2021 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Toyota Sequoia

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia, despite its age, continued to offer a robust and imposing presence on the road. Introduced in 2007 and refreshed in 2018, the Sequoia's design updates were subtle, with changes to the headlights and grille. For 2021, the introduction of the Nightshade Special Edition added a touch of modernity, but the overall design remained largely unchanged. Inside, the Sequoia's cabin reflected its mid-2000s origins, with a massive, multi-tiered center dash and a standard 7-inch touchscreen that appeared small against the expansive dashboard. While the front seats were bulky, they provided comfort and support, though taller drivers found themselves close to the roof, especially with the optional sunroof. The second-row seats, however, offered ample headroom and legroom, making them a comfortable choice for passengers.

In contrast, the 2021 Dodge Durango maintained its muscular and athletic styling, aligning with Dodge's family of vehicles like the Charger and Challenger. The Durango's exterior design, largely unchanged since 2011, received a refresh for 2021, particularly evident in the new SRT Hellcat model. This model featured a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, and a rear spoiler, enhancing its aggressive look. The Durango offered a variety of wheel options and a choice of 11 exterior colors, allowing for personalization. Inside, the Durango's cabin was updated with a new instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The interior became increasingly premium as one moved up the trim levels, with options for leather, suede, and Nappa leather upholstery, along with contrast stitching and Demonic Red-colored seat belts for a unique touch.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a standard 5.7-liter V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, offering either rear-wheel drive or optional four-wheel drive. Despite its hefty weight of up to 6,000 pounds, the Sequoia provided stout acceleration, though the six-speed transmission was somewhat outdated compared to modern multi-speed options. The Sequoia's driving dynamics resembled those of a truck, with a soft suspension and strong brakes, which some drivers appreciated for their confidence-inspiring feel. However, the Sequoia's towing capacity of 7,400 pounds lagged behind competitors like the Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, and Chevrolet Tahoe.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered a range of engine options, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing 293 to 295 horsepower, depending on the exhaust configuration. The Durango R/T featured a 5.7-liter V8 with 360 horsepower, while the SRT 392 boasted a 392 HEMI V8 delivering 475 horsepower. The pinnacle of the lineup was the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 in the SRT Hellcat, producing an impressive 710 horsepower. All engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions, providing smooth shifts and controlled power delivery. The Durango's steering was precise, enhancing driver confidence, though the chassis showed its age, with a suspension that transmitted bumps to the cabin. The Durango's towing capacity reached up to 8,700 pounds with the Tow N Go Package, making it a capable choice for hauling.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia excelled in providing a spacious cabin, with nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and over 66 cubic feet with the third row folded. With all rear seats down, the Sequoia offered an impressive 120 cubic feet of cargo space, making it a strong contender in its class. The power-retractable rear window was a standout feature, allowing easy access to the cargo area without fully opening the hatch. While the Sequoia's front-row space could have been better utilized, it still offered deep in-door pockets and a massive center console for storage.

The 2021 Dodge Durango, as a family hauler, provided comfortable seating and ample storage space. It offered seating for up to seven across three rows, with spacious front and second-row seats. The optional third row was more accommodating than many competitors, providing easy access and passenger space comparable to models like the Subaru Ascent and Toyota Highlander. The Durango's cargo space was average for its class, functioning as expected. Dodge's improvements in fit and finish were evident, elevating the Durango's interior quality above previous models like the Dodge Journey and Grand Caravan.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot. While the system was from Toyota's previous generation of technology, it offered modern smartphone connectivity and was easy to use, with simple menu navigation and large hard buttons. The digital trip computer, though small, was straightforward to operate, contributing to the Sequoia's overall simplicity.

In contrast, the 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on lower trims, with higher trims receiving a 10.1-inch screen running the new Uconnect 5 system. This system was significantly faster than its predecessor and offered greater personalization, including user profiles and connected services. The Uconnect 5 system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Amazon Alexa connectivity and over-the-air updates. The Durango also offered a family entertainment system with a Blu-ray and DVD player and two high-resolution 9-inch screens, enhancing its appeal for families.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, the Sequoia's platform was dated, and it received a four-star rating in the NHTSA's rollover test, with no further crash test ratings available.

The 2021 Dodge Durango, in terms of safety, lagged behind its competitors. It came standard with a rearview camera and passive safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Depending on the trim level or package, buyers could add adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and other active safety features. The NHTSA awarded the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating, but front crash testing ratings were not yet available.