2025 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2025 Dodge Durango

The 2025 Dodge Durango was a bold and aggressive SUV, with its pricing in Canada starting at $56,511 for the base GT model, which included destination charges, fees, and factory discounts. The SRT Hellcat version, with its supercharged V8 engine, was priced at $151,915. The Silver Bullet special edition package added a distinctive flair with its satin black hood, unique wheels, dark badges, and black exhaust tips, enhancing the vehicle's visual appeal. Inside, the SRT Hellcat featured dark red premium Nappa leather seats, a suede headliner, and forged carbon fibre trim, although some plastic surfaces detracted from the overall luxury feel.

In contrast, the 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid was a more understated luxury SUV, with the RX 500h F Sport Black Line model priced around $90,000. It featured an exclusive Incognito paint job and orange brake calipers, but its overall design was considered unremarkable. The RX Hybrid lineup included three models: the RX 350h, RX 500h, and RX 450h+, each offering different powertrains and efficiency levels. The interior of the RX Hybrid was contemporary, with quality materials and ambient lighting, although some ergonomic controls were less intuitive. The RX Hybrid's pricing ranged from $66,689 to $92,804, including fees and destination charges.

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, with the GT model featuring a 295-horsepower 3.6-litre V6 engine, the R/T model equipped with a 360-hp 5.7-litre V8, and the SRT Hellcat boasting a 710-hp supercharged 6.2-litre V8. The SRT Hellcat delivered 645 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 96 km/h in 3.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of 290 km/h. Despite its impressive performance, the Durango SRT Hellcat had poor fuel economy, with ratings of 20.5 L/100 km in the city and 13.8 on the highway. The SUV's full-time AWD system, adaptive damping suspension, and Brembo brakes contributed to its track-ready performance.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered a range of powertrains, with the RX 350h producing 246 hp and the RX 450h+ PHEV delivering 304 hp. The RX 500h, with its turbocharged 2.4-litre engine, generated 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. The RX 500h featured a sport-tuned adaptive damping suspension, 21-inch wheels, and the Direct4 AWD system. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 13.5 L/100 km during testing. The RX 500h's drivetrain provided quick acceleration and a pleasant sound, but its dynamic capability was hindered by excessive filtering of road feedback.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in form and function, offering a spacious and comfortable interior. The SRT Hellcat model featured heated and ventilated front seats with Nappa leather, although the performance seats lacked secure bolstering. The second-row captain's chairs provided good leg support, and the third-row seat offered ample room for adults. The Durango's cargo space was generous, with 487 litres behind the third row and a maximum volume of 2,409 litres when the seats were folded.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space. The RX 500h's front seats were snug due to enhanced bolstering, and the rear seats offered ample room for adults. The RX Hybrid provided 838 litres of cargo space, with buttons in the cargo area to fold down the second row, expanding the volume to 1,308 litres. However, the cargo cover could be cumbersome when loading larger items.

The 2025 Dodge Durango featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a native navigation system. The SRT Hellcat model included SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics. The Harman Kardon audio system provided excellent sound quality, and the voice recognition system worked well, though it required specificity.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid was equipped with advanced technology, including digital key functionality, a camera-based digital rearview mirror, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Lexus Interface infotainment system featured a 14-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a conversational digital voice assistant. However, the steering wheel controls were distracting and challenging to use while driving.

The 2025 Dodge Durango's safety features were limited, with standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. The SUV received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS's small overlap frontal-impact test results were concerning.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered comprehensive safety features, including Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The RX Hybrid received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, but the IIHS rated it Poor in the moderate overlap frontal-impact test. The Proactive Driving Assist system was mostly agreeable, and the surround-view camera was a valuable addition.