Dodge Durango vs Lexus TX

The 2026 Dodge Durango, despite its age, maintained a rugged and timeless appeal. Its design, with chunky fenders and smooth body panels, was refreshed in 2021, updating the grille, lighting, and bumpers while overhauling the dashboard. The wraparound LED taillight, a signature feature, remained distinctive even as LED technology became commonplace. The Durango's tough stance and no-nonsense attitude made it a natural fit for roles like 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. The upper trims featured leather, carbon fibre, and microsuede, albeit of lower quality, but the driving experience compensated for these shortcomings.

In contrast, the 2026 Lexus TX offered a more modern and luxurious appearance. Available with various packages, the TX featured a large grille, sharp bi-LED headlights, and rear LED lighting spanning the vehicle's width. The interior offered three colour options and ambient lighting, though material quality fell short of luxury standards. Redesigned door handles were a unique touch, but some might have preferred more attention to cabin details. The TX's interior was spacious, with a third row that accommodated adults comfortably. The front seats were roomy, though they could have used more thigh support. The TX excelled in cargo space, offering 572 litres with all seats in place and expanding to 2,747 litres with seats folded.

The 2026 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, though the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 was no longer listed on the Dodge Canada website. Most trims were available with a 3.6-litre V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, which struggled to move the nearly 5,000-pound vehicle. The optional 5.7-litre Hemi V8 delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, significantly boosting towing capacity to 3,945 kilograms. The SRT Hellcat Jailbreak, with a 6.2-litre supercharged V8, generated 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, offering exhilarating performance. The Durango's eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD system provided smooth operation, though steering accuracy was lacking.

The 2026 Lexus TX 350 featured a 275-horsepower 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the TX 500h hybrid increased output to 366 hp. The gas model came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the hybrid used a six-speed automatic. The TX 350 had full-time AWD, while the TX 500h employed Lexus's Direct4 AWD system. Drive modes included Normal, Eco, and Sport, with Sport mode enhancing throttle response. The TX 500h offered adaptive suspension and rear steering for improved handling, though it wasn't intended as a sports car.

The 2026 Dodge Durango offered seating for five to seven passengers, depending on the trim. The third row was tight, reflecting its 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 and expanding to 2,409 litres with seats folded.

The 2026 Lexus TX provided a spacious interior with three-zone climate control, heated and cooled front seats, and heated second-row seats. The third row was notably roomy, with a recline function and ample headroom. The front seats were comfortable, though more thigh support was needed. Cargo space was excellent, with 572 litres available with all seats in place and expanding to 2,747 litres with seats folded. The TX could tow up to 2,268 kilograms when properly equipped.

The 2026 Dodge Durango featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 5, offering navigation, HD Radio, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The GT Plus and Hellcat trims had 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.

The 2026 Lexus TX boasted a 14-inch touchscreen, though some features lacked polish. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, but connectivity issues occurred. The TX required a subscription for in-dash navigation and other features. The back-up camera offered a clear view, and the Advanced Park system assisted with parking. The TX included seven USB ports and wireless charging.

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

The 2026 Lexus TX came with Safety System+ 3.0, including forward collision warning, lane tracing assist, and more. The NHTSA rated it five stars, while the IIHS gave it an "Acceptable" score for the small overlap front crash test. Adaptive cruise control worked well, though setting it up was confusing.