Dodge Durango vs Lexus NX Hybrid

The 2026 Dodge Durango, despite its age, maintained a robust and timeless style. Its exterior, characterized by chunky fenders and smooth body panels, received a refresh in 2021 that updated the grille, lighting, and bumpers, while the interior dashboard was overhauled. The wraparound LED taillight, a signature feature, remained distinctive even as LED technology became commonplace. The Durango's stance and front end projected a tough, no-nonsense attitude, making it a natural fit as a police cruiser. Inside, the Durango showed its age with older switch styles and cheaper plastic materials, but it offered a refreshingly analog experience with logical controls and a large, flush touchscreen. Upper trims featured leather, carbon fibre, and microsuede, albeit of lower quality, but the Durango's driving performance compensated for these shortcomings.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid, specifically the NX 350h F Sport 3, presented an over-stylized design typical of modern Lexus models. Its aggressive front featured a large, intricately patterned spindle grille flanked by squinting LED headlights. The profile was sporty yet less extroverted, with smooth lines and body-coloured fender flares suggesting road-focused performance. F Sport elements included dark trim and 20-inch wheels, while the fastback roof shape echoed coupe-like crossovers. Inside, the NX combined sporty aesthetics with modern technology, featuring a digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen angled toward the driver. The F Sport 3 model boasted dark graphite aluminum trim, metal pedals, and Circuit Red synthetic leather upholstery, enhancing its sporty appeal. Lexus's NuLuxe textile convincingly mimicked real leather, contributing to the upscale feel.

The 2026 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, with the 3.6-litre V6 being the most common for this model year, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This engine struggled to move the nearly 5,000-pound vehicle efficiently. The optional 5.7-litre Hemi V8, available on GT and GT Plus models, delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, significantly boosting towing capacity to 3,945 kilograms. The SRT Hellcat Jailbreak, with its 6.2-litre supercharged V8, generated an impressive 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, though it came with a high fuel consumption of 17.4 L/100 km combined. The Durango's eight-speed automatic transmission and multiple AWD modes provided smooth performance, while handling was generally good with minimal body roll. However, steering accuracy was lacking, and the ride was stiff across all trims.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid, specifically the NX 350h F Sport 3, featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and three electric motors, producing a combined 240 horsepower. While not particularly sporty, the NX offered controlled handling with a firm yet comfortable ride. The hybrid system provided standard AWD, with the rear motor adding torque. Lexus quoted a 0 to 96 km/h time of 7.2 seconds. Power delivery was smooth but not exhilarating, and the drivetrain felt slushy under hard acceleration. The NX offered steering wheel paddles for simulated downshifts, though they didn't mimic traditional gear ratios. For those seeking more power, the NX 450h plug-in hybrid offered 340 hp.

The 2026 Dodge Durango accommodated five to seven passengers, depending on the trim. The third row, available on GT and GT Plus models, was tight by modern standards, reflecting the Durango's shared chassis with older models. Headroom and legroom in the first and second rows were adequate, though seat padding was firm. Cargo space was competitive, with 487 litres behind the third row, 1,226 litres behind the second row, and 2,409 litres with both rows folded.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid's F Sport 3 model offered comfortable front seats with good bolstering and ample room. Power adjustments and heated and ventilated front seats enhanced comfort. The rear seat provided enough space for two average-sized adults, though legroom was limited for taller passengers. Cargo space was modest for its class, with 643 litres behind the rear seats and 1,328 litres with the seats folded. The NX's coupe-like roofline contributed to its limited cargo capacity.

The 2026 Dodge Durango featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 5, offering navigation, HD Radio, SiriusXM 360L, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The GT Plus and Hellcat models came with a nine-speaker Alpine stereo, while a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system was optional. The Durango lacked advanced features like semi-automated driving and rear-seat entertainment, but the Hellcat's infotainment system included performance functions like launch control.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid came standard with a 9.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with SiriusXM compatibility. Optional features included a head-up display, wireless phone charger, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. The NX offered a three-year Remote Connect subscription, allowing remote starting and vehicle status alerts. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with quick responses and convenient controls.

The 2026 Dodge Durango received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, but IIHS ratings were unavailable. It featured a driver's knee airbag and central side airbag, but its dated body structure limited crash performance. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and forward collision warning, with additional features available on higher trims.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and performed well in NHTSA tests. It came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, including blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included automatic parking and a surround-view camera system. The safety systems functioned effectively during testing.