Compare the2026 Dodge DurangoVS 2026 Tesla Model Y

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Durango are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model Y doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Durango has standard Uconnect 9-1-1, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model Y doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Durango and the Model Y have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 Dodge Durango weighs 477 to 1129 pounds more than the Tesla Model Y. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Tesla Model Y:

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

There are almost 12 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Durango’s warranty.

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 Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in initial quality. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is rated below average.

The Durango R/T’s 6.4 V8 produces 15 more horsepower (475 vs. 460) than the Model Y Performance’s optional electric motors.

For better stopping power the Durango R/T Tow N Go’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Model Y:

For better traction, the Durango has larger standard tires than the Model Y (265/60R18 vs. 255/45R19). The Durango R/T Tow N Go’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model Y (295/45R20 vs. 255/35R21).

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 Model Y doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Durango offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Model Y; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Durango has a standard automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Model Y doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango’s wheelbase is 6 inches longer than on the Model Y (119.8 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Durango has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Model Y (8.1 vs. 6.6 inches), allowing the Durango to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Durango offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Model Y can only carry 6.

The Durango has 3.2 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 4.9 inches more rear hip room and 3.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model Y.

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

The Durango’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Model Y’s (6200 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Tesla Model Y is only 3500 pounds. The Durango 4x4 offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Durango V8 4WD can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Durango can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Model Y can’t be towed flat on the ground.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Durango has a standard rear wiper. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Consumer Reports rated the Durango’s headlight performance “Good” to “Very Good” (depending on model and options), a higher rating than the Model Y’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Durango’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model Y doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Durango has standard extendable sun visors. The Model Y doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Durango is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Model Y, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Durango offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Model Y.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Durango equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Model Y, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Dodge Durango empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

Compared to the Tesla Model Y’s traditional radio, the Dodge Durango equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

The Durango offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Model Y doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Dodge Durango retains 50.72% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 39.16% resale value of the 2025 Tesla Model Y after five years, which can save the Dodge’s owner up to $17527.29487 in depreciation.

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 Model Y isn’t in the top three.