2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Dodge Durango

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, with its bold design inspired by the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The SUV's newly creased and kinked body gave it a more substantial presence compared to its predecessor. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with upscale touches like leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the Capstone trim. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the interior was available in a luxurious cream white-over-black two-tone colour scheme. However, some interior materials reminded drivers of the Sequoia's pickup truck origins. The lineup included various trims, with prices starting at $79,335 for the TRD Off-road and reaching $95,335 for the Capstone. The TRD Pro trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities, while the TRD Off-Road provided a more budget-friendly option with off-road features.

The 2023 Dodge Durango, despite entering its 12th model year without a redesign, maintained an attractive and familiar appearance. Its clean, car-like styling avoided the trend of oversized grilles, with slim headlights and a large lower air intake giving it a distinctive look. The SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models featured subtle unique styling elements, including a Viper-like hood and unique wheels. The Durango offered various appearance packages, such as the Blacktop Package and Hemi Orange appearance package, allowing for customization. The interior, while not as distinctive as the exterior, provided a comfortable and well-equipped space. The Citadel trim added luxurious features like Nappa leather upholstery and heated seats. The Durango's colour palette expanded for 2023, offering more choices for buyers.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This hybrid powertrain delivered 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 4,137 kilograms (9,120 pounds) in Canada, surpassing the previous model's 3,356 kilograms (7,400 pounds). Fuel efficiency improved, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving with 4WD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience. However, the steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine producing 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 pound-feet of torque. The 5.7-litre Hemi V8, standard on the R/T trim, delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The SRT 392 model featured a 6.4-litre naturally-aspirated Hemi V8 with 475 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, achieving a zero to 100 km/h time of approximately 4.5 seconds. The SRT Hellcat model took performance to another level with a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 producing 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, reaching zero to 100 km/h in roughly 3.5 seconds. The Durango's size didn't hinder its acceleration, providing a thrilling experience. The adaptive-damping suspension, Pirelli P Zero performance tires, and Brembo brakes contributed to its impressive handling.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. The Sequoia's interior featured power-deploying running boards, a panoramic glass moonroof, and second-row captain's chairs. However, the third-row seat was less comfortable due to its high floor and low roof. Cargo space was limited, with 325 litres behind the third row, expandable to 631 litres by sliding the third-row seat forward. The Sequoia's maximum cargo capacity was 2,460 litres, significantly less than its predecessor and segment rivals.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered seven-seat or six-seat configurations, with second-row captain's chairs available on higher trims. Interior space was competitive with other midsize SUVs, providing ample headroom and legroom. Cargo space was generous, with 487 litres behind the third row, 1,226 litres with the third-row seats folded, and 2,409 litres behind the first row. The Durango's towing capacity was impressive, with V6 models capable of towing 2,812 kilograms (6,200 pounds) and V8 models up to 3,946 kilograms (8,700 pounds). However, the lack of a power-folding third row was a drawback for higher trims.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base TRD Off-road trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, user accounts, and an Intelligent Assistant. However, glare on the display was an issue, and the system occasionally had connectivity problems. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on lower trims and a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity on higher trims. The Uconnect 5 system was responsive and user-friendly, 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 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and a road sign recognition system. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking. The Sequoia had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but the Tundra, on which it is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed results in IIHS crash tests, with top marks in some tests but a "Marginal" score in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA gave the Durango a four-star overall safety rating, with five stars in the side crash test and four stars in the frontal crash test. AWD versions received a three-star rollover resistance rating. Standard driver-assist tech was limited, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert included on all trims. Forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking were not standard.