2021 Dodge Durango vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander had a design that was somewhat unremarkable from the side, with a few updates from the previous model year, such as a more slanted tailgate glass and more pronounced body panel creases. The trapezoidal theme was evident in various parts of the vehicle, including the tailgate's license plate cutout, rear bumper, headlights, grille, and lower front bumper. Higher trims featured projector-beam LED headlights and fog lights, with 20-inch wheels exclusive to the top trims. The interior of the Highlander was where it truly shined, with quality fit and finish, silver-painted accents, and a multi-layered dash. The Limited trim boasted a three-tone interior with padded surfaces and rich textures, making it one of the nicest interiors in its class.

The 2021 Dodge Durango maintained its muscular stance and athletic styling, which had been a hallmark since its third generation debuted in 2011. The new SRT Hellcat model featured a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, rear spoiler, and a different front end. The Durango offered six different 20-inch wheel varieties and one 18-inch version, with 11 exterior colors and six interior color schemes. The cabin featured a new instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The interior became increasingly premium with higher trims, offering options like leather, suede, Nappa leather, and Laguna leather upholstery, along with contrast stitching and Demonic Red-colored seat belts.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). This engine delivered 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration and a smooth, quiet ride. The eight-speed automatic transmission made full use of the engine's power, though it required a heavy foot to initiate a kickdown. The Highlander's steering was loose, and the suspension was soft, leading to a floaty ride. However, the vehicle's size and weight were always apparent, which could be a drawback when carrying multiple passengers. The Highlander offered selectable driving modes and torque vectoring on the rear axle for AWD models, enhancing its handling. Fuel economy was impressive, with the FWD model rated at 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined, while the AWD model achieved 20/27/23 mpg.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered four different engines: a 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, a 392 HEMI V8, and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8. The V6 produced 293 horsepower (single exhaust) or 295 horsepower (dual exhaust) and 260 pound-feet of torque. The 5.7-liter V8 delivered 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, while the 392 HEMI V8 offered 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 in the SRT Hellcat produced a staggering 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. The Durango's steering was precise, and the vehicle felt connected to the road, though its age showed in the chassis, leading to a bumpy ride on rural roads. The Durango's braking performance was strong, especially in the Hellcat model, which featured black Brembo six-piston brakes. The Durango R/T with the Tow N Go Package had a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds, making it a capable hauler.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander could seat eight or seven with the second-row captain's chairs, which were standard on Limited and Platinum trims and optional on the XLE. The second-row seats were versatile, with generous legroom and easy access to the third row. The Highlander offered three-zone climate control, a 120-volt outlet for the rear, side window shades, and a heated second row on upper trims. Cargo space was generous, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second, and 84 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Highlander featured eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and two shelves integrated into the dash for additional storage. The controls were simple and legible, with an easy-to-use infotainment interface.

The 2021 Dodge Durango was a versatile family hauler with seating for five in two rows, expandable to seven across three rows. The front and second-row seats were spacious, with enough room for taller passengers. The optional third row was more spacious than many competitors, with easy access. The Durango offered 21 seat options, providing plenty of choices for buyers. Cargo space was average for its class, functioning as expected. The Durango's fit and finish had improved significantly, standing out compared to earlier models and other Dodge vehicles like the Journey and Grand Caravan.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander's infotainment system felt outdated, with low-resolution screens and a lack of onboard apps. The 12.3-inch touchscreen, optional on the Limited and standard on the Platinum, had limited usable area due to constant display of climate and fuel economy information. However, the Highlander came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The vehicle featured a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster, both crisp and informative. The semi-automated driving system was effective, with adaptive cruise control, road sign detection, and automatic high beams. The optional JBL audio system had 11 speakers and was decent but not exceptional. The Highlander also offered SiriusXM, HD radio, WiFi, and four USB-A ports, along with a one-year trial for Safety Connect.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the SXT and GT trims, with higher trims getting a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the new Uconnect 5 system. Uconnect 5 was five times faster than its predecessor and offered greater personalization, connected services, two Bluetooth connections, Amazon Alexa connectivity, TomTom navigation, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates. The system was easy to navigate, with clear graphics and responsive touch controls. The Durango also offered a family entertainment system with a Blu-ray and DVD player and two 9-inch screens. The gauge cluster had a unique design, though the analog speedometer was difficult to read. The TomTom navigation system was user-friendly and responsive, though a head-up display would have enhanced its usability.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear emergency braking. The Highlander also had a driver's knee airbag and a special cushion airbag for the front passenger. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Highlander a 2020 Top Safety Pick, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not yet rated it.

The 2021 Dodge Durango fell short in safety compared to its rivals. It came standard with a rearview camera and passive safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, rear-cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and forward-collision warning. The NHTSA gave the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating, while the IIHS had not yet rated it.