Compare the2024 Toyota 4RunnerVS 2024 Dodge Durango

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the 4Runner are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Durango doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Toyota 4Runner has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Durango doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the 4Runner 4WD’s standard Downhill Assist Control allow you to creep down safely. The Durango doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

The 4Runner’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Durango and is not available with SXT.

The 4Runner offers an optional Multi-Terrain/Panoramic Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Durango only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The 4Runner’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Durango doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 4Runner and the Durango 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available four-wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota 4Runner is safer than the Dodge Durango:

	4Runner	Durango
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars

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, results indicate that the Toyota 4Runner is safer than the Dodge Durango:

	4Runner	Durango
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	41	46
Chest Movement	1.1 inches	1.1 inches
Hip Force	233 lbs.	236 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	381 lbs.	446 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4Runner for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Dodge doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Durango.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the 4Runner has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Durango.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 4Runner’s reliability 38 points higher than the Durango.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 4Runner first among upper midsize suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Durango isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Dodge is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Dodge is ranked 21st.

Engine

The 4Runner’s 4.0 DOHC V6 produces 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (278 vs. 260) than the Durango’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The 4Runner’s 4.0 DOHC V6 produces 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (278 vs. 260) than the Durango’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota 4Runner is faster than the Dodge Durango V6:

	4Runner	Durango
Zero to 30 MPH	3 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	8.3 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.9 sec	6 sec
Quarter Mile	16.1 sec	16.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89.2 MPH	87.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota 4Runner uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Durango with the 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 51.4 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

The 4Runner stops much shorter than the Durango:

	4Runner	Durango
60 to 0 MPH	131 feet	144 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	145 feet	160 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Toyota 4Runner’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Dodge Durango only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The 4Runner has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Durango. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The 4Runner has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the 4Runner flat and controlled during cornering. The Durango’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The 4Runner TRD Off-Road offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Durango doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For better maneuverability, the 4Runner’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the Durango’s (37.4 feet vs. 41 feet).

For greater off-road capability the 4Runner has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Durango (9.6 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the 4Runner to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Toyota 4Runner may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 550 pounds less than the Dodge Durango.

The 4Runner is 10.6 inches shorter than the Durango, making the 4Runner easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the 4Runner TRD Off-Road is quieter than the Durango GT 4x4 (73 vs. 76 dB).

Passenger Space

The 4Runner has 1.4 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear hip room, .1 inches more rear shoulder room, .9 inches more third row hip room and 7.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Durango.

Cargo Capacity

The 4Runner’s cargo area provides more volume than the Durango.

	4Runner	Durango
Third Seat Folded	46.3 cubic feet	43.3 cubic feet
Third Seat Removed	47.2 cubic feet	n/a
Second Seat Folded	89.7 cubic feet	85.1 cubic feet

The 4Runner 5-Passenger’s optional sliding cargo floor is capable of supporting 440 pounds, to make loading and unloading cargo easier and safer. The Durango doesn’t offer a sliding load floor.

The 4Runner’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Durango’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Payload

The 4Runner has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Durango (1625 vs. 1400 lbs.).

The 4Runner has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Durango (1700 vs. 1450 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The 4Runner’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Durango’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the 4Runner the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Durango can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 4Runner is less expensive to operate than the Durango because it costs $363 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the 4Runner than the Durango, including $85 less for front brake pads, $297 less for front struts and $371 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The TRD Pro was selected by Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine as their 2015 4x4 of the Year. The Durango has never been chosen.

The Toyota 4Runner outsold the Dodge Durango by 72% during 2023.

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