Compare the2027 Dodge Durango VS 2026 Toyota 4Runner

The Durango has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Durango. But it costs extra on the 4Runner.

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, 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, available crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

There are almost 2 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Durango’s warranty.

The Dodge Durango’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the 4Runner’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in initial quality. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

The Durango has more powerful engines than the 4Runner:

	Horsepower	Torque
Durango 5.7 V8	360 HP	390 lbs.-ft.
Durango R/T 392 6.4 V8	475 HP	470 lbs.-ft.
4Runner 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	278 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
4Runner Trailhunter 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	323 HP	465 lbs.-ft.
4Runner 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	326 HP	465 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Durango 5.7 V8 is faster than the Toyota 4Runner turbo 4 cyl.:

	Durango	4Runner
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.9 MPH	87.9 MPH

As tested in Car and Driver the Durango R/T 392 6.4 V8 is faster than the 4Runner Trailhunter 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid:

	Durango	4Runner
Zero to 60 MPH	4.5 sec	6.7 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	12.2 sec	21.1 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5.4 sec	7.4 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	2.8 sec	4.1 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.2 sec	4.8 sec
Quarter Mile	13.2 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	104 MPH	88 MPH
Top Speed	155 MPH	155 MPH

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Durango’s fuel efficiency. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Durango has 5.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the 4Runner (24.6 vs. 19 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Durango has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Durango’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the 4Runner:

	Durango	Durango w/Tow N Go	4Runner
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	15 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.8 inches	13.2 inches

The Durango stops shorter than the 4Runner:

	Durango	4Runner
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	178 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Durango has larger standard tires than the 4Runner (265/50R20 vs. 245/70R17). The Durango’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 4Runner (295/45R20 vs. 265/55R20).

The Durango’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 4Runner SR5’s standard 70 series tires. The Durango’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the 4Runner TRD Sport/Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Durango has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the 4Runner SR5.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires optional on the Durango can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The 4Runner doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For superior ride and handling, the Dodge Durango has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Toyota 4Runner has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Durango offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango’s wheelbase is 7.6 inches longer than on the 4Runner (119.8 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The Durango R/T 392 handles at .85 G’s, while the 4Runner Trailhunter pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Durango R/T 392 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the 4Runner Trailhunter (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 29.1 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Unibody construction lowers the Durango’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The 4Runner doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

The Durango offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The 4Runner doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Durango R/T 392 is quieter than the 4Runner Trailhunter (69 vs. 70 dB).

The Durango has 5.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 4Runner (141.4 vs. 136).

The Durango has .2 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear headroom, 3.8 inches more rear legroom, 2.5 inches more third row headroom and 1.7 inches more third row legroom than the 4Runner.

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

	Durango	4Runner
Behind Third Seat	17.2 cubic feet	12.1 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	85.1 cubic feet	84.4 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Durango easier. The Durango’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.4 inches, while the 4Runner’s liftover is 32.7 inches.

The Durango’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the 4Runner’s (7200 vs. 6000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota 4Runner is only 6000 pounds. The Durango offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

While the 4Runner Platinum/Trailhunter/TRD Pro can only tow 5800, any Durango can tow a minimum of 7200 pounds.

The Durango GT can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Durango can be unhitched and driven around locally. The 4Runner can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Durango uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The 4Runner uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Durango has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Durango’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The 4Runner’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Durango’s standard rear view mirror and optional side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The 4Runner offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Durango has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the 4Runner Premium/Limited/Platinum/Trailhunter/TRD Pro.

The Durango has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the 4Runner Limited/Platinum/Trailhunter/TRD Pro.

The Dodge Durango has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the overhead console. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the 4Runner Premium/Limited/Platinum/Trailhunter/TRD Pro.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Dodge Durango has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the 4Runner TRD/Limited/Platinum/Trailhunter offers wireless charging.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Durango third among upper midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The 4Runner isn’t in the top three.