2021 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Toyota 4Runner

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner had not seen a major redesign in 12 years, making it a familiar sight on the road. Despite updates over the years, a used 4Runner was nearly identical to a new one, minus some modern infotainment and safety technologies. Its design, characterized by a two-box body with flared fenders and trapezoidal wheel arches, aged well, offering balanced proportions and timeless styling. The 4Runner was available in various trims, including SR5, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro, with special editions like the Trail Special Edition. Pricing ranged from $36,950 to $50,570, with our test vehicle, the Trail Special Edition, priced at $43,729.

Inside, the Trail Special Edition featured black cloth upholstery with tan stitching, all-weather floor mats, a sliding rear cargo tray, and a custom-made 40-quart cooler. The interior was dominated by hard plastic, which was easy to clean and suited the SUV's rugged mission. The dashboard was old-school, with large knobs and buttons, and the 4Runner required a traditional key to start. These qualities endeared the 4Runner to its owners, representing a simple, durable vehicle that could last for decades, provided gasoline stations remained available.

The 2021 Dodge Durango had not seen significant exterior changes since its third generation debuted in 2011. Built alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Durango maintained a muscular stance and athletic styling, especially evident in the new 2021 Durango SRT Hellcat model. This model featured a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, rear spoiler, and a unique 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 Durango's cabin featured a new-for-2021 instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen running FCA's Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The interior became increasingly premium and sophisticated as one moved up the trim levels, with options for leather, suede, Nappa leather, and Laguna leather upholstery. The updates to the dashboard gave the Durango a modern appearance, aligning it with the Charger and Challenger muscle cars. The Durango offered a variety of grades, catering to different buyer preferences, from track-ready equipment to fine appointments and unique packaging.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner was tested at Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreational Area, where it demonstrated its off-road capabilities. The 4Runner Trail Special Edition tackled mud, hills, and ruts with ease, thanks to its A-Trac off-road traction control system. The 4Runner's 4.0-liter V6 engine produced 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. The maximum tow rating was 5,000 pounds. However, on pavement, the 4Runner felt slow, heavy, and clunky, with challenging steering and braking. Its truck-like driving characteristics were part of its charm, but it required frequent stops at gas stations, averaging 16.8 mpg during the test.

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 293-295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the 5.7-liter V8 delivered 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The 392 HEMI V8 offered 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, and the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 in the SRT Hellcat produced 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. The Durango's steering was precise, and the Hellcat's brakes provided ample stopping power. The Durango R/T with the Tow N Go Package demonstrated stable towing capabilities, with a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds. The Durango's suspension, however, showed its age, allowing bumps to be felt in the cabin.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner sat high off the ground, making it challenging for shorter individuals to climb aboard without running boards. Once inside, the 4Runner offered comfortable seating with proper support in both the front and rear seats. The back seat provided generous legroom, good visibility, air conditioning vents, and USB charging ports. The 4Runner's cargo space measured up to 47.2 cubic feet behind the back seat and 89.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The Trail Special Edition's roof rack and sliding cargo deck added to its utility.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler, offering comfortable seating, ample storage space, and family entertainment options. It could seat up to seven across three rows, with spacious front and second-row seats. The optional third row was more spacious than many competitors, with easy access. The Durango's cargo space was average for its class, functioning as expected. Dodge's recent improvements in fit and finish were evident, making the Durango a well-rounded family SUV.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner Trail Special Edition came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and five USB ports. The premium audio upgrade added dynamic navigation, dynamic point-of-interest search, and dynamic voice recognition. The system was user-friendly, with physical shortcut buttons and knobs for easy operation, even while wearing gloves.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 10.1-inch touchscreen on higher trims, running the new Uconnect 5 system. Uconnect 5 offered greater personalization, connected services, 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. The Durango also offered a family entertainment system with Blu-ray and DVD players and two 9-inch screens. SRT models received unique appearance features, including a "smoke show" start-up animation.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner came with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic forward emergency braking, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, it lacked blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning. The 4Runner received a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" roof crush strength rating from the IIHS. However, its protection for the driver in a small overlap frontal-impact collision was rated "Marginal" by the IIHS, and the NHTSA gave the front passenger protection a three-star rating.

The 2021 Dodge Durango came standard with a rearview camera and passive safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Depending on the trim level, buyers could add 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. The front crash testing ratings were not yet available.