Head-to-head
2026 Dodge Durango vs 2026 Toyota Highlander
The Toyota Highlander wins clearly, 97.4 to 83.9, on fuel & range, safety, space & cargo. The Dodge Durango is ahead on tech & comfort and performance.
A
2026 Dodge Durango
The 2026 Dodge Durango is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Durango AWD, is EPA-rated at 20 m…
vs
A2026 Toyota Highlander
The 2026 Toyota Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Highlander Hybrid …
Verdict · default weights
2026 Toyota Highlander
Clear winThe Toyota Highlander wins clearly, 97.4 to 83.9, on fuel & range, safety, space & cargo. The Dodge Durango is ahead on tech & comfort and performance.
Fuel & range 2026 Toyota Highlander leads by 43.2
Safety 2026 Toyota Highlander leads by 17.2
Tech & comfort 2026 Dodge Durango leads by 3.2
| Category · weight | 2026 Dodge Durangooverall 83.9 | 2026 Toyota Highlanderoverall 97.4 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 56.8 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 80.3 | 97.5 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 95.8 | 96.5 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 95.9 | 94.9 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 96.8 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 83.9 | 97.4 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Dodge Durango: base trim GT RWD · Toyota Highlander: base trim XLE AWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Toyota Highlander wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 15 filed with NHTSA).
- It costs $1,450 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,900 against $3,350).
- It is rated 35 combined against 20 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
Where the 2026 Dodge Durango answers
- It lists 15 standard driver-assist features against 12.
- It gives rear passengers 33.5 in of legroom against 28.
What they share
- 7 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
55 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Dodge DurangoGT RWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | — | $45,570 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 6 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 3,604 cc | 2,393 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 3.6-liter Pentastar VVT V-6 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged DOHC |
| Fuel injection system | Sequential multiport electronic returnless | D-4S |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 24-Valve | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 295 hp | 265 hp |
| Torque | 260 lb-ft | 310 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 18 mpg | 21 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 20 mpg | 24 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 25 mpg | 28 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.27:1 | 3.329 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 7.8 in | 8 in |
| Overall height | 72.1 in | 68.1 in |
| Overall length | 201 in | 195 in |
| Overall width | 85.5 in | 76 in |
| Wheelbase | 120 in | 112 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 85.1 cu-ft | 84.3 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 43.3 cu-ft | 48.4 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 17.2 cu-ft | 16 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 142 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 7 | 7 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 39.9 in | 41.2 in |
| Second-row headroom | 39.8 in | 39.4 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.8 in | 36.1 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 40.3 in | 42 in |
| Second-row legroom | 38.6 in | 38.7 in |
| Third-row legroom | 33.5 in | 28 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,875 lbs | 4,376 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,875 lbs | 4,376 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 6,500 lbs | 5,970 lbs |
| Payload capacity | 1,440 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Short- and long-arm (SLA) independent, coil springs | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar; trailing-wishbone |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link, coil springs, twin-tube shocks | Multi-link with stabilizer bar |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric power | Electric Power Steering (EPS); power-assisted rack-and-pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 41 ft | 18.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 350 mm | 338 mm |
| Front brake type | vented disc, 2-piston pin-slider caliper | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | Rear mechanical drum-in-hat | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 330 mm | 338 mm |
