The 2022 Ford Explorer vs the 2022 Dodge Durango: it’s a tough decision between these two SUVs. And yet it isn’t, at least if your priorities are safety and cost. At the same time, the Dodge Durango does have an awful lot going for it, like a powerful engine and a great road test score.

The 2022 Ford Explorer vs the 2022 Dodge Durango

If you look at Consumer Reports‘ ratings of the 2022 Ford Explorer vs the 2022 Dodge Durango, the Durango looks like the better pick. It has a better overall rating and road test score. People also love the Durango: it has a higher owner satisfaction score. It also has a better predicted reliability rating.

The Ford Explorer has better safety ratings

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) considers the 2022 Ford Explorer to be one of the safest vehicles one can buy, giving it the Top Safety Pick+ award. The Top Safety Pick+ award is given only to vehicles that ace all of its tests. These measure things like crashworthiness, crash prevention, and headlights.

The 2022 Ford Explorer gets a good or better in all major categories. It has acceptable headlights standard on both available trim levels. This is the minimum to qualify for the Top Safety Pick+ award. In addition, it has advanced or superior safety systems.

On the other hand, the 2022 Dodge Durango doesn’t hold any safety awards. It has a marginal small overlap test on the driver side, though the other categories that have been rated by the IIHS have good scores. Its safety systems haven’t been rated yet.

The Dodge Durango is more expensive

The 2022 Dodge Durango price starts at $35,475. It gets 19 mpg in the city, 26 on the highway, and 21 combined. That’s for the base model Dodge Durango, the 2022 Dodge Durango SXT. There are four other trim levels available, including the GT, R/T, Citadel, and SRT 392. There’s no Dodge Durango Hellcat in 2022. The Dodge Durango comes with a V6, but you could also get a V8 engine. These are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 2022 Durango also comes with rear-wheel drive, though if you get the SRT 392, you’ll get all-wheel drive.

A base model 2022 Ford Explorer costs $36,345. The base model 2022 Ford Explorer comes with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. That’s matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission. It also has an 8-inch touchscreen that’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a six-speaker sound system. Every Ford Explorer from the base model and up comes with frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitor, and lane-keeping assist.

The difference between the 2022 Ford Explorer vs the 2022 Dodge Durango is clear: if you value safety and cost, the Ford Explorer is the better choice. However, if these things are secondary to you and you want something that rides well, you may be happier with the Dodge Durango.