Compare 2021 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Mazda CX-9

2021 Dodge Durango
#34 in Crossover SUVs
X
2021 Ford Explorer
#5 in Large SUVs
X
2021 Mazda CX-9
#8 in Large SUVs
X
Get Your Price Get Your Price Get Your Price
Select style
Citadel AWD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Durango Citadel AWD 18 25 $49,074 $51,020
Durango Citadel RWD 19 26 $46,515 $48,420
Durango GT AWD 18 25 $38,029 $39,270
Durango GT Plus AWD 18 25 $38,029 $39,270
Durango GT Plus RWD 19 26 $35,470 $36,670
Durango GT RWD 19 26 $35,470 $36,670
Durango R/T AWD 14 22 $46,724 $48,520
Durango R/T RWD 14 22 $44,165 $45,920
Durango SRT 392 AWD 13 19 $62,976 $64,570
Durango SRT Hellcat AWD 12 17 $78,416 $80,995
Durango SXT AWD 18 25 $34,808 $35,170
Durango SXT Plus AWD 18 25 $34,808 $35,170
Durango SXT Plus RWD 19 26 $32,203 $32,570
Durango SXT RWD 19 26 $32,203 $32,570
Select style
Base 4WD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Explorer Base 4WD 20 27 $33,635 $34,675
Explorer Base RWD 21 28 $31,695 $32,675
Explorer King Ranch 4WD 18 24 $52,176 $54,350
Explorer King Ranch RWD 18 24 $50,256 $52,350
Explorer Limited 4WD 20 27 $45,125 $47,005
Explorer Limited RWD 21 28 $43,205 $45,005
Explorer Platinum 4WD 18 24 $52,301 $54,480
Explorer ST 4WD 18 24 $50,717 $52,830
Explorer XLT 4WD 20 27 $35,352 $36,825
Explorer XLT RWD 21 28 $33,432 $34,825
Select style
Carbon Edition AWD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
CX-9 Carbon Edition AWD 20 26 $40,848 $43,180
CX-9 Carbon Edition FWD 22 28 $39,049 $41,280
CX-9 Grand Touring AWD 20 26 $41,659 $44,040
CX-9 Grand Touring FWD 22 28 $39,863 $42,140
CX-9 Signature AWD 20 26 $44,273 $46,805
CX-9 Sport AWD 20 26 $34,116 $36,060
CX-9 Sport FWD 22 28 $32,319 $34,160
CX-9 Touring AWD 20 26 $35,808 $37,850
CX-9 Touring FWD 22 28 $34,012 $35,950
Pricing
Invoice Price
$49,074
$33,635
$40,848
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$51,020
$34,675
$43,180
Monthly Payment Estimate
$850 / month
$578 / month
$720 / month
The Car Connection's Take
TCC Rating
6.0
6.8
6.5
TCC’s Bottom Line
If you came to Durango, you came for power. Three V-8 options might leave you in the past, but the past was fast. The 2021 Ford Explorer is recognizable, but new. It should be on every family SUV shopper’s list. The 2021 Mazda CX-9 crossover SUV rewards drivers with good road manners, but takes a penalty in third-row space.
TCC Likes
TCC Dislikes
Fuel Economy
City
18 mpg 20 mpg 20 mpg
Highway
25 mpg 27 mpg 26 mpg
Interior Dimensions
Third Shoulder Room (in)
50.4 54.6 53.1
Second Leg Room (in)
38.6 39 39.4
Front Head Room (in)
39.9 40.7 40.1
Second Hip Room (in)
55.5 59.1 57.4
Front Shoulder Room (in)
58.5 61.8 57.9
Third Leg Room (in)
33.5 32.2 29.7
Second Head Room (in)
39.8 40.5 38.5
Passenger Capacity
6 7 6
Third Hip Room (in)
42.4 40.9 40.1
Second Shoulder Room (in)
57.7 61.9 58.1
Front Leg Room (in)
40.3 43 41
Third Head Room (in)
37.8 38.9 35.4
Front Hip Room (in)
57 59.2 56.7
Passenger Volume (ft³)
- 152.7 135.8
Exterior Dimensions
Height, Overall (in)
72.9 70.2 67.6
Track Width, Rear (in)
64.1 66.9 65.2
Wheelbase (in)
119.8 119.1 115.3
Liftover Height (in)
32.2 32.8 31.7
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
75.8 78.9 77.5
Track Width, Front (in)
63.9 66.9 65.3
Min Ground Clearance (in)
8.1 8.2 -
Length, Overall (in)
200.8 198.8 199.4
Cargo Area Dimensions
Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)
17.2 18.2 14.4
Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)
43.3 47.9 38.2
Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)
85.1 87.8 71.2
Cargo Box (Area) Height (in)
- 32.8 30.3
Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 1 (in)
- 83.9 84.9
Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 3 (in)
- 20.8 21.5
Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in)
- 48.1 40.2
Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 2 (in)
- 49.8 50.5
Cargo Area Width @ Beltline (in)
- 59 58.6
Brakes
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
13.8 13.6 12.6
Brake Type
4-Wheel Disc 4-Wheel Disc 4-Wheel Disc
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA NA
Brake ABS System (Second Line)
4-Wheel - -
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
13 12.6 12.8
Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel 4-Wheel
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA NA
Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
24.6 17.9 19.5
Steering
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
41 - 38.8
Steering Type
Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion
