The Dodge Durango vs Ford Explorer decision comes down to one trade: the Durango tows more and is the only one of the two you can buy with a V8, while the Explorer burns less fuel and offers Ford's BlueCruise hands free highway assist. If a camper or a boat goes to the lake every July, the Durango is the stronger fit. If the job is commuting and the odd road trip, the Explorer has the honest edge on fuel. This is the second cross shop after our Dodge Durango vs Chevrolet Tahoe comparison, built the same way: each maker's own Canadian figures, with the model year beside every one.
Shopping already? Browse our new Dodge Durango inventory in Portage la Prairie.
A note on model years. Dodge Canada's main Durango pages describe the 2026 Durango, and its 2027 page lists the same V6 and V8 towing figures. Ford Canada's pages describe the 2027 Explorer. Fuel economy for both is Natural Resources Canada's 2026 rating. The window sticker settles every figure for one exact vehicle, and you can read them in our new Dodge Durango inventory.
Key Takeaways
- Towing goes to the Durango. Dodge Canada lists 2,812 kg (6,200 lb) for the 2026 V6 and up to 3,946 kg (8,700 lb) for the HEMI V8 with the Tow N Go package, properly equipped. Ford Canada lists a 2,267 kg (5,000 lb) maximum for the 2027 Explorer.
- Fuel goes to the Explorer. Natural Resources Canada rates the 2026 Explorer AWD 2.3 litre at 10.4 L/100 km combined, against 11.9 for the 2026 Durango AWD 3.6 litre.
- Both drive all four wheels as standard in Canada. All wheel drive on the 2026 Durango, Intelligent 4WD on every 2027 Explorer. Neither one stops or turns better on ice than its tires allow.
- Peak power goes to the Explorer ST, at 400 hp and 415 lb ft, unless you count the 710 hp Durango SRT Hellcat.
- Cargo is close on paper. Ford Canada lists 2,416 to 2,431 litres maximum by trim; Dodge Canada lists 2,409.8 litres.
Dodge Durango vs Ford Explorer at a Glance
| Spec | 2026 Durango (Dodge Canada) | 2027 Explorer (Ford Canada) |
|---|---|---|
| Base engine | 3.6 L Pentastar V6, 295 hp, 260 lb ft | 2.3 L EcoBoost four, 300 hp, 310 lb ft |
| Bigger engine | 5.7 L HEMI V8, 360 hp, 390 lb ft | 3.0 L twin turbo EcoBoost V6, 400 hp, 415 lb ft |
| Maximum towing | 3,946 kg (8,700 lb), HEMI with Tow N Go | 2,267 kg (5,000 lb) |
| Drive | All wheel drive, standard | Intelligent 4WD, standard |
| Seating | Up to seven | Seven, or six on the Tremor |
| Maximum cargo | 2,409.8 litres | 2,416 to 2,431 litres |
| Combined fuel, base engine (NRCan 2026) | 11.9 L/100 km | 10.4 L/100 km |
Engines: Pentastar and HEMI Against EcoBoost
Dodge Canada lists the 3.6 litre Pentastar V6 at 295 hp and 260 lb ft on the 2026 SXT, GT and GT Plus, with an eight speed TorqueFlite automatic and standard paddle shifters. Step up and the 5.7 litre HEMI V8 makes 360 hp and 390 lb ft. Dodge Canada calls it the only V8 in the segment, and the 2027 page names the V8 trims GT HEMI V8 Plus and GT HEMI V8 Premium. At the far end, the supercharged 6.2 litre HEMI in the SRT Hellcat is listed at 710 hp and 645 lb ft.
Ford Canada lists the 2027 Explorer's 2.3 litre EcoBoost four cylinder at 300 hp and 310 lb ft, standard on the Active, ST-Line, Tremor and Platinum. The 3.0 litre twin turbo EcoBoost V6 makes 400 hp and 415 lb ft, standard on the ST and available on the Tremor and Platinum. Natural Resources Canada lists both Explorer engines with a 10 speed automatic.
Read those numbers honestly. The Explorer's base engine makes more torque than the Durango V6, and the Explorer ST's V6 makes more power than the HEMI. What the Durango offers is a V8, which no Explorer has. For one way to dress a V6 Durango, see our look at the Dodge Durango GT.
Towing to the Lake in July
This is where the gap is widest. Dodge Canada lists the 2026 Durango V6 at up to 2,812 kg (6,200 lb) and calls that best in class V6 towing. The HEMI V8 is rated up to 3,266 kg (7,200 lb), or up to 3,946 kg (8,700 lb) with the Tow N Go package, properly equipped. Ford Canada lists the 2027 Explorer's maximum at 2,267 kg (5,000 lb).
So the base Durango is rated above the best Explorer before you look at a V8. For a boat headed to Lake Manitoba, or a camper going east on the Trans-Canada Highway to the Whiteshell on a long weekend, that margin means you are not towing at the edge of the rating. Dodge Canada also lists Trailer Sway Control, which applies brake pressure to alternating wheels and adjusts throttle to help keep a trailer stable.
For either vehicle, take the trailer's weight from its own plate, loaded. Tongue weight also counts against payload, so a full third row plus a heavy hitch load can reach the payload limit before the tow rating. Our post on Dodge Durango towing capacity breaks the ratings down by engine and package.
