2025 Dodge Durango vs 2024 Toyota RAV4

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 aimed to present a rugged appearance, with its aggressive front design and angular body cladding. Despite its tough exterior, the performance didn't quite match the visual promise. The TRD Off-Road model, priced at $41,925 with options, featured Army Green paint and additional tech packages. The RAV4's interior focused on utility, with practical storage solutions and easy-clean surfaces. Higher trims offered more luxurious touches, but the overall feel remained functional.

In contrast, the 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, especially with the Silver Bullet special edition, exuded a more assertive presence. Priced at $115,315, it featured a satin black hood and dark accents, enhancing its bold look. Inside, the Durango combined luxury with performance, offering dark red Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner. Despite its premium feel, some plastic surfaces detracted from the overall experience.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The TRD Off-Road model included AWD, off-road suspension, and all-terrain tires. Despite its off-road enhancements, it offered the same ground clearance as other RAV4 models and struggled with challenging terrains. The RAV4's fuel economy was rated at 28 mpg combined, but real-world testing showed 26.6 mpg.

The 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat boasted a 710-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine with 645 pound-feet of torque. It accelerated to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and had a top speed of 180 mph. The Durango's towing capacity reached 8,700 pounds, and it offered a spacious interior with 85.1 cubic feet of cargo space. However, its fuel economy was a downside, rated at 12/17/13 mpg city/highway/combined.

The RAV4's interior was designed for practicality, featuring SofTex upholstery and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. It comfortably seated four adults, with a cargo area offering 37.6 cubic feet, expandable to 69.8 cubic feet. The RAV4's cabin emphasized utility over luxury, with ample storage and easy-to-use controls.

The Durango excelled in space and comfort, with heated and ventilated Nappa leather seats and a spacious cabin. The second-row captain’s chairs and third-row seating provided ample room for passengers. Cargo space started at 17.2 cubic feet, expanding to 85.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The Durango's interior was well-equipped, though some features could be improved for the price.

The RAV4 featured Toyota's Audio Multimedia system with an 8-inch or optional 10.5-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and various connected services. While the system was sophisticated, it had some usability issues, such as a lack of a multi-panel Home screen and occasional voice assistant glitches.

The Durango's Uconnect 5 system included a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, and a Harman Kardon audio system. It offered SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics. The system was user-friendly, though the voice recognition required specific commands.

The 2024 RAV4 came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, offering a range of driver-assistance features. However, it lacked a blind-spot monitoring system on the base trim. The RAV4 lost its Top Safety Pick award due to lower ratings in recent crash tests.

The 2025 Durango's safety features included forward-collision warning and blind-spot monitoring. It offered additional options like adaptive cruise control. The Durango received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA but had concerns in the small overlap frontal-impact test by IIHS.