The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking optional in the Durango as “Superior.” The 4Runner scores zero, and is rated by the IIHS as having no effective frontal crash prevention.
The Durango has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the 4Runner’s blind spot costs extra.
To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Durango has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Cross-path warning costs extra on the 4Runner and isn't available on the not available.
For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Durango uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The 4Runner uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.
Both the Durango and the 4Runner have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and front parking sensors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Dodge Durango is safer than the Toyota 4Runner:
|
Durango |
4Runner |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
3 Stars |
HIC |
295 |
367 |
Neck Injury Risk |
26% |
57% |
Neck Stress |
156 lbs. |
271 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
303/32 lbs. |
453/353 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Dodge Durango is safer than the Toyota 4Runner:
|
Durango |
4Runner |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Chest Movement |
1.1 inches |
1.1 inches |
Abdominal Force |
111 G’s |
179 G’s |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
50 |
89 |
Spine Acceleration |
34 G’s |
36 G’s |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
Max Damage Depth |
14 inches |
20 inches |
HIC |
194 |
507 |
Spine Acceleration |
43 G’s |
43 G’s |
Hip Force |
714 lbs. |
895 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Durango is 3.4% to 4.8% less likely to roll over than the 4Runner.
The Dodge Durango has a better fatality history. The Durango was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 5% lower per vehicle registered than the 4Runner, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.