Compare the2025 Dodge DurangoVS 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

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 Land Cruiser doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 Land Cruiser uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Durango and the Land Cruiser 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 all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and front parking sensors.

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 Durango’s optional 5.7 V8 produces 34 more horsepower (360 vs. 326) than the Land Cruiser’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Durango is faster than the Toyota Land Cruiser:

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

Both the Durango V6 and the Land Cruiser 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 Durango has 6.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Land Cruiser (24.6 vs. 17.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

For better traction, the Durango has larger standard tires than the Land Cruiser (265/60R18 vs. 245/70R18). The Durango R/T Tow N Go’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Land Cruiser (295/45R20 vs. 265/60R20).

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 Land Cruiser 1958’s standard 70 series tires. The Durango R/T Tow N Go’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Land Cruiser’s optional 60 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 Land Cruiser 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 Land Cruiser has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Durango offers an available 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 Land Cruiser’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Durango offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Land Cruiser 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 Land Cruiser (119.8 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The Durango GT 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Land Cruiser pulls only .69 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Durango R/T 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the Land Cruiser (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 29.7 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

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

The Dodge Durango may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 500 pounds less than the Toyota Land Cruiser.

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 Land Cruiser doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Durango GT 4x4 is quieter than the Land Cruiser (67 vs. 68 dB).

The Durango has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Land Cruiser can only carry 5.

The Durango has 7.3 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more rear headroom and 11.9 inches more rear legroom than the Land Cruiser.

The front step up height for the Durango is 3.3 inches lower than the Land Cruiser (19.7” vs. 23”). The Durango’s rear step up height is 4.8 inches lower than the Land Cruiser’s (19.7” vs. 24.5”).

The Durango’s cargo area provides more volume than the Land Cruiser.

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 Land Cruiser’s liftover is 35.6 inches.

The Durango’s cargo area is larger than the Land Cruiser’s in almost every dimension:

The Durango’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Land Cruiser’s (6200 vs. 6000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Land Cruiser is only 6000 pounds. The Durango 4x4 offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

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 Land Cruiser can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Durango uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Land Cruiser 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’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 Land Cruiser has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Durango and the Land Cruiser have standard heated front seats. The Durango also offers optional heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Land Cruiser.

The Durango is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Dodge Durango outsold the Toyota Land Cruiser by over two to one during 2024.