2021 Dodge Durango vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The 2021 Dodge Durango maintained its muscular and athletic styling, reminiscent of its Charger and Challenger siblings. The exterior design, largely unchanged since 2011, was refreshed for the 2021 model year, particularly evident in the high-performance SRT Hellcat model. This version featured a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, and a rear spoiler, enhancing its aggressive look. The Durango offered a variety of wheel options and a choice of 11 exterior colours, with a cabin that boasted a modern instrument panel and the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Interior options ranged from cloth to premium leather, with unique features like Demonic Red seat belts adding a distinctive touch.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota Sienna embraced its minivan identity while incorporating SUV-like styling cues. The fourth-generation Sienna, launched in 2021, featured a macho front end and cleverly concealed sliding door channels for a sleek profile. The interior was designed for practicality, with ample storage and seating flexibility, including available second-row captain’s chairs and a spacious third-row bench. The Sienna's design focused on family convenience, with power-operated sliding doors and a rear liftgate, making it easy to access the vehicle even with hands full.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered a range of powerful engines, starting with a 3.6-litre V6 producing up to 295 horsepower, and moving up to the 5.7-litre V8 with 360 hp. The SRT 392 model boasted a 392 HEMI V8 engine delivering 475 hp, while the SRT Hellcat featured a supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V8 with an impressive 710 hp. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and AWD was standard in Canada. The Durango's performance was robust, with smooth acceleration and confident steering, though its chassis showed its age on rough roads. The SRT models included performance features like SRT Performance Pages and configurable drive modes, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna, on the other hand, came exclusively with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors for a total of 243 horsepower. The Sienna offered FWD as standard, with AWD available on most trims. Its electronically controlled CVT provided smooth power delivery and excellent fuel efficiency, with consumption figures as low as 6.6 L/100 km in city driving. The Sienna's handling was surprisingly agile for a minivan, thanks to its TNGA platform, and it offered a comfortable ride on highways.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler, offering seating for up to seven across three rows. The front and second-row seats were spacious, accommodating taller passengers comfortably, while the third row provided more room than many competitors. The Durango's cargo space was average for its class, but its versatile midsize packaging made it a practical choice for families. The SUV's fit and finish had improved significantly, contributing to its appeal.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna was designed as a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. Its sliding second row added flexibility for cargo loading, with generous cargo measurements of 949 litres behind the third row and up to 2,860 litres behind the first row. The Sienna's interior featured ample storage cubbies and cupholders, with power-operated sliding doors and a rear liftgate for added convenience. Its towing capacity of 1,585 kilograms made it a versatile choice for families.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on lower trims, with a 10.1-inch screen on higher trims running the new Uconnect 5 system. This system offered enhanced personalization, connected services, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Durango also offered a rear-seat entertainment system with Blu-ray and DVD capabilities. However, the analog speedometer's design made it difficult to read at a glance, and a head-up display was notably absent.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard across all trims, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. While it lacked wireless connectivity for these features, it offered a range of telematics services and a 1500-watt inverter for powering devices. Higher trims included a 12-speaker JBL audio system and a rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display. The Sienna also offered a digital rearview mirror and Smart Key System on higher trims, enhancing convenience and safety.

The 2021 Dodge Durango lagged behind its competitors in safety features, with a standard back-up camera and federally mandated passive safety features. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The IIHS rated the Durango as Marginal for small overlap frontal impact, while the NHTSA gave it a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star front crash and rollover rating.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna, however, excelled in safety, earning a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included adaptive cruise control, lane centring, and automatic emergency braking. The Sienna also featured 10 airbags, a rear-seat reminder system, and a tire-pressure monitoring system, making it a safe choice for families.