The days of the family sedan and minivan are numbered, as American consumers consistently gravitate toward SUVs. These vehicles offer luxury, versatility, and space that’s unrivaled by four-door sedans, while also boasting more style than other family haulers. After some research, you might find that both the 2018 Dodge Durango and the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee are two of the top-rated options for families. Here’s a quick guide to help you figure out which option is better for you and your kids.
Young Children
If you have young children, both the 2018 Durango and the 2018 Grand Cherokee have the reliability and safety you need. Both options receive a four-out-of-five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as a Good rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Each vehicle comes packed with the LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children) safety system to ensure car seats don’t move during transit. In addition, both SUVs offer a suite of driver-assist safety features aimed at preventing accidents. Some of these features include a lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and a blind-spot monitoring system. If you place a premium on safety for your children, the Durango and Grand Cherokee do an excellent job at protecting your precious cargo.
Verdict for younger children: Stalemate.
Older Kids and Teens
Bigger kids are sure to love the entertainment options available with the 2018 Durango and Grand Cherokee. One of the best add-ons is a rear-seat Blu-ray system with split screens. With this option, your kids can watch two different programs simultaneously without all the bickering.
On the Durango, valet mode is a feature that allows you to disable launch control or stability control. Your teens may not know the difference, but you’ll have some peace of mind knowing that they aren’t driving like maniacs. The smaller Grand Cherokee is a bit better for teen drivers to maneuver, but the rearview camera on both models gives them some added protection when backing up or parking.
Verdict for older kids and teens: Even.
Young Adults
Face it. You never stop being a parent to your kids no matter how old they get. That’s why you need a vehicle that’s a perfect hand-me-down to your college-aged kids. You’ll obviously love the safety amenities for your new driver, but they’ll also enjoy the Uconnect infotainment system, which instantly puts their favorite podcasts, radio stations, and navigation right at their fingertips. This also means they won’t have to look away from the road while driving, which will help put your mind at ease.
Young adults may also love that the Durango gets up to 25 mpg on the highway compared to just 22 mpg for the Grand Cherokee. The Durango also offers 84.5 cubic feet of cargo space, giving it 16 cubic feet of room more than the Grand Cherokee.
Verdict for young adults: Dodge Durango.
While the 2018 Dodge Durango may get the slight edge as a family car, that doesn’t mean the Grand Cherokee won’t work for your needs and wants. The best way to decide is to take a test drive and make the decision for yourself.
Photo by zombieite | Licensed by CC BY 2.0