| Rear brake type | vented disc, single-piston floating caliper | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | aluminum | alloy |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | P265/60R18 | P235/65R18 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 24.6 gal | 17.9 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | SiriusXM Guardian | Toyota Connected Services |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | — | 12 months |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | — | 60 months |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 58.5 in | 59 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 57.7 in | 58.7 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 50.4 in | 55 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
129 features · differences first, then sharedSafety16 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Dodge DurangoGT RWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | — | std |
| Advanced multistage, driver and front passenger | std | — |
| ParkView rear backup camera — rear-mounted with display in vehicle, activated when shifted into reverse | std | — |
| Supplemental front-seat side | std | — |
| Supplemental side-curtain (all rows) | std | — |
| Downhill Assist Control (DAC) | — | std |
| ParkSense rear park assist system — sensors in rear bumper detect obstacles; includes shut-off switch | std | — |
| Backup camera with projected path | — | std |
| Blind-spot Monitoring with Trailer Detect (packaged with Tow N Go Package or Trailer-tow Group) | opt | — |
| Driver inflatable knee bolster | std | — |
| Rain Brake Support | std | — |
| Ready Alert Braking | std | — |
| Seatbelts — Black | std | — |
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ — Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Road Sign Assist (RSA) and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) | — | std |
| Traction Control (TRAC) | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) (individual tires) | — | std |
| Trailer Sway Control (TSC) | std | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | std | std |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Star Safety System™ — includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology® (SST) | std | std |
| Anti-theft system with alarm and engine immobilizer | std | std |
Infotainment21 differ · 21 listed
| Feature | Dodge DurangoGT RWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Assistance Button (SOS) | — | std |
| Stolen Vehicle Locator | — | std |
| Wi-Fi Connect — includes AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot and Integrated Streaming (Apple Music® and Amazon Music) compatibility | — | std |
| Remote Connect — remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app via your smartwatch | — | std |
| Safety Connect® — includes Emergency Assistance button, enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification and Stolen Vehicle Locator | — | std |
| 115-volt auxiliary power outlet includes two Type C USB charge ports (included with Trailer-tow Package) | opt | — |
| 12.3-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, USB media port, four USB charge ports, hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology, SiriusXM® with 3-month trial subscription | — | opt |
| 6-speaker audio system | — | std |
| 8.0-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, SiriusXM® with 3-month trial subscription | — | std |
| Drive Connect — includes Cloud Navigation with Google Points of Interest (POI) data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey, Toyota, and Destination Assist | — | std |
| Five USB ports (one USB-A media port and four USB-C charging ports) and two 12V outlets | — | std |
| Media hub — includes four USB ports (Type A, Type C) and auxiliary jack | std | — |
| Over-the-Air (OTA) updates | — | std |
| Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging with charge indicator light | — | std |
| Second-row center console — Type C USB charge port (included with second-row console with armrest) | std | — |
| Service Connect — receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports | — | std |
| SiriusXM Radio — includes trial subscription | std | — |
| SiriusXM Traffic Plus — includes five-year trial subscription (included with 10.1-in. radio) | std | — |
| SiriusXM Travel Link — includes five-year trial subscription (included with 10.1-in. radio) | std | — |
| Six speakers | std | — |
| Uconnect 5 NAV with 10.1-in. display — includes 10.1-in. touchscreen, personalized home screen, AM/FM, AUX/USB, integrated voice command with Bluetooth, voice text reply, wireless Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, HD radio, navigation, SiriusXM Guardian, SiriusXM Traffic, SiriusXM Travel Link, TomTom Navigation, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Sirius XM 360L includes Personalized Stations Powered by Pandora, Maps OTA, Firmware OTA and dual phone connectivity | std | — |
Convenience8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Dodge DurangoGT RWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Height-adjustable hands-free power liftgate with jam protection | — | std |
| Remote start system — control integrated into key fob, radio frequency system with 300-ft. range | std | — |
| Smart Key System on front doors and liftgate with Push Button Start, remote keyless entry system with lock, unlock, panic and liftgate functions; and remote illuminated entry | — | std |
