2027 Dodge Durango vs Jeep Grand Cherokee: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Durango — it leads our weighted scorecard 4–3.5 across 7 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (49.6% vs 44.4%) and more available power (710 hp vs 324 hp). Choose the Grand Cherokee if the lower sticker matters most ($37,995 vs $43,675 to start).
Scorecard: Durango 4 pts · Grand Cherokee 3.5 pts across 7 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 Durango | 2027 Grand Cherokee | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $43,675 | $37,995 | Grand Cherokee |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 0.61 | 0.59 | Tie |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 49.6% | 44.4% | Durango |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 20 mpg | 23 mpg | Grand Cherokee |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 710 hp | 324 hp | Durango |
| Max towing (1) | 8,700 lb | 6,200 lb | Durango |
| Standard seats (1) | — | 5 | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 2 | 28 | Durango |
| Weighted points | 4 | 3.5 | Durango |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Grand Cherokee — 23 mpg vs 20 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: it's a wash — Durango 0.61 vs Grand Cherokee 0.59 (NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Grand Cherokee — $37,995 vs $43,675 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $27,974 for the Durango vs $22,023 for the Grand Cherokee.
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the Durango — 49.6% vs 44.4% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: the Durango — 8,700 lb vs 6,200 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Durango starts at $43,675 and tops out at $80,495; the Grand Cherokee runs $37,995 to $61,990 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Used, the median asking price is $27,974 for the Durango and $22,023 for the Grand Cherokee (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Durango: 0.61 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 33th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Grand Cherokee: 0.59 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 37th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Durango 2, Grand Cherokee 28.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Durango 2016 (solid) · Grand Cherokee 2016 (solid), 2017 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2027 Durango | 2027 Grand Cherokee | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $43,675 | $37,995 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $80,495 | $61,990 |
| Horsepower | 360–710 hp | 293–324 hp |
| Max torque | 645 lb-ft | 332 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 13–20 mpg | 21–23 mpg |
| Max towing | 8,700 lb | 6,200 lb |
| Max payload | 1,590 lb | 1,280 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | — / 7 | 5 / 5 |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Durango lists for a median $25,298 — 49.6% of today's median new price of $51,025. A 5-year-old (2021) Grand Cherokee lists for a median $22,179 — 44.4% of today's median new price of $49,974.
Shop both
- See 6,113 new 2027 Dodge Durangos for sale →Median listed price $49,275 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See 24,796 new 2027 Jeep Grand Cherokees for sale →Median listed price $48,984 · updated Nov 7, 2026
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Dodge Durango
More on the Jeep Grand Cherokee
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Durango better than the Grand Cherokee?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the Durango — it leads our weighted scorecard 4–3.5 across 7 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (49.6% vs 44.4%) and more available power (710 hp vs 324 hp). Choose the Grand Cherokee if the lower sticker matters most ($37,995 vs $43,675 to start).
Which is more reliable, the Durango or the Grand Cherokee?
They're even: 0.61 vs 0.59 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold — inside our 15% tie band. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Durango and 28 for the Grand Cherokee.
Which holds its value better, the Durango or the Grand Cherokee?
The Durango: a 5-year-old example lists for 49.6% of the new price, versus 44.4% for the Grand Cherokee, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the Durango or the Grand Cherokee?
The Grand Cherokee starts lower: $37,995 vs $43,675 starting MSRP (before destination).
Which has better gas mileage, the Durango or the Grand Cherokee?
The Grand Cherokee: up to 23 mpg combined vs 20 mpg for the Durango (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2027 Dodge Durango vs Jeep Grand Cherokee: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/dodge-durango-vs-jeep-grand-cherokee, updated November 8, 2026.