Tires
Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Rear Tire Size
P265/50TR20 P255/65HR18 P255/50VR20
Rear Tire Order Code
TKJ NA NA
Front Tire Size
P265/50TR20 P255/65HR18 P255/50VR20
Spare Tire Size
Full-Size Compact Compact
Front Tire Order Code
TKJ NA NA
Trailering
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
500 500 350
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
620 530 350
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
5000 5000 3500
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
6200 5300 3500
Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs)
6200 5300 3500
Weight Information
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Cap (lbs)
6500 - -
Base Curb Weight (lbs)
- 4345 4409
Wheels
Rear Wheel Size (in)
20 X 8 18 X 7.5 20 X 8.5
Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Spare Wheel Material
Steel Steel Steel
Front Wheel Size (in)
20 X 8 18 X 7.5 20 X 8.5
Spare Wheel Size (in)
Full-Size Compact Compact
Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Electrical
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
180 - 150
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
650 - -
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (2nd)
650 - -
Engine
Engine Type
Regular Unleaded V-6 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4
Fuel System
Sequential MPI Gasoline Direct Injection Gasoline Direct Injection
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
260 @ 4000 310 @ 3500 310 @ 2000
Engine Order Code
ERC 99H NA
Displacement
3.6 L/220 2.3 L/140 2.5 L/152
Engine Oil Cooler
Regular Duty - -
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
295 @ 6400 300 @ 5500 227 @ 5000
Mileage
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
18 20 20
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
21 23 23
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
25 27 26
Transmission
Trans Order Code
DFT 44T NA
Transfer Case Model
None - -
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.67 1.77 1.00
Trans Description Cont.
Automatic w/OD Automatic w/OD Automatic w/OD
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.00 1.27 0.60
Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.67 0.85 -
First Gear Ratio (:1)
4.71 4.71 3.49
Trans PTO Access
No - -
Third Gear Ratio (:1)
2.11 2.15 1.45
Trans Type
8 10 6
Transfer Case Power Take Off
No - -
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.28 1.52 0.71
Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
0.84 1.00 -
Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA
Drivetrain
All Wheel Four Wheel Drive All Wheel
Reverse Ratio (:1)
3.29 4.88 3.99
Second Gear Ratio (:1)
3.14 3.00 1.99
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
- 3.58 4.41
Summary
Vehicle Name
Dodge Durango Ford Explorer Mazda CX-9
Body Code
S - -
Body Style
Sport Utility Sport Utility i-ACTIV AWD Sport Utility
Suspension
Axle Type - Rear
Independent - -
Axle Ratio (:1) - Rear
3.45 - -
Suspension Type - Front
Short And Long Arm Strut Strut
Axle Type - Front
Independent - -
Axle Ratio (:1) - Front
3.45 - -
Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-Link Multi-Link Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
- Multi-Link Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
- Strut Strut
Emissions
Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
8.4 7.7 7.8
Vehicle
EPA Classification
- Standard SUV 4WD Small SUV 4WD
Crash Test Ratings
Overall Rating
--
Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
--
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver
--
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger
--
Overall Side Crash Rating
Side Barrier Rating
Side Barrier Rating Driver
Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat
Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat
Combined Side Rating Front Seat
Combined Side Rating Rear Seat
Rollover Rating
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2021 Dodge Durango
  • 2021 Durango on sale in good numbers
  • Lease: From $372 for 36 months
  • Rebates: Up to $2,750 off
  • Finance: From 0% APR for 72 months
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2021 Ford Explorer
  • 2021 Explorer widely available
  • Lease: From $319 for 36 months
  • Rebates: Up to $1,250 off
  • Finance: From 0% APR for 36 months
Get Your Price
2021 Mazda CX-9
  • 2021 CX-9 selection adequate
  • Lease: From $289 for 36 months
  • Rebates: $750 loyalty bonus available
  • Finance: From 0% APR for 60 months
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