2023 Dodge Durango vs 2023 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Toyota Sienna sported a fresh take on minivan aesthetics, aiming to shed the “uncool” minivan image of the past. Toyota designers took a stab at making this family hauler more appealing by incorporating design elements reminiscent of Japanese bullet trains in the front end. The Sienna offered multiple trims, from the base LE to the top-tier Platinum, including a special 25th Anniversary edition. The XLE trim emerged as the value champion for offering standard LED fog lights, power-sliding doors, and a power liftgate—all features lauded for ease of parenting.

Inside, the Sienna's cabin broke away from traditional minivan vibes with luxurious touches. The Platinum trim's high-quality brown leather upholstery and beautiful wood-grain accents wowed reviewers. Seating could accommodate seven or eight passengers, with options for three-across car seats in the middle row of certain trims.

The 2023 Dodge Durango, hitting its 12th year without a full redesign, managed to retain a charming and attractive exterior. Dodge opted for clean, car-like lines instead of pretending to be a rugged off-roader. The slim front styling, featuring forward-leaning headlights and a restrained grille, along with the signature racetrack taillights at the rear, offered a truly distinctive appearance.

Sportier SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models came with unique touches, such as a Viper-like hood and performance-boosting features like additional engine-cooling ducts and unique wheels. Dodge also offered customization options including Blacktop and Hemi Orange appearance packages. On the inside, the Durango kept pace with elegant touches like a wrapped instrument panel on the R/T Plus Package and Nappa leather upholstery in the more luxurious Citadel trim.

When Toyota introduced the fourth-generation Sienna in 2020, it took a bold step by making every model hybrid. The powertrain combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with three electric motors, achieving a total of 245 horsepower. While these specs were modest compared to rivals, the Sienna compensated with its commendable chassis and steering. Driving in the city was made easier by its light steering feel, and it offered a surprisingly nimble and sound platform on the highway. However, less dynamic acceleration and a droning CVT were noted weaknesses.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a wide range of powertrains. Starting with the standard 3.6-liter V6, which delivered 293 horsepower and an optional 295 horsepower variant, it moved up to the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 horsepower and then to the SRT 392's 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 475 horsepower. The apex of the lineup was the SRT Hellcat with its 6.2-liter supercharged V8 producing a whopping 710 horsepower. Acceleration times were remarkable for such a large vehicle, with the SRT 392 hitting 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and the Hellcat doing it in just 3.5 seconds. The Durango's large size did hamper its agility on twisty roads, yet it shined brightly on highways with its blistering speed and minimal wind and tire noise.

The 2023 Sienna excelled in family-friendly interior design. Its clever storage solutions included a spacious cubby below the center console, a shelf extending across the dash, and a large center console bin. Measuring over 200 inches long, the Sienna used its space extraordinarily well for cargo, offering 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 75.2 cubic feet with the third row folded. However, total cargo space of 101 cubic feet fell short of competitors due to non-removable second-row seats.

The 2023 Durango, on the other hand, could be configured with either six or seven seats. The second-row captain's chairs with a center console was a noted plus for families. Cargo space didn't match up to the Sienna, clocking in at 17.2 cubic feet with all rows in place, expanding to 43.3 and 85.1 cubic feet with the third and then second rows folded, respectively. While small-item storage was ample and the second row had its own large center console, some advanced features like a power-folding third row were missing, even in the high-end models. The Durango's higher towing capacities, reaching up to 8,700 pounds with the 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter Hemi V8 options, offered significant utility compared to the more modest towing capabilities of the Sienna.

The Sienna lagged here with Toyota sticking to an older infotainment system. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and seven USB ports, but the system felt clunky, requiring wired connections for smartphone integrations and lacking shortcuts for easy access. The 9-inch touchscreen, while serviceable, didn't impress on paper but performed adequately in usage. Safety technology was more reassuring, with a comprehensive suite of ADAS features.

The Durango benefited from Stellantis' Uconnect system, available in two versions. The SXT and GT got an 8.4-inch screen with the older Uconnect 4C system, while the Citadel and SRT models received a 10.1-inch screen with the updated Uconnect 5 system. This provided a more refined, responsive experience, complete with Easter Eggs specific to SRT models. The Performance Pages app on the SRT versions allowed performance enthusiasts to access advanced vehicle stats. An available 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system upgraded the aural experience significantly.

Safety was a strong suit for the Sienna, boasting high scores and an extensive list of standard ADAS features. It received a 5-star crash test rating from NHTSA and was a Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS for the 2022 model. Even without some of the gimmicky features seen in competitors, the Sienna's comprehensive safety package was hard to beat.

The Durango's safety ratings were less stellar. It achieved top marks in some IIHS tests but fared poorly in others, and it only received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Additionally, standard driver-assist tech was limited, with key features like forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control only available on higher trims or as part of option packages.