Dodge Durango vs. Toyota Highlander

Let’s pop the hoods of these SUVs, shall we? The Dodge offers four engines, each one more beastly than the last.

• 3.6L Pentastar® V6 engine: 295 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque
• 5.7L HEMI® V8 engine: 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque
• 6.4L HEMI® V8 engine: 475 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque
• Supercharged 6.2L HEMI® V8 engine: 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque

The Toyota falls short of the Dodge with just two powertrains that will leave you wanting more.

• 2.4L turbocharged engine: 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque
• 2.5L hybrid engine plus electric motor: 243 combined horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque

After a closer look, the Dodge Durango totally dominates in the power department. It even holds the title of the fastest-ever 3-row SUV!

The Dodge has all this underbelly power, so what can it do with it? It manifests as the Durango’s maximum 8,700-pound towing capacity! This is enough pulling power to haul:

• A 25-foot camping trailer
• A large boat
• A 2-horse trailer
• A water ski boat
• Another car, like the Toyota Highlander!

The Highlander boasts an impressive 5,000-pound towing capacity; however, it’s not up to par with the Dodge’s capability. We suggest taking your small, hard-sided RV or recreational boat out with the Toyota instead.

The Dodge’s and the Toyota’s safety suites prioritize your security. They come with several features designed to mitigate collisions and ease your commute. They even share a few features in common, including:

• Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• LaneSense® Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist

The Durango pulls ahead with its standard Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path Detection features. These systems function as eyes in the back of your head and keep you up to date on what’s going on behind your SUV. The Highlander has similar available features.

When the sun goes in and the clouds roll out, the Dodge and the Toyota keep a lookout. In fact, their available rain-sensing windshield wipers will detect first rainfall before you do!

The Durango takes inclement weather support up a notch. Meet Rain Brake Support. This feature activates when the windshield wipers are toggled. It applies light pressure to the brake calipers to remove water from the brake pads, helping your brakes retain optimal function, rain or shine.

Both models can seat up to seven passengers within three rows. The Durango makes it easy for kids, teenagers, or your buddies to get out of the third row, thanks to its fold-and-tumble second row. This seat feature moves the second-row seats out of the way in one swift motion so anyone can get in or out without breaking a sweat.

The Highlander comes with sliding and reclining second-row bench seats that you’ll have to manually fold. The Dodge’s feature works with the push of a button.

Dodge thinks about your passengers and your cargo. In fact, they’ve divvied up the Durango’s cabin space to accommodate both! With all three rows down, the Durango can squeeze in up to 85.1 cubic feet of equipment and luggage. The Highlander is close behind with 84.3 cubic feet.

The difference is slight; however, the Dodge’s extra space may offer just enough wiggle room to fit in that last bag.