Dodge Durango vs Toyota Grand Highlander 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 Durango's signature wraparound LED taillight, reminiscent of a racetrack, remained a standout feature. 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 Durango's driving performance compensated for these shortcomings.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid pursued a conservative design, drawing inspiration from the popular RAV4. This resulted in a larger SUV with seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior emphasized function over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. While the glossy hard plastic and unlined storage surfaces detracted from the overall quality, the controls were logically laid out. The climate system was simple to use, but the infotainment interface had some drawbacks, such as a small volume knob and the absence of a tuning knob. Despite these issues, the Grand Highlander offered a decent overall material quality.

The 2026 Dodge Durango was primarily available with a 3.6-litre V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This engine struggled to move the nearly 5,000-pound SUV 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, but at the cost of higher fuel consumption. The Durango's eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD system provided smooth performance, while handling was generally good with minimal body roll.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max combined a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with electronic full-time AWD and two electric motors, producing 362 net horsepower. This setup allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate swiftly, aided by a traditional six-speed automatic transmission. The Hybrid Max offered a balance of performance and efficiency, with a combined fuel economy rating of 8.8 L/100 km. It could tow up to 2,268 kilograms, making it a versatile choice. The ride quality was soft and isolating, though handling was secure only up to a modest point. The Grand Highlander excelled in outward visibility, aided by available camera systems.

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, 1,226 litres behind the second row, and 2,409 litres with both rows folded.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid provided comfortable seating across all three rows, with a maximum cargo space of over 2,700 litres. The Platinum trim featured a mix of leather and artificial suede upholstery, adding a touch of luxury. The second-row captain’s chairs offered flexibility, while the third row accommodated adults and tall teens comfortably. Cargo space was generous, with 586 litres behind the third row, 1,640 litres with the third row folded, and 2,761 litres with the second row folded.

The 2026 Dodge Durango came equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, offering navigation, HD Radio, SiriusXM 360L, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The GT Plus and Hellcat trims featured a nine-speaker Alpine stereo, while a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system was optional. However, the Durango lacked advanced features like semi-automated driving and rear-seat entertainment.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. The system was user-friendly, though it had some limitations, such as the inability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously. The Platinum trim included advanced features like a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and JBL premium audio system.

The 2026 Dodge Durango received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It included standard safety features like blind-spot monitoring and forward collision warning, but lacked more advanced driver-assist technologies. The dated body structure limited its crash performance compared to newer competitors.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features. It received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick due to headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection. The safety tech operated accurately, though some features, like Proactive Driving Assist, were found to be irritating.