All Wheel Drive on a Polished January Intersection
You know the intersection that turns to glass by mid January, where a week of idling traffic has polished the snow at the stop line. Both of these vehicles drive all four wheels as standard in Canada. Dodge Canada lists all wheel drive as standard on the 2026 Durango, saying it "adds control and peace of mind on unpredictable terrain." Ford Canada lists Intelligent 4WD as standard on every 2027 Explorer. For the 2027 Durango, confirm the drive system on the window sticker of the vehicle you are looking at.
At that intersection, either system helps you pull away by sending power to all four wheels. Neither helps you stop or turn, because braking and steering grip come from the tires. We are a participating retailer in the MPI Winter Tire Program, and as of October 1, 2026, Manitoba Public Insurance says the program covers tires marketed solely as winter tires. You can book a winter tire changeover with our service team for either vehicle.
Then the block heater. Check the window sticker on either vehicle for one; if yours does not have one, our service department installs block heaters, and you can book a block heater installation.
Third Row, Cargo and the Hockey Bag Math
Hockey bags are the real cargo test in a Manitoba winter. They are long, they do not bend, and on tournament weekends there can be more of them than seats.
On paper the two are close. Ford Canada lists 2,431 litres maximum on the Explorer Active and ST-Line and 2,416 litres on the Tremor, Platinum and ST, with 461 litres behind the third row. Dodge Canada lists 2,409.8 litres maximum for the 2026 Durango and describes over 50 seating configurations. The 2026 Durango GT lists a 50/50 split folding third row, so one half can fold for bags while the other keeps a seat. The 2026 SXT lists five passenger seating as standard, so check the seating line on the sticker if you need the third row.
The honest math is your own. Load your actual bags and sticks into both with the third row up, then with half of it folded. The one that takes Saturday's tournament without a bag on someone's lap is the one for your family.
Where the Explorer Wins
- Fuel. Natural Resources Canada rates the 2026 Explorer AWD 2.3 litre at 11.9 city, 8.7 highway and 10.4 combined L/100 km (the Tremor is rated separately). The 2026 Durango AWD 3.6 litre is rated 13.5 city, 9.9 highway and 11.9 combined. Even the Explorer's 3.0 litre V6, at 11.6 combined, is rated below the Durango V6, and the HEMI is rated at 14.3. Over a winter of drives to away games in Brandon or Dauphin, that adds up.
- Power at the top. The Explorer ST's 400 hp and 415 lb ft beat the HEMI's 360 hp and 390 lb ft.
- Hands free highway driving. Ford Canada lists BlueCruise as an available hands free highway driving assistance feature, with a plan included on the Platinum and ST. The Durango does not offer it.
The Durango answers with towing, a V8 and Trailer Sway Control, plus the SRT Hellcat, which Dodge Canada calls the fastest available three row gas SUV. If you are weighing the Durango against its Jeep cousin as well, read our Durango vs Grand Cherokee L comparison, and for what changed on the newest model, see our 2027 Dodge Durango update.
Shopping for a Durango
Pricing moves with incentives every month, so we are not printing a number here. Browse the Dodge Durango models on our lot in Portage la Prairie for current pricing and window stickers. If a trade is part of the plan, find out what your current vehicle is worth first, and if you plan to finance, you can apply for financing online before you visit. Any approval, rate or term is on approved credit.
FAQs
Which tows more, the Dodge Durango or the Ford Explorer?
The Durango. Dodge Canada lists the 2026 Durango V6 at up to 2,812 kg (6,200 lb) and the HEMI V8 at up to 3,946 kg (8,700 lb) with the Tow N Go package, properly equipped. Ford Canada lists a maximum of 2,267 kg (5,000 lb) for the 2027 Explorer.
Which uses less fuel, the Durango or the Explorer?
The Explorer. Natural Resources Canada rates the 2026 Explorer AWD 2.3 litre at 10.4 L/100 km combined and the 2026 Durango AWD 3.6 litre at 11.9 L/100 km combined.
Do the Durango and the Explorer both come with all wheel drive in Canada?
Yes. Dodge Canada lists all wheel drive as standard on the 2026 Durango, and Ford Canada lists Intelligent 4WD as standard on every 2027 Explorer. Neither system improves braking or steering grip on ice; that comes from the tires.
Can you still get a V8 in the Durango?
Yes. Dodge Canada lists the 5.7 litre HEMI V8 at 360 hp and 390 lb ft and calls it the only V8 in the segment. The Explorer offers a 3.0 litre twin turbo V6 at 400 hp instead.
Which has more room for hockey bags?
On paper they are close. Ford Canada lists 2,416 to 2,431 litres maximum for the 2027 Explorer by trim, with 461 litres behind the third row, and Dodge Canada lists 2,409.8 litres maximum for the 2026 Durango. Load your own bags into both to be sure.
The Bottom Line
In the Dodge Durango vs Ford Explorer matchup, the Durango is the one to buy if you tow, want a V8, or both: its base V6 is rated above the best Explorer, and the HEMI with Tow N Go goes to 3,946 kg (8,700 lb). The Explorer is the one to buy if fuel and hands free highway assist matter more than the trailer, and Natural Resources Canada's ratings back that up. Both drive all four wheels as standard, and both stop and turn on their tires, so plan on winter tires for a Manitoba January. When you are ready, compare the window stickers on our new Dodge Durango inventory against the trailer you actually tow.
Tyler Dunn, Dunn Ram Trucks, Portage la Prairie
