Compare the2026 Dodge DurangoVS 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander

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 Grand Highlander doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Durango and the Grand Highlander 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, available crash mitigating brakes, 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 Grand Highlander:

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 Grand Highlander:

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

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.

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 Grand Highlander:

As tested in Motor Trend the Durango GT 3.6 DOHC V6 is faster than the Toyota Grand Highlander turbo 4 cyl.:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Durango V8’s fuel efficiency. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Durango V6 and the Grand Highlander have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Durango V6s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The Grand Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The Durango has 7.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Grand Highlander Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (24.6 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Durango has 6.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Grand Highlander’s standard fuel tank (24.6 vs. 17.8 gallons).

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 Grand Highlander doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

The Durango’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Grand Highlander are solid, not vented.

The Durango stops shorter than the Grand Highlander:

For better traction, the Durango has larger standard tires than the Grand Highlander (265/60R18 vs. 255/65R18). The Durango R/T Tow N Go’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Grand Highlander (295/45R20 vs. 255/65R18).

The Durango GT’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Highlander LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The Durango R/T Tow N Go’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade’s 55 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available 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 Grand Highlander doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Durango offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Grand Highlander; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Durango offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Grand Highlander’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Durango has a standard automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Durango has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Grand Highlander (119.8 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

The Durango R/T 4x4 handles at .80 G’s, while the Grand Highlander XLE AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Durango R/T 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Grand Highlander XLE AWD (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Durango has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Grand Highlander (8.1 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Durango to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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 Grand Highlander doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Durango has .5 inches more front hip room and .6 inches more third row headroom than the Grand Highlander.

The Durango’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Highlander’s (6200 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Grand Highlander is only 5000 pounds. The Durango 4x4 offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

While the Grand Highlander Hybrid can only tow 3500, any Durango can tow a minimum of 6200 pounds.

The Durango V8 4WD 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 Grand Highlander can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Durango uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Grand Highlander 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 engine in the Durango is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Grand Highlander. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Durango’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Durango’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Grand Highlander does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Durango’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Grand Highlander’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 Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade.

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 Grand Highlander XLE/Limited/Nightshade/Platinum.

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