2019 Dodge Durango vs Honda Pilot

Some sport utility vehicles are built tough, while some other SUVs are just...built. When SUVs were new, they were big and truck-like with hard work and rough play in mind. As SUVs have become more prolific and smaller, some have also grown weaker, less rugged, and more sedan-like. And you can't always tell just by looking at the exterior. Take the 2019 Dodge Durango and Honda Pilot. Both are attractive vehicles that promise great adventure. But only one has the power to back up that promise. We'll dig into it in this comparison guide.

Engines: 2019 Dodge Durango

The first place we look is the engines and what these powerhouses can do. The Dodge Durango offers a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine making 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque or one of two optional V8 engines. The best engine is the 6.4-liter V8 that produces 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission is standard each engine option.

Meanwhile, the Honda Pilot has not three, not two, but just one engine on offer. That would be fine if the Honda's were a better engine. But as it is, Pilot drivers will have to content themselves with a 280-horsepower V6, which is fine for the daily commute but hardly competitive against some of the big names and engines in this crowded class. On the plus side, you can get a 9-speed automatic transmission instead of the standard 6-speed, if you don't mind climbing to an upper trim level.

Tow: 2019 Dodge Durango

Maybe this comes as no surprise, given that better horsepower and torque usually means better towing, but the Dodge Durango wins towing capacity by a landslide. The Durango can tow up to 8,700 pounds, when properly configured. That's a lot, right? Yup. In fact, that's best-in-class towing. Meanwhile, a properly equipped Honda Pilot tows only 5,000 pounds. That's about average for the class, but falls well short of the Durango's best-in-class numbers.

Cargo Room: 2019 Dodge Durango

The Dodge Durango can be outfitted with two or three rows of seating. If you don't have too many people to pick up, you can maximize cargo space and save yourself $1,000 with the five-seater Durango. That way, you get a whopping 47.7 cubic feet of cargo space. If, however, you need that third row, you still have 17.2 cubic feet to work with. With either configuration, fold down the seats and you have a cavernous 84.5 cubes to play tetris with.

The Honda Pilot is only a three-row SUV, since there is no two-row option. That leaves just 16.5 cubic feet of storage behind the third row. You can fold the third row down and even the second row as well, if needed. But you're still left with fewer cubes of storage in the Pilot than the Durango affords. If you have stuff to haul and need space to store it, the Durango can do more for you.

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