BMW X7 vs Dodge Durango: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Dodge Durango burns about $2,950 of fuel annually against $3,300 for the BMW X7. That $350 yearly gap compounds to roughly $1,750 over five years and $2,800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City versus highway split: the BMW X7 is the stronger commuter at 21 mpg city, while the Dodge Durango pulls ahead on the interstate at 26 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the BMW X7 is recorded with 3 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI), the Dodge Durango with 4 (6.4, 6.2, 5.7). Across 25 recorded BMW X7 configurations and 65 for the Dodge Durango, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the BMW X7 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, the Dodge Durango with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the BMW X7 emits 387 g/mile of CO2 versus 414 g/mile for the Dodge Durango. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.