Dodge Durango vs Ford Explorer: Which Used Buy Wins?
As used buys (July 2026), the Dodge Durango typically lists for $35,769 against $40,927 for the Ford Explorer (same model years — 2024–2026 — national medians from live listings). The Ford Explorer takes fuel economy (20 MPG combined vs 17 MPG); the Ford Explorer leads on NCAP safety (4.9★ vs 4.0★ average). Overall medians mix very different trims — at the cheapest common trims it's the GT at $32,688 vs the XLT at $32,146; see the trim-by-trim tables for a fair match. Every figure below is live market data, not book values.
Head to head
Trim-by-trim prices (last 4 model years)
A fair comparison matches equivalent trims, not overall medians. Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, the Dodge Durango GT ($32,688) faces the Ford Explorer XLT ($32,146); the most common trims on the market are the GT (66.7% of Dodge Durango listings) and the XLT (33.8% of Ford Explorer listings); at the top of the market, the GT HEMI ($48,400) faces the ST ($47,722). Share = portion of the model's trim-labeled used listings (a supply-side popularity signal: what the market actually stocks and sells most). “Cheapest”/“Priciest” mark the ends of the quotable trim range — trim ladders don't map one-to-one across brands, so this is not a factory base-model claim.
| Dodge Durango | Ford Explorer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trim | Typical price | Share | Trim | Typical price | Share |
| SXT | $26,398 | 2.8% | XLTMost popularCheapest | $32,146 | 33.8% |
| GTMost popularCheapest | $32,688 | 66.7% | LIMITED | $33,840 | 5.5% |
| CITADEL | $37,995 | 1.7% | TIMBERLINE | $36,271 | 2.5% |
| R/T | $40,998 | 22.4% | ACTIVE | $39,995 | 17.4% |
| GT HEMIPriciest | $48,400 | 3.4% | ST-LINE | $39,999 | 17.6% |
| SRT 392 | $59,420 | 1.0% | PLATINUM | $45,910 | 7.0% |
| SRT HELLCAT | $76,994 | 2.0% | STPriciest | $47,722 | 12.8% |
| — | TREMOR | $55,325 | 2.0% | ||
Rows are aligned by price position (both sides sorted cheapest-first), not by equivalent equipment — trim names never map one-to-one across brands. Full per-trim detail (price ranges, mileage) is on each model's price page: Dodge Durango prices · Ford Explorer prices.
Used price by model year
| Year | Dodge Durango typical | Ford Explorer typical | Difference | Dodge Durango MPG | Ford Explorer MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $39,532 | $45,790 | Ford Explorer +$6,258 | 13–20 MPG | 19–24 MPG |
| 2025 | $35,769 | $40,927 | Ford Explorer +$5,158 | 13–20 MPG | 20–24 MPG |
| 2024 | $32,244 | $35,786 | Ford Explorer +$3,542 | 13–21 MPG | 20–24 MPG |
| 2023 | $32,993 | $32,791 | Dodge Durango +$202 | 13–21 MPG | 20–27 MPG |
| 2022 | $32,042 | $29,354 | Dodge Durango +$2,688 | 15–21 MPG | 19–27 MPG |
| 2021 | $27,233 | $24,698 | Dodge Durango +$2,535 | 13–21 MPG | 19–27 MPG |
| 2020 | $22,000 | $22,795 | Ford Explorer +$795 | 15–21 MPG | 19–28 MPG |
| 2019 | $19,900 | $18,058 | Dodge Durango +$1,842 | 15–21 MPG | 18–22 MPG |
| 2018 | $17,900 | $16,653 | Dodge Durango +$1,247 | 15–21 MPG | 18–22 MPG |
| 2017 | $14,855 | $14,488 | Dodge Durango +$367 | 17–21 MPG | 18–22 MPG |
| 2016 | $13,560 | $12,509 | Dodge Durango +$1,051 | 17–21 MPG | 18–22 MPG |
| 2015 | $12,898 | $10,752 | Dodge Durango +$2,146 | 16–20 MPG | 18–23 MPG |
| 2014 | $10,983 | $9,746 | Dodge Durango +$1,237 | 16–20 MPG | 18–23 MPG |
| 2013 | $9,840 | $8,499 | Dodge Durango +$1,341 | 15–19 MPG | 18–23 MPG |
| 2012 | $8,995 | $7,850 | Dodge Durango +$1,145 | 15–19 MPG | 19–23 MPG |
| 2011 | $8,972 | $7,900 | Dodge Durango +$1,072 | 15–19 MPG | 19–20 MPG |
Typical price = national median asking price of live listings for that model year (July 2026); MPG = EPA combined range across rated versions.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to buy used — Dodge Durango or Ford Explorer?
Comparing the same model years (2024–2026), the Dodge Durango is cheaper: it typically lists for $35,769 versus $40,927 for the Ford Explorer (national medians, July 2026).
Which gets better fuel economy — Dodge Durango or Ford Explorer?
The Ford Explorer: its typical rated version returns 20 MPG combined versus 17 MPG for the Dodge Durango (median across EPA-rated versions of the compared years).
Which is safer — Dodge Durango or Ford Explorer?
By NCAP overall crash-test rating the Ford Explorer averages 4.9 of 5 stars across rated years versus 4.0 for the Dodge Durango. Always check the specific model year's rating in the table above.
Which is more reliable — Dodge Durango or Ford Explorer?
NHTSA lists an average of 4.6 recalls per model year for the Dodge Durango and 10.2 for the Ford Explorer — an edge for the Dodge Durango. Recall and complaint counts scale with sales volume, so treat them as context and check any specific car's VIN history.
Which trims should I actually compare?
Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, a Dodge Durango GT typically lists for $32,688 vs $32,146 for a Ford Explorer XLT; the most common trims on the market are the GT ($32,688, 66.7% of Dodge Durango listings) and the XLT ($32,146, 33.8% of Ford Explorer listings); at the top of the market, the GT HEMI ($48,400) faces the ST ($47,722). Overall medians hide this trim mix — use the trim tables above for a fair match. Trim names never map one-to-one across brands, so "cheapest" means the least expensive trim with a real market share, not the factory base.
https://vehisales.com/research/compare/dodge/durango/vs/ford/explorer.
Dig deeper
Dodge Durango — live listings & specs Ford Explorer — live listings & specs Dodge Durango prices by year Ford Explorer prices by year Dodge Durango MPG by year Ford Explorer MPG by year
See also: All model comparisons · Best used cars by budget · Used car prices by model.