2025 Dodge Durango vs Toyota Highlander | SUV Power & Practicality | Chapman Payson near Payson, AZ

2025 Dodge Durango vs Toyota Highlander: A Battle of Power & Practicality in Payson

Families and adventurers in Payson, AZ need more than just good gas mileage—they need capability, space, and something built to handle Arizona’s high-country terrain. The 2025 Dodge Durango and Toyota Highlander are two of the most popular three-row SUVs on the market, but when it comes to towing, power, and bold styling, Durango steps ahead of the pack.

Performance & Power: Durango Takes the Lead

The Highlander offers a respectable range of powertrains, including a hybrid. But for those who need real muscle—or plan to tow boats, trailers, or gear—the Durango delivers with the best-in-class V8 performance.

Durango Engine Lineup:

• 3.6L V6: 295 hp

• 5.7L HEMI® V8: 360 hp

• 6.4L HEMI® V8: 475 hp (SRT 392)

• 6.2L Supercharged V8: 710 hp (SRT Hellcat)

Highlander Engine Lineup:

• 2.4L Turbocharged 4-Cylinder: 265 hp

• 2.5L Hybrid: 243 combined hp

🔧 Bottom line: The Durango isn’t just more powerful—it’s built for rugged performance and real-world capability.

Towing Capacity: No Contest

In northern Arizona, towing a trailer or off-road vehicle is more common than a morning commute. The Highlander tops out at 5,000 lbs towing capacity—fine for a small trailer.

But the Durango? It hauls up to 8,700 lbs, putting it in truck territory.

Durango Towing Highlights:

• Best-in-class V8 towing

• Integrated trailer brake controller

• Heavy-duty engine cooling

• AWD with selectable drive modes

Whether you’re heading to the Mogollon Rim or towing out to Roosevelt Lake, Durango has the strength Payson drivers need.

Interior Comfort & Flexibility

The Highlander offers a well-designed interior with standard three-row seating. But the Durango delivers that—and more—with a driver-focused cockpit, available premium materials, and greater seat configurability.

Durango Advantages:

• Up to 50 seating configurations

• Available captain’s chairs in the 2nd row

• Uconnect® 5 with 10.1-inch touchscreen

• Optional red leather trim and carbon fiber accents

Highlander Pros:

• Slightly better fuel economy

• Standard Toyota Safety Sense™ features

• Hybrid option for fuel-focused buyers

Still, if your priorities include space, visibility, and towing prep—Durango wins the practicality game.

Style & Road Presence

Durango wears its performance DNA proudly with a bold, muscular design, optional sport hoods, and 20-inch wheels. The Highlander is more conservative—sleek, but designed for subtlety.

In rugged Payson terrain, the Durango simply looks more at home.

Why Payson Drivers Choose the Dodge Durango

- Class-leading V8 towing
- Driver-focused interior
- More flexible configurations
- Stronger powertrain lineup
- Road presence that turns heads

Whether you're hauling to the lake or carpooling through town, the 2025 Durango brings power and polish that Highlander just can’t match.

Find your next SUV right here at Chapman Payson — your trusted Dodge and Ram dealer in Arizona’s Rim Country.