2025 Dodge Durango vs 2025 Toyota 4Runner

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner, in its sixth generation, maintained a design evolution rather than a complete overhaul. It retained the horseshoe-shaped grilles from the previous generation, but with a more robust and industrial exterior. The side body panels featured deep beveled creases that seamlessly blended with the flared wheel arches, giving the 4Runner a broad-shouldered stance suitable for an off-road SUV. Paying homage to its predecessors, the 4Runner included design elements like the slanted rearmost window from the first generation, while the sliding rear window facilitated easier cargo access. Inside, the 4Runner mirrored the Toyota Tacoma's design, with beveled styling throughout the cabin. It was both purposeful and comfortable, with hard plastics for durability and light cushioning for comfort. The materials were of higher quality than those in a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, though not as refined as the Land Rover Defender.

The 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Premium, especially with the Silver Bullet special edition package, exuded a more aggressive visual attitude. The package included a satin black hood, unique wheels, dark badges, and black exhaust tips, enhancing its expressive look. Inside, the Durango maintained a subdued yet premium feel with dark red Nappa leather seats contrasting the black cabin. The Premium Package added a suede headliner, a leather and suede steering wheel wrap, and forged carbon fiber trim. While the upgrades were appealing, the presence of plastic surfaces was noticeable at the Hellcat's price point. Overall, the Durango felt solidly constructed, offering a blend of performance and luxury.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner offered two engine choices. The base model came with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 317 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup promised better acceleration and fuel economy compared to the previous five-speed unit. Rear-wheel drive was standard on some trims, with four-wheel drive available as an option, and standard on more off-road-oriented models. Toyota introduced the i-Force Max Hybrid powertrain, combining the four-cylinder engine with a 1.87-kWh battery pack and an electric motor, delivering a combined output of 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. This hybrid variant offered stronger power at lower speeds, beneficial for off-roading. The 4Runner was quieter inside, reducing driver fatigue on long journeys, and more composed on pavement, with improved handling and reduced body roll. Off-road capabilities remained impressive, with nine distinct trims offering varying levels of off-road prowess. The TRD Pro and Trailhunter models were the most capable, with approach angles between 18 and 33 degrees, departure angles between 22 and 24 degrees, and ground clearance between 8.1 and 10.1 inches.

The 2025 Dodge Durango streamlined its powertrain offerings with three engine options. The Durango GT featured a 295-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, the R/T had a 360-horsepower 5.7-liter V8, and the SRT Hellcat boasted a 710-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8. All models used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the GT offering standard rear-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive, while the R/T and SRT Hellcat had standard all-wheel drive. The SRT Hellcat's engine produced 645 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph and a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds. Despite its power, the Durango SRT Hellcat had poor fuel economy, rated at 12/17/13 mpg city/highway/combined. The Durango featured a full-time all-wheel-drive system, electronic limited-slip rear differential, and a high-performance exhaust system. It also had a competition-tuned adaptive damping suspension, performance steering, and Brembo brakes. The Durango SRT Hellcat drove like a taller Charger, with firm road handling, creamy steering response, and immediate braking capability. It performed exceptionally well on winding roads, with outstanding grip and body motion control.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner was five inches longer than its predecessor, with a 2.4-inch longer wheelbase. Despite this, passenger space gains were minimal. The front seats offered ample room for taller passengers, but the middle row was less accommodating, with adequate legroom and headroom. Third-row seating was available on non-hybrid models but was cramped, with cushions mounted to the floor, making it uncomfortable for even small children. The cockpit was well-organized, with oversized climate control knobs and grouped off-road controls for easy operation. The 4Runner offered several off-road features, including terrain programs, camera views, a locking rear differential, and a disconnectable stabilizer bar. Towing capacity ranged from 5,800 to 6,000 pounds. Storage included door pockets, a dashboard tray, cupholders, and a center armrest bin. Cargo capacity was 44.8 cubic feet behind the second row, reduced to 42.6 cubic feet in the Hybrid due to the raised floor. A sturdy roof rack supported a static load of 800 pounds.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in form and function, offering a roomy and comfortable interior with thoughtful features. The SRT Hellcat Premium had heated and ventilated front seats with Nappa leather, though they lacked secure support during spirited driving. The heated second-row captain's chairs were comfortable, with good leg support and a proper backrest angle. The center console between the captain's chairs provided ample storage, and rear passengers had access to climate controls, air vents, USB ports, and a power outlet. The third-row seat was accessible through a generous pass-through, offering enough room for adults and a supportive seating position. The Durango's power liftgate revealed 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 43.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 85.1 cubic feet. The power liftgate closing button was conveniently placed for easy access.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner was equipped with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen on supporting trims, with a larger 14-inch touchscreen available. Both systems were user-friendly, with logical menus and quick responses. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a wireless charging pad, were offered. Hybrid variants included a digital instrument panel, available on other models as well. Off-road-focused models featured external camera views for precise tire placement, with automatic activation when the vehicle slowed to a crawl. A 14-speaker JBL premium audio system was available, along with a portable Bluetooth speaker. Remote monitoring and control were possible through a smartphone app, and a digital key function allowed phone-based keyless entry.

The 2025 Dodge Durango featured a Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a native navigation system. It included SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Dodge Connect and SiriusXM Guardian services, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The system supported dual-phone Bluetooth pairing, Alexa compatibility, and wireless smartphone charging. The SRT Hellcat came with an Alpine premium sound system, with an optional 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Uconnect system was easy to use, with effective voice recognition, though it required specificity. The SRT Hellcat included SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics, adding a sporty touch to the family-friendly SUV.

As of the writing, crash test results for the 2025 Toyota 4Runner were unavailable from the NHTSA or IIHS. However, the Tacoma pickup truck, on which the 4Runner is based, was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. All 4Runner models came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including features like frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign reader, and automatic high beams. The Proactive Driving Assist feature automatically slowed the vehicle on curves, though it could be disabled if intrusive. A blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alerts was optional.

The 2025 Dodge Durango's safety features were limited by its older engineering. Standard features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Upgrades included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and front parking sensors. The adaptive cruise control was overly cautious in curves, causing driver irritation. The NHTSA rated the Durango with a four-star overall rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating for AWD models. The IIHS's small overlap frontal-impact test results were concerning, and the Durango had not been assessed in newer evaluations.