base trim package. Additionally, both the L and LS offer seating for up to eight passengers. And the following trims only add more.
The LT Cloth adds fog lamps and outside heated power-adjustable manual-folding body-color mirrors with turn signal indicators for an MSRP of $35,400. It comes 7-passenger standard with the option of 8-passenger seating. The LT Leather has an MSRP of $39,100. It adds leather-appointed seats, a rear power liftgate with programmable height adjustment, and a number of additional safety features. The RS has an MSRP of $43,600 and offers larger 20-inch wheels, HD surround vision and rear camera mirror, and heated front seats.
The Premier has seating for up to 7 passengers and offers heated front and second-row seats, and wireless charging for mobile devices for an MSRP of $45,800. The top trim on the 2020 Chevy Traverse is the High Country, and it adds adaptive cruise control, a SkyScape power tilt-sliding sunroof, IntelliBeam automatic high beam assist, and special trim specific styling. The Traverse High Country has an MSRP of $50,900.
There are also two special editions, the RS, which builds on the LT Leather model with special black styling accents and 20-inch wheels, and the Redline Edition, which adds red and black accents to the Premier trim. The RS has an MSRP of $38,295, and the Redline Edition has an MSRP of $47,985.
The 2020 Dodge Durango has a higher price point than the 2020 Chevy Traverse and offers a total of 8 trims. The base trim is the SXT with an MSRP of $30,795, followed by the SXT Plus with an MSRP of $34,990. Both of these models only have two rows with seating for only up to five passengers. If you need a third row of seats, you are going to have to go for the Durango GT with an MSRP of $34,995. This model seats up to six passengers. The GT Plus adds seating for an additional passenger and has an MSRP of $39,495.
The Citadel trim has an MSRP of $42,995 and seating for up to six passengers. The Citadel Anodized Platinum also has seating for only six passengers but offers more styling than the Citadel. It has an MSRP of $46,270. The Durango RT has sporty styling, including a hood scoop, seats up to 7 passengers, and has an MSRP of $44,395. The top-of-the-line Durango trim is the SRT, and it also has a hood scoop like the RT. The SRT is all-wheel drive only and has an MSRP of $62,995.
As you can see, there are a number of differences between the two models. The Traverse L has a lower MSRP than the Durango SXT, even though it has an extra row of seats. If you want to purchase a Durango that can seat up to 7 passengers, your least expensive option is the GT Plus, which is a full $10,000 more in MSRP than the Traverse L. In addition, the top trim on the Traverse, the High Country, is over $12,000 less expensive than the Durango SRT. Finally, when you add in the two special editions, Chevy actually offers one additional trim choice for the Traverse than Dodge offers on the Durango. With more choices, more seating, and lower prices, the Traverse comes out on top in this area.
The 2020 Chevy Traverse has seating for up to eight passengers in most models. The designers at Chevrolet have done a great job apportioning the space in the passenger compartment between the three-rows of seats in the Traverse. Front-row passengers will enjoy 41.3 inches of headroom, 41 inches of legroom, 62.1 inches of shoulder room, and 58.1 inches of hip room. Similarly, the second row provides passengers with 40 inches of headroom, 38.4 inches of legroom, 62.2 inches of shoulder room, and 56.9 inches of hip room. Unlike most midsize SUVs with a third row of seats, the Traverse actually provides good space for passengers in the third row, fully 38.2 inches of headroom, 33.5 inches of legroom, 57.5 inches of shoulder room, and 48.5 inches of hip room.
The only models of the 2020 Dodge Durango that provide seating for up to seven passengers are the GT Plus and RT. The other three-row models only have room for up to six passengers. The SXT and SXT Plus only have two rows of seats to accommodate five passengers. Further, while the first and second rows are fairly roomy, the third row is really too tight for anyone to sit there during a long drive. The front row provides 39.9 inches of headroom, 40.3 inches of legroom, 58.5 inches of shoulder room, and 57 inches of hip room, while the second row allows 39.8 inches of headroom, 38.6 inches of legroom, 50.4 inches of shoulder room, and 42.8 inches of hip room. This is fairly comparable to the Traverse. However, the third row only provides passengers with 37.8 inches of headroom, 31.5 inches of legroom, 50.4 inches of shoulder room, and 42.8 inches of hip room.
The 2020 Chevy Traverse provides more cargo space than the 2020 Dodge Durango among its three possible configurations. The trunk on the Traverse holds 23 cu.ft. of cargo, which expands to 57.8 cu.ft. with the third row of seats folded down, and to a full 98.2 cu.ft. of cargo space with both rear rows of seats folded down. In comparison, the trunk on the Durango only provides 17.2 cu.ft. of cargo space. This increases to 47.4 cu.ft. with the third row folded down and 84.5 cu.ft. of cargo space with the back two rows folded down. Knowing all of that, the Traverse is a much more spacious vehicle in terms of passenger and cargo space than the Durango, making it the better competitor.
Welcome to our dealership. Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Buford is the best choice for your next new or used car, truck, or SUV. We offer a stress-free environment, unlike any you have ever experienced at an automobile dealership. We carry the full lineup of Chevrolet vehicles and will provide you with the lease or financing that best fits your budget and lifestyle. Our service and parts department is filled with trained professionals who will provide you and your car with all your needs, from routine maintenance to major repairs. Come in today to test-drive a 2020 Chevy Traverse and see for yourself why this is the best three-row midsize SUV on the market today. We look forward to seeing you and making sure you drive out happy.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.