2023 Dodge Durango vs 2023 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Toyota Sienna was a minivan that defied traditional styling expectations. Toyota made a concerted effort to distance the Sienna from the typical minivan aesthetic, opting for a front-end design reminiscent of a Japanese bullet train. The Sienna offered a variety of trim levels, including the base LE, XLE, sporty XSE, and the luxurious Limited. A special 25th Anniversary Edition was also available, adding a touch of exclusivity. Inside, the Sienna impressed with its high-quality materials, such as the brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents found in the Platinum trim. The Sienna accommodated seven or eight passengers, with the eight-seater option available in the LE and XLE trims, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2023 Dodge Durango, despite its age, maintained an attractive and clean design, steering clear of the oversized grilles common in many SUVs. Its slim styling, forward-leaning headlights, and distinctive "racetrack" taillights gave it a unique presence. The SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models featured subtle yet distinctive styling cues, such as a Viper-like hood and unique wheels. The Durango offered a range of appearance packages, including the Blacktop and Hemi Orange packages, allowing buyers to customize their vehicle's look. Inside, the Durango provided a comfortable environment with materials suited to each trim level, and higher trims like the Citadel offered luxurious features such as Nappa leather upholstery and heated seats.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, featuring a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with two front-mounted electric motors and an additional rear-mounted motor for AWD trims. This setup delivered a combined 245 horsepower, which was somewhat underwhelming compared to competitors. The Sienna's CVT was not the most refined, and its acceleration left something to be desired. However, the Sienna excelled in handling, with a nimble chassis and light steering that made city driving a breeze. The Sienna offered various drive modes, but the Normal mode was recommended for the best balance of performance and efficiency.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a wide range of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, producing 293 to 295 horsepower, depending on the exhaust configuration. The 5.7-litre Hemi V8, standard on the R/T trim, delivered 360 horsepower and a classic V8 rumble. 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 with an astonishing 710 horsepower. The Durango's performance was impressive, with the Hellcat model achieving a 0-100 km/h time of approximately 3.5 seconds. Despite its size, the Durango handled well on highways, and its adaptive-damping suspension and Brembo brakes provided confidence-inspiring control.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and storage solutions. It featured numerous cubbies, shelves, and bins, including a large open cubby below the centre console and a long shelf across the dashboard. The Sienna's three-zone climate control was standard, with four-zone control available on higher trims. With a length of 5,175 millimetres and a wheelbase of 3,061 millimetres, the Sienna offered ample cargo space, with 949 litres behind the third row and a total of 2,860 litres with the seats folded. However, the middle-row seats were not removable, limiting maximum cargo capacity compared to some competitors. The second-row captain's chairs were highly functional, with extending ottomans and sliding capabilities for added comfort.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered both seven-seat and six-seat configurations, with the latter featuring second-row captain's chairs. The Durango's interior space was competitive with other midsize SUVs, providing adequate headroom and legroom across all three rows. Cargo space was slightly less than some rivals, with 487 litres behind the third row and a maximum of 2,409 litres. The Durango excelled in small-item storage, with a large wireless charging pad and well-placed USB ports. Towing capacity was a strong point, with V6 models capable of towing up to 2,812 kilograms and V8 models up to 3,946 kilograms.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment interface, lacking some of the advanced technology found in newer Toyota models. It included standard features like SiriusXM, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, but required a wired connection for the latter two. The 9-inch touchscreen was functional, and the 12-speaker JBL audio system provided good sound quality. However, the interface felt outdated and had some quirks, such as the need to navigate through menus to access certain features.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a more modern infotainment experience, with lower trims featuring an 8.4-inch touchscreen and higher trims equipped with a 10.1-inch screen and Uconnect 5 system. The larger screen provided wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the system was responsive and user-friendly. The SRT models included performance-focused features like the Performance Pages app, which displayed performance metrics on the main touchscreen. A 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on higher trims, enhancing the audio experience.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna impressed with its comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. It received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS, highlighting its strong safety performance. While it lacked some of the more gimmicky features found in competitors, the Sienna prioritized essential safety technologies.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed safety ratings, with a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Marginal" score in the IIHS driver-side small overlap front test. Standard safety features were limited, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert included on all trims. Other driver-assist technologies, such as forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control, were available on higher trims but not standard.