2021 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was a standout in the midsize SUV segment, offering a distinctive design that set it apart from the typical family hauler. Its exterior featured wide headlights, a long hood, and a bold trapezoidal grille, giving it a commanding presence. The character line along the side, reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and Lexus-inspired taillights added to its appeal. The introduction of the XSE trim brought a sportier look with a restyled front end and 20-inch alloy wheels, although it was more about appearance than performance. Inside, the Highlander Limited trim impressed with its luxurious feel, featuring tan leather seats, dark brown accents, and wood details, creating a comfortable and upscale environment.

In contrast, the 2021 Dodge Durango maintained its muscular and athletic styling, consistent with its Charger and Challenger siblings. The Durango's design was refreshed for 2021, particularly evident in the high-performance SRT Hellcat model, which boasted a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, and LED headlamps. The Durango offered a range of wheel options and exterior colours, allowing for personalization. Inside, the Durango's cabin featured a new instrument panel and a choice of touchscreen sizes, with higher trims offering a more premium feel. The interior materials ranged from cloth to luxurious leather options, with contrast stitching and unique seat belt colours adding a touch of flair.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it offered smooth and predictable performance, suitable for family driving. While it wasn't designed for high-speed thrills, it provided adequate power for highway merging and daily commuting. The Highlander's suspension prioritized comfort, making it a reliable choice for families seeking a comfortable ride. The XSE trim added sportier suspension tuning, enhancing driving excitement without compromising practicality.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered a range of engine options, catering to different performance preferences. The base V6 engine produced 293 to 295 horsepower, while the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 delivered 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The SRT 392 model featured a 392 HEMI V8 with 475 horsepower, and the SRT Hellcat boasted a supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V8, generating an impressive 710 horsepower. The Durango's performance was complemented by smooth shifts from the eight-speed automatic transmission and precise steering. However, its chassis showed its age, with a suspension that transmitted bumps to the cabin. The Durango's towing capacity of 8,700 pounds made it a capable choice for hauling.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in providing a comfortable and practical interior. It featured spacious second-row seats with available captain's chairs, offering ample legroom. The third row, while accommodating, required some compromise from middle-row passengers. Cargo space was competitive, with 453 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,150 litres with the third row folded, and 2,245 litres with both rear rows down. The Highlander's interior design included convenient storage solutions, such as shelves for cell phones and a wireless charging pad.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered versatile seating for up to seven passengers, with spacious front and second-row seats. The third row was more accommodating than many competitors, providing decent passenger space. Cargo space was average for its class, meeting the needs of most families. The Durango's fit and finish had improved over the years, offering a more refined interior compared to earlier models. It struck a balance between practicality and style, making it a strong contender in the midsize SUV segment.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, while the Platinum trim offered a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Both systems were user-friendly, with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The larger screen, while visually appealing, limited certain apps to an 8-inch display area. A JBL audio system was available on higher trims, providing decent sound quality. Navigation was available from the Limited grade, but its performance was inconsistent compared to Google Maps.

The 2021 Dodge Durango came equipped with an 8.4-inch touchscreen on lower trims, while higher trims featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the new Uconnect 5 system. This system was significantly faster and more customizable than its predecessor, offering features like user profiles, connected services, and wireless smartphone integration. The Durango also offered a rear-seat entertainment system with Blu-ray and DVD capabilities. The TomTom navigation system was praised for its clear graphics and quick response, although a head-up display would have enhanced usability.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which included advanced driver assistance features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind spot monitoring and LED headlights were standard. The Highlander received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2021 Dodge Durango lagged behind in safety features, with a standard back-up camera as its only active safety feature. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Durango received a Marginal rating from the IIHS for small overlap frontal impact and a four-star front crash and rollover rating from the NHTSA.