The 2021 Dodge Durango and 2021 Hyundai Palisade are popular three-row SUVs that may leave SUV shoppers feeling torn between the two. The Durango comes with a longtime well-known name, yet the Palisade combines a good road test score, comfort, and safety ratings.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade is faster

The Palisade is quicker, which may be surprising to people. Consumer Reports gives both the 2021 Dodge Durango and 2021 Hyundai Palisade a 4/5 for acceleration. Yet while it takes the Durango 8.3 seconds to go from 0 to 60, the Palisade can go from 0 to 60 in just 7.1 seconds. 

The Palisade’s emergency handling is also better than the Durango’s. While routine handling in both is a 3/5, emergency handling in the Durango is just a 2/5 to the Palisade’s 3/5. The Palsade’s max avoidance speed is also better, at 53 mph to the Durango’s 48 mph.

The Dodge Durango gets a great 4/5 for its braking. It can brake from 60 mph on dry pavement in 134 feet and 150 feet on wet pavement. Again, the Palisade is better, though the difference is slight. They both get a 4/5, but the Palisade can brake from 60 mph on dry pavement in 132 feet and 137 feet on wet pavement.

The Durango’s third row is more comfortable 

Comfort ratings in the Durango and Palisade is very similar, but the third row in the Durango is better. The 2021 Dodge Durango gets a fantastic 4/5 for its ride, and a 5/5 for noise. Front-seat comfort is a perfect 5/5, while rear-seat comfort is a 4/5. Third-row comfort is a 3/5. On the other hand,  the 2021 Hyundai Palisade gets a 4/5 for its ride, a 5/5 for noise, and a 4/5 for front-seat comfort. Rear seat comfort gets a fantastic 5/5. However, the third row comfort is only a 1/5.

While both the Durango and Palisade get a 4/5 for interior fit and finish, and a 4/5 for trunk and cargo space, the Palisade has 47.5 cubic feet of storage space, while the Durango has 44.

The Palisade has more safety features

Consumer Reports recommends that new car shoppers look for forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking at city and highway speeds, lane-keeping assistance, and lane departure warning. Pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning are also important. Anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, and daytime running lights should come in new cars. Rearview cameras are now standard in all new cars. 

The 2021 Dodge Durango comes with disappointingly few of the safety features that Consumer Reports recommends. Only rear-view camera, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and stability control are standard in the 2021 Dodge Durango. Everything else is optional, with the exception of pedestrian detection, which isn’t even available.

On the other hand, the 2021 Hyundai Palisade comes standard with most of what Consumer Reports recommends. Automatic emergency braking for the highway isn’t available. Blindspot warning and rear cross-traffic warning are optional.  

Crash-test ratings in the 2021 Dodge Durango aren’t perfect. While the IIHS moderate overlap, side crash and roof crush are good, the front small overlap on the driver side is only marginal. There are currently no front small overlap, passenger side ratings, or rear crash ratings. 

The NHTSA gives the 2021 Dodge Durango four stars for overall crash, overall frontal-crash, and overall frontal-crash on the driver and passenger sides four stars. Everything else gets five stars, except for the rollover ratings. The 2WD rollover rating is four stars, while the 4WD rating is just three stars. 

Both the IIHS and NHTSA have crash-tested the 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The IIHS gives it all good ratings. The NHTSA gives it five stars for everything except for rollover. Both the 2WD and 4WD get four stars. 

If you’re looking at the 2021 Dodge Durango, you should certainly consider the 2021 Hyundai Palisade. It’s got everything the Durango has to offer, plus more. With its excellent road test ratings and better safety ratings, the Hyundai Palisade is the better choice.