| Liftgate — power with key fob, overhead console and rear cargo area controls | std | — |
| Power windows with auto up/down in all positions and jam protection | — | std |
| Universal garage door opener | std | — |
| Three 12-volt power outlets (passenger-side outboard in the center console, inside the center console and in rear cargo compartment) | std | — |
| Two 12V outlets | — | std |
Climate2 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Dodge DurangoGT RWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Air filtration N95 system | std | — |
| Rear air conditioning with headliner vents and rear-seat controls | std | — |
| Three-zone automatic climate control with air filter, separate second-row control panel, individual temperature settings for driver, front passenger and rear-seat passengers, and second- and third-row vents | std | std |
Seating11 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Dodge DurangoGT RWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat | — | std |
| 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat including power lumbar support | — | std |
| 7-passenger seating with second-row fold-down captain's chairs and fold-down inboard armrests, adjustable headrests and two cup holders mounted on the floor; and 60/40 split, fold-flat third-row seats with sliding headrests and recline function | — | std |
| 8-passenger seating with 60/40 split, sliding and reclining fold-flat second-row bench seats; 60/40 split, fold-flat third-row seats with sliding headrests and recline function | — | opt |
| 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat | — | std |
| Eight-way power driver seat, power four-way driver lumbar adjuster and front passenger forward fold-flat seat | std | — |
| Second-row, 60/40 fold-and-tumble three-passenger bench (included with Third-row Seating Group) | std | — |
| Seven-passenger configuration | std | — |
| Shift mesh cloth with Carolina Cloth bolsters; available in black | std | — |
| SofTex®-trimmed front- and second-row seats; heated front seats; 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat including power lumbar support; 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat | — | std |
| Third-row, 50/50 split-folding — includes head restraints that can be folded down electronically from a switch on the instrument panel center stack (included with Third-row Seating Group) | std | — |
| Heated front seats | std | std |
Interior17 differ · 17 listed
| Feature | Dodge DurangoGT RWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated tilt/telescopic leather-trimmed steering wheel | std | — |
| Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® universal garage door opener | — | std |
| 7-in. color LCD Multi-Information Display (MID) with odometer, trip/average fuel economy, cruising range, average speed, AWD torque distribution (AWD models only), cruise control guide, audio details, hands-free incoming call notices, telephone information | — | std |
| 7-in. thin-film transistor reconfigurable digital gauge cluster — includes custom programmable features | std | — |
| Floor Mats — Luxury front and rear | std | — |
| Floor Mats — Third-row, bench seat mat | std | — |
| Full-length front floor console with two illuminated cup holders, interior 12-volt power outlet and LED-illuminated USB connection (if equipped), console lid tissue holder and storage tray with anodized shifter bezel; rear of console features air-conditioning vent controls, rear-seat heat controls (if equipped) and video jacks (if equipped) | std | — |
| Headliner — Black | std | — |
| Interior lighting — glove box lamp, front LED map lamps, second-row aimable LED map lamps, courtesy door lamps, overhead console/rear-passenger overhead reading/courtesy lamps, cargo compartment lamp, Sapphire Blue interior switch lighting and Sapphire Blue ambient LED lighting for front-door inside handles and map pockets | std | — |
| Mopar All-weather Package — includes slush mats, front and rear door sill guards and cargo net | opt | — |
| Overhead front console with two LED map lamps, two dome lamps, sunglasses storage bin, universal garage door opener control switches (if equipped) and power sunroof/sunshade controls (if equipped) | std | — |
| Rearview mirror — auto-dimming | std | — |
| Second-row sunshades | — | std |
| Silver-painted dashboard trim and painted door trim | — | std |
| Dual sun visors with sliding function and illuminated vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Tilt/telescoping steering column (manual) | std | — |
| Dual sun visors with sliding function and illuminated vanity mirrors | — | std |
Exterior33 differ · 35 listed
| Feature | Dodge DurangoGT RWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade and one-touch open/close | — | std |
| Automatic headlamps (ON/OFF) actuate when ambient light is at low levels; includes headlamps-on-with-wipers | std | — |
| Black, power, manual foldaway, heating element mirrors | std | — |
| Blacktop Package — includes Gloss Black badging, 20-in. Dark Finish wheels, Eclipse Black exhaust tips, Satin Black Dodge taillamp badge, black roof rails, integrated roof tail crossbars, all-season Pirelli tires | opt | — |
