Compare the2026 Dodge DurangoVS 2026 GMC Yukon

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Dodge Durango has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Yukon doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Durango has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Yukon doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Durango uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Yukon uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Durango and the Yukon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and front parking sensors.

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

	Durango	Yukon
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	26%	47%
Neck Stress	156 lbs.	272 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	303/32 lbs.	333/811 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 Dodge Durango is safer than the GMC Yukon:

	Durango	Yukon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	111 lbs.	111 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	50	88
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	194	239
Hip Force	714 lbs.	764 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Durango’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Yukon’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 43 percent more Dodge dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Durango’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Durango has a standard 850-amp battery. The Yukon only offers a standard 730-amp battery.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Durango’s reliability 14 points higher than the Yukon.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in initial quality. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is rated below average.

Engine

The Durango has more powerful engines than the Yukon:

	Horsepower	Torque
Durango 5.7 V8	360 HP	390 lbs.-ft.
Durango R/T 6.4 V8	475 HP	470 lbs.-ft.
Yukon 5.3 V8	355 HP	383 lbs.-ft.
Yukon 6.2 V8	420 HP	460 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Durango V8 is faster than the GMC Yukon 5.3 V8:

	Durango	Yukon
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	7.2 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.9 MPH	90.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Durango
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	17 city/24 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	14 city/21 hwy
Yukon
	RWD	5.3 OHV V8	15 city/20 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	15 city/20 hwy
	AWD	5.3 OHV V8	15 city/19 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	14 city/18 hwy

The Durango has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Yukon. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Durango’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Yukon:

	Durango	Yukon
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.5 inches

The Durango stops shorter than the Yukon:

	Durango	Yukon
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Durango R/T Tow N Go’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Yukon (295/45R20 vs. 285/40R24).

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Durango can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Yukon doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Durango has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Yukon doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Durango GT 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Yukon Denali 4x4 pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Durango R/T 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.2 seconds quicker than the Yukon AT4 (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 30.6 seconds @ .51 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Durango has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Yukon Denali Ultimate (8.1 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Durango to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Dodge Durango may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 750 pounds less than the GMC Yukon.

The Durango is 9.3 inches shorter than the Yukon, making the Durango easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Durango is 5.2 inches narrower than the Yukon, making the Durango easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

Unibody construction lowers the Durango’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Yukon doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

The Durango offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Yukon doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The front step up height for the Durango is 3.5 inches lower than the Yukon (19.7” vs. 23.2”). The Durango’s rear step up height is 3.8 inches lower than the Yukon’s (19.7” vs. 23.5”).

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Durango easier. The Durango’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.4 inches, while the Yukon’s liftover is 37 inches.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Yukon is limited to 8400 pounds. The Durango 4x4 offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Dodge Durango retains 50.72% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 46.67% resale value of the 2025 GMC Yukon after five years, which can save the Dodge’s owner up to $16867.39547 in depreciation.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Durango is less expensive to operate than the Yukon because it costs $364 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Durango than the Yukon, including $215 less for a water pump, $582 less for a muffler, $142 less for fuel injection, $130 less for a fuel pump and $297 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Durango first among upper midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Yukon was rated third in its category.

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