2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs 2023 Dodge Durango

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid borrowed styling cues from Toyota's Tacoma pickup, featuring a trapezoidal grille and upright fascia that gave it a rugged appearance. However, its side profile introduced a swooping character line over the rear wheel arch, reminiscent of the Toyota Supra and Sienna, which added unnecessary visual weight. The rear design echoed the trapezoidal grille, but the overall body felt disjointed compared to more cohesive designs like the Kia Telluride or Honda Pilot. Inside, the Highlander Hybrid's asymmetrical dash was interrupted by a metallic styling element, creating a helpful storage tray. The infotainment touchscreen was mounted high on the dash, reducing driver distraction. The Bronze Edition featured 18-inch bronze alloy wheels and light grey fabric seat upholstery with a triangle motif, which seemed more suited to a paper towel than a car. The Softex synthetic leather substitute felt more like vinyl, and genuine leather was only available on higher trims. The rear seating area had more hard plastics, typical for family SUVs, but the third row was particularly uncomfortable with unyielding armrests.

The 2023 Dodge Durango, entering its 12th model year without a redesign, maintained an attractive, clean, almost car-like styling. It avoided oversized grilles, opting for slim styling with forward-leaning headlights and a large lower air intake. The signature "racetrack" taillights gave it a distinctive look. The SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models featured subtle unique styling elements, like a Viper-like hood with functional air inlets. The Blacktop Package allowed for a Hellcat look on V6-powered models, while the Hemi Orange appearance package added orange accents. The interior, though not as distinctive as the exterior, offered a nice environment with materials suited to their price points. The Citadel trim added luxurious features like Nappa leather upholstery and heated seats. The SRT Hellcat test car featured bold red leather upholstery, adding a touch of flair.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and hybrid system, producing 243 horsepower. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in Canada. Toyota estimated it could reach 100 km/h in just over eight seconds. The hybrid powertrain provided a quick but tepid response from a standstill, with the gasoline engine supplying more power as needed. The CVT's lack of gear shifts resulted in an uninspired drone during acceleration, especially on hills. Braking was traditional, with a soft pedal feel and seamless transition from regenerative to physical brakes. The ride quality was soft, with the suspension smoothing over bumps, and the cabin remained quiet on highways.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine producing 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 lb-ft of torque. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD in Canada. The 5.7-litre Hemi V8, standard on the R/T and optional on the Citadel, delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The SRT 392 model boasted a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 with 475 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in approximately 4.5 seconds. The SRT Hellcat took performance to another level with a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 producing 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-100 km/h in about 3.5 seconds. The Hellcat test car felt quick, with minimal wind and tire noise at highway speeds, and the adaptive-damping suspension and Brembo brakes made handling the power manageable.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offered well-cushioned front seats with ample adjustments for drivers of all sizes. However, the driver's door armrest was awkwardly positioned. Storage options were plentiful, with trays for phones and a large centre armrest bin. The second-row seats provided generous head- and legroom, with sliding and reclining captain's chairs for added comfort. A second-row bench was available, increasing passenger capacity to eight. The third row was less accommodating, suitable for children or short trips. Cargo space behind the third row was 453 litres, expanding to 1,370 litres with the seats folded, and 2,387 litres with the second row stowed.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered seven-seat or six-seat configurations, with standard front bucket seats, a three-seat second-row bench, and a two-seat third-row bench on SXT, GT, and R/T models. The Citadel, SRT 392, and SRT Hellcat models featured second-row captain's chairs. Interior space was competitive with other midsize SUVs, though the Chevy Traverse offered more cargo space. The Durango had 487 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, 1,226 litres with the third row folded, and 2,409 litres behind the first row. Small-item storage was generous, with a large wireless charging pad and USB ports. The Durango excelled in towing capacity, with V6 models towing up to 2,812 kg and Hemi V8 models up to 3,946 kg.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 12.3-inch option on top trims. The system was responsive, with logically organized menus and physical shortcut buttons. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless charging on Limited and Platinum trims. Navigation and an 11-speaker JBL audio system were also standard on higher trims.

The 2023 Dodge Durango's lower trims had an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, while the GT grade and above featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity. The Uconnect infotainment system was responsive and easy to use, with added personality for SRT models. The Performance Pages app provided performance information, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on higher trims.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The systems generally worked well but could use some fine-tuning.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed results in IIHS tests and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, with optional forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking.