2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2023 Dodge Durango

The 2023 Dodge Durango, entering its 12th model year without a redesign, maintained a familiar yet attractive appearance. It avoided the trend of oversized grilles, opting for clean, car-like styling with slim lines and forward-leaning headlights. The rear featured Dodge’s signature “racetrack” taillights, giving it a distinctive look. The SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models had subtle unique styling features, including a Viper-like hood and unique wheels, but retained a similar shape to the standard models. Various packages allowed for customization, such as the Blacktop Package and Hemi Orange appearance package, adding to its visual appeal. The interior, while not as distinctive as the exterior, offered a pleasant environment with options for luxurious features like Nappa leather upholstery and heated seats.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser embraced its iconic status with a boxy design and flat roof, reminiscent of its predecessors. Each of the three trims featured heritage details, such as the “TOYOTA” grille and round headlights, echoing past models. All lighting was LED, blending classic inspiration with modern standards. The vehicle offered improved visibility with a lowered beltline and came standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, with 20-inch options available. The First Edition trim included additional off-road gear like a roof rack and skid plate. Inside, the trims varied from cloth seats in the base model to real leather in the First Edition, with heated front seats standard across all trims. The cabin emphasized comfort with cushy seats and padded consoles, allowing drivers to focus on the terrain ahead.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine producing 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 lb-ft of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission with standard rear-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8, standard on the R/T and optional on the Citadel, delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The SRT 392 model boasted a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 475 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The SRT Hellcat took performance further with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, producing 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Despite its size, the Durango Hellcat offered thrilling acceleration and a dynamic driving experience, supported by adaptive-damping suspension and Brembo brakes.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser introduced a hybrid powertrain with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 1.87-kWh battery pack, and a 48-hp electric motor, producing a total of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time four-wheel drive with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case. The Multi-Terrain Select system operated in both 4Hi and 4Lo, enhancing off-road capability. Standard features included an automatic limited-slip differential and rear- and center-locking differentials. The ability to disconnect the front sway bar allowed for better articulation off-road. The updated CRAWL control function provided low-speed cruise control with five speed settings, operating silently over challenging terrain.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered seven-seat or six-seat configurations, with standard front bucket seats, a second-row bench, and a third-row bench. Higher trims featured second-row captain's chairs. Interior space was competitive with other midsize SUVs, though cargo space was less than some rivals, offering 17.2 cubic feet with all seats up, 43.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.1 cubic feet behind the first row. Small-item storage was generous, with a large wireless charging pad and USB ports. Towing capacity was impressive, with V6 models towing up to 6,200 pounds and V8 models up to 8,700 pounds.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado, offered two rows of seating with headroom measuring 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the back. Legroom was 33.0 inches in the front and 26.7 inches in the rear. The center console provided easy access to off-road features, and the wireless charging pad was conveniently placed. The cargo area, with a raised load floor, offered 37.5 cubic feet of space and included a 120-volt AC outlet. The Premium Package added features like a center console cool box, enhancing usability and comfort.

The 2023 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on SXT and GT models, while the Citadel and SRT models had a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity. The Uconnect infotainment system was responsive and user-friendly, with added personality for SRT models. The Performance Pages app provided performance data, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on the SRT Hellcat.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser came with a 12.3-inch center touchscreen on higher trims, featuring the Multi-Terrain Monitor system for off-road navigation. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with USB-C ports for both front and rear passengers. The base model had an 8-inch display, while the middle trim offered a 10-speaker system, upgradeable to a 14-speaker JBL system with the Premium Package, which also included a head-up display and digital rear-view mirror.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed safety ratings, with top marks in some IIHS tests but a "Marginal" score in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating, with five stars in side crash tests. Standard safety features were limited, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert standard, but other features like forward collision warning were only available on higher trims.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by major safety organizations, but Toyota’s reputation and the platform’s performance in other models provided confidence. All models came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and more. The Premium Package added advanced features like lane-keep assist and traffic jam assist.