| Body-color lower fascia | std | — |
| Body-color upper fascia | std | — |
| Dual rear with bright tips | std | — |
| Dual rear with Eclipse Black tips | opt | — |
| Front, speed-sensitive, variable/intermittent wipers with one-gallon fluid capacity | std | — |
| Fuel door — push-push | std | — |
| Grille — Black with Sport inner | std | — |
| Heated power outside mirrors | — | std |
| High Solar Energy-Absorbing (HSEA) glass on front side windows | — | std |
| LED fog lights | — | std |
| LED taillights | — | std |
| Mopar Black Tubular Side Steps | opt | — |
| Outside mirrors with turn signal indicators | — | std |
| P265/50R20 all-season, low-rolling resistance (GT AWD) | opt | — |
| P265/50R20 performance all-season (included with Blacktop Package) | opt | — |
| P265/60R18 all-season, low-rolling resistance (GT RWD) | std | — |
| Rear liftgate windshield washer and backup camera washer | — | std |
| Rear spoiler with LED center high-mount stop light | — | std |
| Rear, fixed intermittent and continuous speeds, with washer | std | — |
| Silver-painted roof rails | — | std |
| Standard hood | std | — |
| Wheel Lip Moldings — Body color (included with Blacktop) | std | — |
| Wheels (aluminum) — 18-inch | std | — |
| Wheels (aluminum) — 20-by-8-in. Black Noise (included with Blacktop Package) | opt | — |
| Windshield wiper de-icer | — | std |
| Privacy glass on rear side, quarter and liftgate windows | — | std |
| Rear liftgate windshield defogger | — | std |
| Front and rear mudguards | — | std |
| Temporary spare tire/wheel | — | std |
| LED projector headlights | std | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | std | std |
Powertrain6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Dodge DurangoGT RWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| All-Wheel Drive | opt | std |
| 3.6-liter Pentastar variable-valve timing (VVT) V-6 with TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission | std | — |
| Electric power steering | std | — |
| Fuel tank — 24.6-gallon | std | — |
| Rear-wheel drive (RWD) | std | — |
| Single-speed, full-time AWD, includes MP310 transfer case | std | — |
Chassis2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Dodge DurangoGT RWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Eco suspension III | std | — |
| Normal duty (on AWD only) | std | — |
Cargo3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Dodge DurangoGT RWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Trailer-tow Group IV (included with GT Plus, R/T Plus and Premium Packages) | opt | — |
| Carpeted cargo area — includes storage tray and cargo tie-down loops in floor, driver's side storage bin and 12-volt auxiliary power outlet | std | — |
| Covered cargo storage | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPDodge Durango
Safety Signal 92 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★☆
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★☆☆
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 15 · 1 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (4), Power Train (3), Visibility/Wiper (2)
Top recalls
- high Exterior Lighting 26V701000 · 13,330 vehicles
Toyota Highlander
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 4 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Back Over Prevention (1), Visibility/Wiper (1), Power Train (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Dodge DurangoGT RWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | $45,570 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — 10 trims | $45,570 – $54,975 7 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Durango RWD | Highlander Hybrid AWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 20 | 35 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,350 | $1,900 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | — | 5 yr / 60,000 mi |
| Roadside assistance | — | 2 yr |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Dodge Durango or the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
The Toyota Highlander wins clearly, 97.4 to 83.9, on fuel & range, safety, space & cargo. The Dodge Durango is ahead on tech & comfort and performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Toyota Highlander scores 97.4 and the 2026 Dodge Durango 83.9. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Dodge Durango or the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
2026 Dodge Durango: 4 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2026 Toyota Highlander: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Dodge Durango and the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
Where the 2026 Toyota Highlander wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 15 filed with NHTSA), costs $1,450 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,900 against $3,350), and is rated 35 combined against 20 (EPA mpg or MPGe). Where the 2026 Dodge Durango answers: it lists 15 standard driver-assist features against 12 and gives rear passengers 33.5 in of legroom against 28. What they share: 7 seats.