2021 Dodge Durango vs 2020 Toyota Sienna

The 2020 Toyota Sienna, part of its third generation, had been around since 2011 and received an update in 2018. Despite these updates, the 2020 model still felt dated. The front doors emitted a hollow "thud" when slammed, indicating a lack of attention to fit and finish. The instrument panel looked like it came from Toyota's 2010 parts bin, though its simplicity made the controls easy to use. The Sienna offered various trims, from the base L to the Limited Premium, each adding more features and luxury. The SE trim, recommended by CarGurus, included 19-inch alloy wheels, a mesh grille, and a power rear liftgate, which was crucial for family use. The Nightshade Edition added dark accents and wheels, appealing to those who wanted a "cool" minivan.

The 2021 Dodge Durango, part of its third generation since 2011, maintained its muscular stance and athletic styling, aligning with Dodge's Charger and Challenger. The 2021 model year saw a revised design, especially evident in the new SRT Hellcat model, which featured a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, and a rear spoiler. The Durango offered six different 20-inch wheel varieties and one 18-inch version, with 11 exterior colors and six interior color schemes. The cabin featured a new instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The Durango's interior became increasingly premium and sophisticated as one moved up the trim levels, with options for cloth, leather, suede, Nappa leather, and Laguna leather upholstery.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 296 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The dash-mounted shifter had a Sport mode that enhanced throttle and shift response. The Sienna offered stout acceleration in normal Drive mode and even better performance in Sport mode. It also had a manual mode, which was rarely used but could help with its 3,500-pound towing capacity. The Sienna was available in front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations, with AWD versions limited to a 7-passenger configuration. The FWD Sienna returned 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while AWD versions returned 18/24/20. The Sienna handled surprisingly well for a minivan, with a low center of gravity and broad base, though its twitchy steering response at higher speeds was a concern.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered four different engines: a 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, a 392 HEMI V8, and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8. All engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions, with three different versions for the various engines. The V6, standard in the SXT, GT, and Citadel trims, produced 293 horsepower (single exhaust) or 295 horsepower (dual exhaust) and 260 pound-feet of torque. The R/T trim came with a 5.7-liter V8 making 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The SRT 392 trim featured a 392 HEMI V8 delivering 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The top-tier SRT Hellcat trim boasted a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 with 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. The Durango's steering was precise, but its chassis showed its age, with a reactionary suspension that passed bumps to the cabin. The Durango R/T with the Tow N Go Package had a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds, and the SRT models offered SRT Performance Pages for track days.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna excelled in cargo space, offering 150 cubic feet, more than its competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica (140.5 cubic feet) and Honda Odyssey (144.9 cubic feet). However, accessing this space required removing the second-row seats, which was easier with captain’s chairs than with a bench seat. The third row folded seamlessly into the floor, but getting into the backseat could be challenging. Toyota also offered mobility access features, such as the Auto Access Seat, making the Sienna a good option for those needing mobility conversions.

The 2021 Dodge Durango was a versatile family hauler with comfortable seating, good storage space, and family entertainment options. It could seat up to seven across three rows, with spacious front and second-row seats and a more spacious third row than many competitors. The Durango offered 21 seat options, providing plenty of choices for buyers. Its cargo space was about average for its class, functioning as advertised. The Durango's fit and finish had improved significantly, standing out compared to earlier models and other Dodge vehicles like the Journey and Grand Caravan.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna's base L trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Amazon Alexa and Apple CarPlay. Other standard tech features included Bluetooth connectivity, five USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot with a 6-month trial. Higher trims, like the Limited, added navigation and a JBL 10-speaker premium audio system. The Limited trim also featured Driver Easy Speak, an intercom system that broadcasted the driver’s voice to the rear speakers, making it easier to communicate with passengers in the back.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the SXT and GT trims, with higher trims getting a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the new Uconnect 5 system. Uconnect 5 was five times faster than its predecessor and offered greater personalization, connected services, two Bluetooth connections, Amazon Alexa connectivity, TomTom navigation, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates via the 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Durango also offered a family entertainment system with a Blu-ray and DVD player and two 9-inch screens. SRT models had unique appearance features, including a “smoke show” start-up animation and SRT serpentine font. The gauge cluster, however, made it difficult to differentiate the exact speed of travel due to its design.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) suite, which included lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning and avoidance with pedestrian detection, dynamic cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring was optional on lower trims and standard on XLE and Limited trims. The Sienna earned five stars in crash testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the best score of Good in many areas from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Its standard driver-assistance features also earned a top rating of Superior from the IIHS.

The 2021 Dodge Durango fell short in safety compared to its rivals. It came standard with a rearview camera and passive safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Depending on the trim level or package, buyers could add adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, rear-cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and forward-collision warning. The NHTSA gave the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating, but front crash testing ratings were not yet available. The IIHS had not yet released ratings for the 2021 Durango.