Model Year | 2013 | 2015 | |
Model | Toyota Highlander | Dodge Durango | |
Engine | 3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 270 hp@6200 248 lb-ft@4700 |
3.6L V6 DOHC-4v 295 hp@6350 260 lb-ft@4500 |
|
Transmission | 5-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr SUV | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 109.8 in | 119.8 in | -10 in |
Length | 188.4 in | 201.2 in | -12.8 in |
Width | 75.2 in | 75.8 in | -0.6 in |
Height | 68.1 in | 70.9 in | -2.8 in |
Curb Weight | 4266 lb. | 4913 lb. | -647 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 19.2 gal. | 24.6 gal. | -5.4 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.6 in | 39.9 in | 0.7 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 59.7 in | 58.5 in | 1.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 56.7 in | 57.0 in | -0.3 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 43.2 in | 40.3 in | 2.9 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 40.1 in | 39.8 in | 0.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 59.5 in | 58.3 in | 1.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 56.5 in | 56.0 in | 0.5 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 38.3 in | 38.6 in | -0.3 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 36.3 in | 37.8 in | -1.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 55.0 in | 50.4 in | 4.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 42.3 in | 42.8 in | -0.5 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 29.2 in | 31.5 in | -2.3 in |
Total Legroom | 110.7 in (over 3 rows) | 110.4 in (over 3 rows) | 0.3 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 10.3 ft3 | 17.2 ft3 | -6.9 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 42.3 ft3 | 47.7 ft3 | -5.4 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 95.4 ft3 | 84.5 ft3 | 10.9 ft3 |
2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
Toyota replaced the 2013 Highlander's rear struts with control arms to enable a three-inch-wider third-row seat, and then used the extra space to cram in a third seating position. So if you need seats for eight people, only the Highlander will do in this threesome. A top-of-the-line Santa Fe only seats six. Other eight-pass options include the Honda Pilot and GM's large crossovers. But those three people best be small, as the Highlander doesn't have nearly as much rear legroom as the Pathfinder or the Santa Fe. To fit children of even middling size in the third row it's necessary to slide the second row well forward. The second row seat cushion is mounted too low for adult comfort. The Nissan's second row suffers from a similar shortcoming, but the Hyundai's does not. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Perfect for two car seats. Really neat trick - the middle seat for the 2nd row rolls up into the center console. I did not remove it nor attempt to sit in it but that does make the 3rd row more likely to be used for those with car seats. I did not attempt to sit in the 3rd row (looked at it before folding into the floor for cargo space for the entire trip) so cannot opine on it. Use at your own risk. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2012 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I am 6 foot tall, and there is plenty of head and leg room in the driving position. Easy access as well. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2012 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
3rd row seats are useless to me. Too little room for adults. Should have been an option for families with small children. With 3rd row seating, you lose storage space. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2015 Dodge Durango Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2014 | The Durango's relatively narrow width, a plus for handling, has the opposite impact on interior room. These are very much two sides of the same coin. Because the Durango's cabin isn't terribly wide it feels more agile than wider SUVs. But three passengers in the second row don't have as much space to spread out--those in a Nissan Pathfinder enjoy a couple more inches of shoulder room--and only two people can sit in the third row. (The Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and GM's large crossovers all have three belts back there.) Leg room in the Durango is much more competitive, but still a few inches short of class leading. This said, comfort isn't only a matter of interior dimensions. Both of the Durango's rear rows are well-upholstered and positioned higher off the floor than the three-row crossover norm. This benefits both thigh support and outward visibility. The Hyundai Santa Fe isn't far off in this regard, but the Nissan Pathfinder's seats are much closer to the floor, and less hospitable to adults as a result. Among the three, I'd prefer to be a rear seat passenger in the Dodge. Among large conventional SUVs, the Ford Expedition has a more comfortable third row, but the Chevrolet Tahoe (which retains a live rear axle despite a comprehensive redesign for the 2015 model year) doesn't come close. And the foot-shorter 4Runner? Its XXS third-row seat is best saved for emergencies. On the other side of the ledger, the Durango does have a higher floor than the typical car-based crossover. Getting in and out isn't as easy. This vies with curb weight as the top disadvantage of the Durango's conventional SUV configuration. see full Dodge Durango review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2015 Dodge Durango.