2025 Dodge Durango vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender showcased a blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile and angular headlights connected it visually to other Land Rover models, while the interior emphasized durability and adventure-readiness, reminiscent of a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each offering various trims. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, featuring the County visual package, highlighted its vintage appeal with white wheels and retro graphics, enhancing its rugged charm.

In contrast, the 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Premium, especially with the Silver Bullet special edition package, exuded a more aggressive and expressive look. The satin black hood, unique wheels, and dark badges added visual attitude. Inside, the Durango maintained a subdued yet premium feel with dark red Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner. Despite its solid construction, some plastic surfaces detracted from the overall luxury feel expected at its price point.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 296-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Our P400 test model featured a 395-hp mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. The Defender also had two supercharged V8 options, with the P525 delivering 518 hp. All engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission with full-time 4WD. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, especially with features like the Terrain Response 2 system and adaptive air suspension. It could tow up to 7,716 pounds with the six-cylinder and V8 engines.

The 2025 Dodge Durango streamlined its powertrain offerings, with the SRT Hellcat boasting a 710-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8. This engine delivered 645 lb-ft of torque, accelerating the SUV to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and towing up to 8,700 pounds. Despite its power, the Durango's fuel economy was poor, rated at 12/17/13 mpg. The SRT Hellcat featured a full-time AWD system, adaptive damping suspension, and Brembo brakes, providing a thrilling driving experience akin to a performance-tuned sedan.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and practicality with soft-touch materials, grip handles, and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied, with the Defender 110 offering an optional third row for children, while the Defender 130 accommodated up to eight passengers. Cargo space was generous, with the Defender 130 providing up to 76.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The Defender 110 offered 78.8 cubic feet in its two-row configuration.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in interior space and comfort. Our SRT Hellcat Premium test vehicle featured heated and ventilated Nappa leather seats, though they lacked secure support during spirited driving. The second-row captain’s chairs provided good leg support, and the third row was spacious enough for adults. Cargo capacity reached 85.1 cubic feet with seats folded, and the power liftgate added convenience.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, offering navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The straightforward setup emphasized utility, with home buttons for easy navigation.

The 2025 Dodge Durango featured a Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The SRT Hellcat included a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics. The system supported dual-phone Bluetooth pairing and offered a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender included a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features, such as forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system. However, the lane-keeping assist was overly sensitive. As of this writing, it had not been crash-tested by major safety organizations.

The 2025 Dodge Durango's safety features were less impressive, with basic systems like forward-collision warning and blind-spot monitoring. It received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA but had concerning results in IIHS tests, particularly in the small overlap frontal-impact test.