Compare the2025 Lexus GXVS 2025 Dodge Durango

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Lexus GX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Dodge Durango doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

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 GX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Durango doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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

The GX has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Durango doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the GX. But it costs extra on the Durango.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GX Overland’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Durango doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

The GX’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Durango.

The GX offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Durango only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the GX and Durango have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GX has Rear Cross-Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Durango’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

The GX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Durango doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GX and the Durango have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

The GX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Durango’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the GX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Dodge covers the Durango. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Durango ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The GX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Durango’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the GX has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Durango.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 127 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 55 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 9th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Dodge is ranked 21st.

Engine

The GX’s 3.4 turbo V6 produces 54 more horsepower (349 vs. 295) and 219 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 260) than the Durango’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The GX’s 3.4 turbo V6 produces 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 390) than the Durango’s optional 5.7 V8.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lexus GX is faster than the Dodge Durango:

	GX	Durango V6	Durango V8
Zero to 60 MPH	6.3 sec	8 sec	6.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	16.1 sec	15 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95 MPH	86.9 MPH	93.2 MPH

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus GX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Durango.

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GX offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Durango’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Lexus GX’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Dodge Durango only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The GX has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Durango. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The GX has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the GX flat and controlled during cornering. The Durango’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The GX Overtrail has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Durango doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the GX is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Durango.

The GX Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Durango GT 4x4 (28.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the GX’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Durango’s (39.4 feet vs. 41 feet).

For greater off-road capability the GX Premium has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Durango (8.7 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the GX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GX Overtrail’s minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the Durango (9.8 vs. 8.1 inches).

Chassis

The GX is 3.7 inches shorter than the Durango, making the GX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the GX Overtrail+ is quieter than the Durango GT 4x4 (37 vs. 38 dB).

Passenger Space

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GX’s middle and third row seats recline. The Durango’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the GX’s optional third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Durango doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The GX’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Durango’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the GX’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Durango doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Payload and Towing

The GX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Durango’s (9063 vs. 6200 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Dodge Durango 4x4 is only 8700 pounds. The GX offers up to a 9096 lbs. towing capacity.

The GX has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Durango (1545 vs. 1450 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Dodge. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 64% lower rating, Dodge is ranked 27th.

Ergonomics

The GX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Durango doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The GX’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Durango’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The GX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Durango’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the GX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Durango can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GX’s standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Durango doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The GX’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Durango’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The GX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Durango doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GX offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Durango doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GX to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Durango doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Lexus GX has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors costs extra on the Durango.

The GX Luxury/Overland+ has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Durango.

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