Compare the2027 Ford Expedition VS 2027 Dodge Durango

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Ford Expedition have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Dodge Durango doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

With its standard Co-Pilot 360 Assist+, the Ford Expedition is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Dodge Durango, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Expedition	Durango
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH	AVOIDED	No Slowing
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	-33 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	1.7 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	-27 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.2 sec	No Warning

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Ford Expedition achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Dodge Durango has not been tested.

The Expedition has standard Post-Impact Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Durango doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Expedition 4x4’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Durango doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Expedition’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Durango.

The Expedition has a standard 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Durango only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Ford Expedition’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Dodge Durango does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Expedition and Durango have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Expedition has Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Durango’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

The Expedition’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Durango doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Expedition and the Durango have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all-wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Expedition is safer than the Dodge Durango:

	Expedition	Durango
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	32%	34%
Leg Forces (l/r)	23/39 lbs.	339/364 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	156 lbs.
Neck Compression	74 lbs.	86 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Expedition is safer than the Dodge Durango:

	Expedition	Durango
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	23	46
Chest Movement	.5 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	108 lbs.	111 lbs.
Hip Force	180 lbs.	236 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	34 G’s
Hip Force	434 lbs.	446 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	134	194
Hip Force	569 lbs.	714 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Ford Expedition has a better fatality history. The Expedition was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 16.6% lower per vehicle registered than the Durango, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

There are over 18 percent more Ford dealers than there are Dodge dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Expedition’s warranty.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Expedition have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Durango.

The Expedition has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Durango doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

The Expedition’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 40 more horsepower (400 vs. 360) and 90 lbs.-ft. more torque (480 vs. 390) than the Durango’s standard 5.7 V8. The Expedition’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (480 vs. 470) than the Durango R/T 392’s standard 6.4 V8. The Expedition’s optional 3.5 turbo V6 produces 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 470) than the Durango R/T 392’s standard 6.4 V8.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Expedition (440 HP engine) is faster than the Dodge Durango 5.7 V8:

	Expedition	Durango
Zero to 60 MPH	5.3 sec	6.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14 sec	15 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.1 MPH	93.2 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Expedition gets better mileage than the Durango:

			MPG
Expedition
	RWD	3.5 turbo V6	16 city/23 hwy
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6 (400 HP)	15 city/22 hwy
		3.5 turbo V6 (440 HP)	15 city/22 hwy
Durango
	AWD	5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy
		6.4 OHV V8	13 city/19 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Expedition’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Durango doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Expedition uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Durango R/T 392 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Expedition higher (5 out of 10) than the Dodge Durango (1 to 4). This means the Expedition produces up to 39 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Durango every 15,000 miles.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Expedition, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Durango.

The Expedition Platinum’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Durango’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Expedition Platinum offers optional 24-inch wheels. The Durango’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Ford Expedition’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Dodge Durango only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Expedition has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Durango. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

The Expedition has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Expedition flat and controlled during cornering. The Durango’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Expedition’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Durango doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Expedition’s wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the Durango (122.5 inches vs. 119.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Expedition is 4.2 inches wider in the front and 3.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Durango.

The Expedition’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Durango’s (52% to 48%). This gives the Expedition more stable handling and braking.

The Expedition Tremor 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the Durango R/T 392 (25.6 seconds @ .35 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Expedition has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Durango GT (8.7 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the Expedition to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Expedition Tremor’s minimum ground clearance is 2.6 inches higher than on the Durango R/T 392 (10.6 vs. 8 inches).

The front grille of the Expedition uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Durango doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Expedition has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Durango can only carry 7.

The Expedition has 33.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Durango (175 vs. 141.4).

The Expedition has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 3.6 inches more front legroom, 5.3 inches more front hip room, 6.4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom, 6.8 inches more rear hip room, 7.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 3 inches more third row legroom, 9 inches more third row hip room and 13.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the Durango.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Expedition’s middle and third row seats recline. The Durango’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Expedition’s cargo area provides more volume than the Durango.

	Expedition	Durango
Behind Third Seat	21.6 cubic feet	17.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	60.8 cubic feet	43.3 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	108.5 cubic feet	85.1 cubic feet

The Expedition’s cargo area is larger than the Durango’s in almost every dimension:

	Expedition	Durango
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	18.8”/49.4”/85.8”	20”/50”/83”
Max Width	58.4”	49”
Min Width	51.2”	42.5”
Height	36.9”	36”

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Expedition’s optional second row seats and pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Durango doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Expedition’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Durango’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Expedition’s available tailgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Durango doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Maximum trailer towing in the Dodge Durango is limited to 8700 pounds. The Expedition 4x4 offers up to a 9600 lbs. towing capacity.

The Expedition’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Durango’s parking brake has to be released manually.

If the windows are left open on the Expedition the driver can close all of them from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Durango can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Expedition’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Durango doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Expedition Platinum Ultimate has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Durango.

The Expedition is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Durango doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Expedition is less expensive to operate than the Durango because typical repairs cost much less on the Expedition than the Durango, including $112 less for a water pump, $73 less for a muffler, $67 less for front brake pads, $267 less for a starter, $85 less for fuel injection, $157 less for a fuel pump, $237 less for front struts and $221 less for a timing belt/chain.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its April 2018 issue and the Ford Expedition Active 4x4 won out over the Dodge Durango R/T 392.

The Ford Expedition outsold the Dodge Durango by 6% during 2025.