2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2025 Dodge Durango

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid presented a sporty exterior with its black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim, though its interior was relatively basic. The Sport Touring Hybrid model, priced at $41,175 with destination charges, featured Canyon River Blue paint and no optional accessories. Its conservative styling, with a technical face resembling an angry robot, was expected to age well, though it carried too much visual weight over its front wheels. The best viewing angle was from the rear quarter, where Volvo-adjacent taillights and a tidy design gave it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Sport Touring model offered leather seats with orange contrast stitching and numerous quality details, such as a soft-touch dashboard and metal mesh hiding the air vents, contributing to a sophisticated cabin feel.

In contrast, the 2025 Dodge Durango, particularly the SRT Hellcat Premium with the Silver Bullet special edition package, exuded a more aggressive visual attitude. Priced at $115,315 with destination charges, it featured Triple Nickel paint, a satin black hood, different wheels, dark badges, and black exhaust tips. Inside, the SRT Hellcat maintained a subdued yet premium feel with dark red Nappa leather seat faces and a suede headliner. The interior upgrades, including a leather and suede steering wheel wrap and forged carbon fiber trim, added to the Durango's solid construction, though some plastic surfaces detracted from the overall premium feel.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a fourth-generation Honda two-motor hybrid drive system, combining an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors. This setup delivered 204 horsepower to the front or all four wheels, with an EPA rating of 37 mpg in combined driving for the Sport Touring model. However, during testing on a mountainous Southern California loop, it returned 32.4 mpg. The CR-V Hybrid was relatively quiet on the road, offering a compliant ride quality and predictable handling traits, though it wasn't particularly noteworthy in steering feel. It was easy to drive, with hints of fun, but not suited for off-road adventures or spirited driving.

The 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, on the other hand, boasted a 710-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 engine, delivering 645 pound-feet of torque. It accelerated to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, reached a top speed of 180 mph, and could tow up to 8,700 pounds. Despite its power, the Durango's fuel economy was poor, with an EPA rating of 12/17/13 mpg in city/highway/combined driving. The Durango SRT Hellcat featured a full-time AWD system, electronic limited-slip rear differential, and a high-performance exhaust system. It drove like a taller previous-generation Charger, with firm road manners, creamy steering response, and immediate braking capability. The Durango performed exceptionally well in the Santa Monica Mountains, offering outstanding grip and indefatigable brakes.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled in form and function, offering quality materials, intuitive controls, and comfortable seating. It featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The CR-V's back seat was roomy, with a high bottom cushion for excellent leg support and adjustable backrest angle. It provided 34.7 cubic feet of cargo space in the Sport Touring model, expanding to 76.5 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2025 Dodge Durango also excelled in form and function, with roomy and comfortable seating. The SRT Hellcat Premium model featured heated and ventilated front seats with Nappa premium leather, though they didn't securely hold occupants during spirited driving. The second-row captain's chairs offered good leg support, and the third-row seat provided enough room for adults. The Durango offered 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 85.1 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded down.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid came with a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a 9-inch display available. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a premium audio system were reserved for higher trims. The Sport Touring model included navigation and a 12-speaker Bose audio system, though the voice recognition system was basic.

The 2025 Dodge Durango featured a Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a native navigation system. It included SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Dodge Connect and SiriusXM Guardian subscription services, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The SRT Hellcat model came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid was equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. It received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS for the 2023 calendar year, though NHTSA ratings were not available at the time of writing.

The 2025 Dodge Durango's safety features were less impressive, with a short list of standard features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. It earned a four-star overall rating from NHTSA and a three-star rollover resistance rating for AWD models. The IIHS's small overlap frontal-impact test results were concerning.