Are the Durango and Grand Cherokee the same platform?
The Durango and Grand Cherokee are not built on the exact same platform in their latest forms. They have a long history of platform sharing within the same corporate family, but the modern models use different modular architectures tailored to each nameplate.
To understand what that means, it helps to know what “platform” refers to in automotive terms: the underlying chassis, floorpan, and major engineering that support a vehicle’s body, suspension, and drivetrain. This article traces how the Durango and Grand Cherokee have related to one another over time and what separates them today, with a focus on how platform decisions affect form, function, and buying choices.
Historical relationship between Durango and Grand Cherokee
Before examining the current state, this overview explains how the two models have been linked in past generations. The following points summarize the most notable shared-architecture moments.
- The two models began with closely related underpinnings within FCA, leveraging common chassis concepts and engineering to optimize cost and parts availability across Jeep and Dodge SUVs.
- In several generations, both vehicles used related architectures that allowed similar dimensions, drivetrains, and component sets, even as each model was tuned for its target audience (two-row versus three-row layouts, for example).
- As FCA moved toward newer architectures in the 2010s and beyond, the Durango and Grand Cherokee diverged more in their exact platform code and packaging, though they continued to share some components and suppliers.
Taken together, these historical patterns show that the Durango and Grand Cherokee have often been built on related foundations, but they are not universally the same platform across all model years.
Modern status: Are they on the same platform today?
In the latest generations, the Durango and Grand Cherokee do not share the exact same platform. The Grand Cherokee line has shifted toward newer, more modular architectures designed to accommodate modern tech, higher safety standards, and, in some cases, three-row seating (as with the Grand Cherokee L). The Durango has followed its own packaging strategy to emphasize capabilities like towing, space, and variant configurations that suit its market positioning.
- Platform independence today: The Grand Cherokee and Durango sit on distinct modular architectures, even though they may share engines or transmissions in certain configurations.
- Parts and compatibility: While some components (such as certain drivetrains or electronic systems) can overlap, platform-level compatibility is limited between the two models.
- Implications for buyers: Differences in platform affect interior space, payload/towing capacity, ride and handling characteristics, and available drivetrain options. Always check the exact year/trim specs for the model you’re considering.
Because manufacturers occasionally refresh platforms or adopt new modular architectures, it’s wise to verify the current year’s official specifications. Platform naming sometimes remains abstract in consumer materials, but the practical differences—dimensions, suspension tuning, and cargo layout—are what matter most when comparing Durango and Grand Cherokee models.
Platform codes and what they mean for shoppers
Automakers assign internal platform codes to denote the underlying chassis family. Those codes can signal shared components or engineering approaches, but they aren’t always exposed in consumer brochures. For shoppers, this means: rely on published specs (wheelbase, track width, payload, towing capacity, and available drivetrains) rather than assuming identical platform status based on a model name alone.
Summary
In short, the Durango and Grand Cherokee are not on the exact same platform in today’s lineup. They share a history of engineering collaboration and parts interchange, but modern iterations use distinct modular architectures. For buyers, this translates to differences in space, towing, and available powertrains that should be verified on the specific model year and trim level being considered. The broader takeaway is that platform sharing has existed, but the two models have diverged in their latest forms.
What platform is the Grand Cherokee on?
Fifth generation (WL; 2021)
| Fifth generation | |
|---|---|
| Platform | WL platform |
| Related | Alfa Romeo Stelvio |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Gasoline: 2.0 L Hurricane 4 EVO turbo I4 (gasoline) (2026–) 3.6 L Pentastar V6 (eTorque) 5.7 L Hemi V8 (2021-2023) 2.0 L GME-T4 T I4 (export)(2021-2025) Gasoline plug-in hybrid: 2.0 L GME turbo I4 (4xe) |
Are the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee built on the same platform?
Now in its third generation, the Dodge Durango is currently built on the same platform as it's cousin, the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Are the Durango and Grand Cherokee L the same?
In terms of interior space, the Grand Cherokee L has a slight edge over the Dodge Durango. To be specific, the Grand Cherokee L comes standard with 159.10 cubic-feet of passenger volume and the Dodge Durango comes standard with 141 cubic-feet of passenger volume.
What platform is the Dodge Durango built on?
The current Dodge Durango is built on the same unibody platform as the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Historically, the first generation of the Durango was built on the body-on-frame platform of the Dodge Dakota pickup truck.
- Current Generation: The third and current generation of the Durango, introduced in 2011, shares its platform with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. This shift from the previous generation to a unibody design from a car-based platform provides a smoother ride compared to the original truck-based platform.
- Historical Platform: The first generation (1998-2003) was built on the same body-on-frame platform as the Dodge Dakota pickup truck, making it a rugged, truck-based SUV.
