Not to take anything at all away from the Durango, but the Journey is a very viable option if your on a budget. Thousands less, still fits 7 comfortably. Wish they offered it with a hemi, but the 3.6 V6 is a very good engine. I wanted a Durango, but could not afford the price compared to the Journey.

 

Have to agree. I love my 2014 Durango R/T, but honestly, it's not big enough for any kind of road trip with luggage if you have 4 kids. The cargo area behind the 3rd row with the 3rd row up is tiny. Just around town, it would be fine, but with 4 kids and any thing more than a quick grocery run and you're gonna wish you had more space. You need to go full size SUV or minivan.

 

My son has an Expedition EL. His neighbor has a Suburban. They both agree the Expedition is better. The Suburban has a solid rear axle and third row seat is not as good.

 

I've actually been a GM buy most of my life... But I LOVE my Durango more and more every day... I knew I'd like it, but I didn't think I'd like it as much as I do... lol

 

Love my Durango for the most part. 3rd row seat is pretty good, the inlaws ride in mine sometimes. However, it's not big enough for vacations with that crowd. I'd go for the Suburban if you expect to take long trips with the family. It will be fine if the minivan is your road trip wheels.

I would have liked a Suburban or Tahoe but is was not in my budget.

Steve

 

We have a 06 sienna AWD family hauler for road trips. My children are 9,7,3 and 1, figure they would fit in the third row without any problems. But down the road when they get older would it be comfortable for a teen to sit in the back. Does it seem too tight in the back if your an adult?

 

Depends on how tall they are. The 3rd row in the Durango is a bit elevated (think stadium seating). That's good for visibility, but bad for head room. I've sat in the 3rd row in mine (not for long, but just to check it out) and I didn't find it too cramped. I'm 5'8" and 140 lbs though.

 

My 17 year old 6'2 230 lb son sits back there fine for 2-3 hours. Longer than that might be rough.

When I was looking at the Durango the first thing I did was climb back there and sit myself.

 

We have a 11' suburban 4wd LS (base model), and a 12' Durango AWD Citadel Hemi, both since new. Both are unbeatable! Why, suburban (and Tahoe) has 9 passenger seating, no SUV can match that and when you have a bunch of kids its a must, especially if they are active and/or have a lot of friends with them always like ours. However, the Durango comes fully loaded (with v8, AWD, and adaptive cruise) brand new for $40g's, no other SUV or Crossover can match that!
When I'm in my $40g (base model) suburban I miss the adaptive cruise, navigation, cooled seats, and auto high beams and wipers, and the Hemi. When I'm in my fully loaded Durango I miss my adjustable pedals, the 2wd mode on the transfer case, my wife sitting next to me in the middle, the folding mirrors, the opening back glass on the hatch, the ground clearance, the extra seating, and the room behind the rear seat, that my base model suburban has.

Hope this helps, I like them both though.

 

No way! Get yourself a hitch-mount cargo box for long trip luggage storage and enjoy the better driving experience of the Durango and the $30k (!!!) savings over the Suburban. I would never own a Suburban unless I had 6 kids.