2023 Dodge Durango vs 2022 Toyota Sequoia

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia, continuing its second generation into its 14th year, was a testament to enduring design. Despite its age, the Sequoia maintained a classic exterior with a modestly sized grille and elegant wheel arches, avoiding the oversized trends seen in other SUVs. Its dimensions were substantial, standing at 1,956 millimetres tall, 2,030 mm wide, and 5,210 mm long, with a wheelbase of 3,099 mm. The interior, however, showed its age with a dated design and a 7-inch touchscreen that seemed out of place compared to modern competitors. Yet, the Sequoia's interior was built with high-quality materials, ensuring durability and comfort for families.

The 2023 Dodge Durango, entering its 12th model year, retained its familiar yet attractive design. It avoided the faux ruggedness of other brands, opting for clean, car-like styling with slim grilles and distinctive "racetrack" taillights. The SRT models featured subtle yet unique styling cues, such as a Viper-like hood and unique wheels. The Durango offered a variety of appearance packages, including the Blacktop and Hemi Orange packages, allowing for customization. Inside, the Durango provided a comfortable environment with materials suited to its price point, and higher trims offered luxurious features like Nappa leather upholstery and heated seats.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a single 5.7-litre i-Force V8 engine, producing 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and a lockable Torsen limited-slip centre differential. The Sequoia boasted a payload capacity of up to 608 kilograms and a towing capacity of 3,221 kilograms. Despite its weight of around 2,721.5 kilograms, the Sequoia offered a smooth and stable ride, with excellent off-road capabilities thanks to its body-on-frame construction and four-wheel independent double-wishbone suspension.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine, standard on the R/T trim, delivered 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The SRT 392 model featured a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 with 475 horsepower, while the SRT Hellcat boasted a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 producing 710 horsepower. The Durango's performance was impressive, with the Hellcat achieving a zero to 100 km/h time of roughly 3.5 seconds. Despite its size, the Durango offered a thrilling driving experience, with adaptive-damping suspension and Brembo brakes ensuring control.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia prioritized passenger comfort, offering spacious seating across all three rows. It featured three-zone climate control, a power moonroof, and heated front seats. The cargo space was generous, with 535 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,886 litres with the third row folded, and 3,401 litres with both the second and third rows down. The Sequoia also provided ample storage options, including a large centre console and door pockets.

The 2023 Dodge Durango was available in seven-seat or six-seat configurations, with second-row captain's chairs available on higher trims. It offered competitive interior space compared to other midsize SUVs, with headroom and legroom similar to rivals. The Durango's cargo capacity was 487 litres 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 plentiful, with a wireless charging pad and USB ports. The Durango also excelled in towing, with a maximum capacity of 3,946 kilograms for V8 models.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia's infotainment system was outdated, featuring a 7-inch touchscreen with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sequoia Platinum and TRD Pro added navigation and a 14-speaker JBL audio system. While the Sequoia lacked modern powertrain technology, it featured LED exterior lighting and standard safety features like a rear backup camera and parking sonar.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on lower trims, while higher trims featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity. The Uconnect 5 system provided a responsive and user-friendly experience. SRT models included the Performance Pages app, offering performance data and gauges. A 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on higher trims.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia lacked crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS but offered a comprehensive suite of safety features. The Toyota Safety Sense P suite included pre-collision systems, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The STAR safety system provided stability control, traction control, and anti-lock brakes, among other features.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed safety ratings, with a four-star overall rating from NHTSA. It scored well in side crash tests but received a "Marginal" score in the IIHS driver-side small overlap front test. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert, with additional driver-assist technologies available on higher trims.