2021 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its final year of the current form, offered a nostalgic experience with its Heritage Edition trim. This version celebrated the SUV's 65th anniversary with a distinctive Midnight Black color, bronze BBS wheels, and a Yakima Megawarrior roof storage basket. However, the standard Land Cruiser, which arrived for review, was less striking in its Magnetic Gray paint and Terra leather upholstery. Its exterior design, reminiscent of a first-generation Toyota Highlander, featured oversized headlights and taillights, with an abundance of chrome. Inside, the Land Cruiser combined Toyota's parts-bin switchgear with Lexus design themes, offering plush materials and a traditional hand-operated parking brake. The overall experience was akin to a trip back in time, lacking the modern flair of its competitors.

In contrast, the 2021 Dodge Durango maintained its muscular stance and athletic styling, aligning with Dodge's family of vehicles. The Durango SRT Hellcat model, in particular, showcased a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, and a rear spoiler. The SUV offered a variety of wheel options and came in 11 exterior colors with six interior schemes. Inside, the Durango featured a new instrument panel and a choice between an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 5 system. The interior became increasingly premium with higher trims, offering leather and suede upholstery options. The updates to the dashboard gave the Durango a modern appearance, aligning it with Dodge's muscle cars. The Durango's diverse range of models catered to a wide audience, offering track-ready equipment and unique packaging.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was powered by a 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine, shared with the Toyota Tundra. Despite its power, the engine's roar was subdued, contributing to a quiet cabin experience. The SUV averaged 14.7 mpg, slightly better than the EPA rating of 14 mpg. An eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case provided smooth power delivery. The Land Cruiser's off-road prowess was enhanced by a Torsen limited-slip differential, mud-and-snow tires, and a suite of traction control features. Its sophisticated suspension system and skid plates ensured durability on rugged terrain. On pavement, the Land Cruiser offered a refined driving experience, though its nearly 3-ton weight affected maneuverability. The SUV's towing capacity was rated at 8,100 pounds.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered four engine options: a 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, a 392 HEMI V8, and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8. The V6 produced up to 295 horsepower, while the 5.7-liter V8 delivered 360 hp. The 392 HEMI V8 offered 475 hp, and the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the SRT Hellcat model boasted 710 hp. All engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions, with rear-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. The Durango's steering was precise, though its chassis showed its age on rough roads. The SUV's braking system, particularly in the Hellcat model, provided ample stopping power. The Durango R/T's Tow N Go Package allowed for a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds, with stable handling even when towing heavy loads. The SRT models featured Performance Pages for tracking vehicle performance.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior was luxurious but dated. The center console housed a parking brake handle and various controls, with a small compartment serving as a wireless charger. The plush leather seats were heated and ventilated, and the steering wheel was heated. The second-row bench seat offered ample space and comfort, with heated cushions and a four-zone climate control system. The third-row seat accommodated adults if the second row was adjusted, though leg support was limited. The cargo area provided 16.1 cubic feet of space, expandable to 82.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. The split clamshell liftgate facilitated easy access to the cargo area.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler, offering comfortable seating and ample storage space. It could seat up to seven across three rows, with spacious front and second-row seats. The third row was more accommodating than many competitors, with easy access. The Durango offered 21 seat options, allowing for customization. Its cargo space was average for its class, functioning as expected. The Durango's fit and finish had improved significantly, surpassing previous Dodge models like the Journey and Grand Caravan.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, but it lacked modern conveniences like swipe and scroll functionality. The system ran on Toyota's Entune technology, which felt outdated for the SUV's price point. It lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though it offered Siri Eyes Free voice control and a three-month SiriusXM subscription. The dashboard featured large buttons and knobs for easy control, while the rear-seat entertainment system was dated, with non-touchscreen displays and limited streaming capabilities. The 14-speaker JBL audio system provided decent sound quality.

The 2021 Dodge Durango's technological centerpiece was the Uconnect 5 system, available on higher trims with a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The system was faster and more customizable than its predecessor, offering user profiles, connected services, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The family entertainment system included a Blu-ray and DVD player with two 9-inch screens. The Durango's infotainment and instrument cluster had unique designs, with SRT models featuring special animations. The TomTom navigation system was user-friendly, though a head-up display would have enhanced usability.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser came with 10 airbags and a robust curb weight, but it lacked crash-test ratings. Standard safety features included Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. However, the Land Cruiser did not offer advanced driving assistance systems like stop-and-go adaptive cruise control or lane-centering assistance.

The 2021 Dodge Durango's safety features were limited compared to rivals. It came standard with a rearview camera and passive safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and forward-collision warning. The NHTSA gave the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating, but front crash testing ratings were not available.