2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Dodge Durango

The evolution of the Dodge Durango exemplifies how the Stellantis brand has evolved from a mainstream competitor to Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, and Toyota into a niche brand emphasizing muscle-car attitude.

The Durango was Dodge's first modern SUV, arriving for the 1998 model year as the brand's entry into the midsize SUV segment. The current, third-generation Durango dates all the way back to the 2011 model year. But, as Dodge has found with the Challenger coupe and Charger sedan, a vehicle's lifespan can be greatly extended with an added dose of horsepower.

The 2023 Dodge Durango lineup starts with the base SXT trim level and moves up through the GT, R/T, Citadel, and SRT 392. Changes for 2023 include standard heated front seats, optional forward collision warning for the Durango SXT, and some new colors (bringing the total color palette to eight).

However, the big news for 2023 is the return of the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat and its devilish supercharged V8 engine. The Hellcat was previously available only for the 2021 model year as a limited edition, but now it's a regular production model. That being the case, the Hellcat ended up as our test vehicle for this Dodge Durango review.

The Toyota Sequoia gained a standard hybrid powertrain when it entered its third generation, just last year. While the tech updates were widely celebrated and the facelift considered unobjectionable even by its harshest critics, the move to hybrid power proved to be something of a mixed bag. Increased towing and hauling power bolstered the obvious advantage of improved fuel economy, but impact was somewhat dampened by the reduction in cargo and third-row space to accommodate the new battery.

Verdict: The Sequoia may not be the most capable full-size SUV in the segment, and it’s certainly not the most spacious. It is, however, the only hybrid in its class, and it offers a blend of seating capacity, towing power, and fuel efficiency you won’t find elsewhere-at least, not if you don’t want to go diesel.