2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda's fifth-generation compact crossover lineup, had a design that was both familiar and enjoyable. Its exterior styling, with curvy and car-like lines, bore a family resemblance to Honda's sedans, giving it a station wagon-like appearance rather than a traditional SUV look. This design approach made the CR-V a modern family transportation staple. However, the interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery clashing with lower-quality plastics, reminding drivers that even the pricier CR-V models were still upgrades of a commodity car.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Sequoia, a second-generation model introduced in 2007, showed its age despite a facelift in 2018. The subtle updates, like the lines connecting the grille to the headlights, were overshadowed by the vehicle's imposing silhouette. Inside, the Sequoia's massive, multi-tiered center dash design felt dated, with a standard 7-inch touchscreen appearing small against the expansive dash space. Despite its large size, the front seats were bulky, limiting headroom for taller drivers, while the second-row seats offered ample space and comfort. The Sequoia's trims ranged from the entry-level SR5 to the range-topping Platinum, each offering various features and options.

The 2020 Honda CR-V featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This powertrain provided a well-matched driving experience, with the CVT offering a credible imitation of a conventional automatic. The CR-V's car-like demeanor translated into excellent road manners, with nimble handling and minimal body roll. Its low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its agility and fuel efficiency, achieving an EPA rating of 30 miles per gallon combined for FWD models and 29 mpg for AWD models.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Sequoia came standard with a 5.7-liter V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, provided stout acceleration despite the Sequoia's weight of up to 6,000 pounds. The Sequoia's driving dynamics resembled those of a truck, with a soft suspension and strong brakes. It could tow up to 7,400 pounds, falling behind competitors like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe in towing capacity.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and storage solutions. Its cabin was roomy, with excellent head- and legroom for both driver and passengers. The CR-V's cargo compartment matched the Volkswagen Tiguan in volume, offering 75.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded. Clever storage solutions, like the deep center console and two-position load floor, added to its practicality. The CR-V's door pockets were also spacious, making it easy to store and access items.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia boasted a large cabin with nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and 120 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. While it fell slightly short of competitors like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition in cargo capacity, it offered a power-retractable rear window for convenient access. The Sequoia's front-row space could have been better utilized, but it still provided deep in-door pockets and a massive center console for storage.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with a standard 5-inch screen in the LX trim and a 7-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were only available with the larger screen. However, the CR-V offered plenty of USB ports, with two in the front and two high-powered ports in the backseat. The Touring trim added a wireless phone charger for added convenience.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot. Our test model had a larger 9-inch screen, which still felt small on the large dash. Despite its dated technology, the Sequoia's system was easy to use, with hefty hard buttons for navigation. The digital trip computer was small but straightforward, offering a refreshing simplicity.

The 2020 Honda CR-V included the "Honda Sensing" system as standard, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and cross-traffic monitoring on EX trims and above. The CR-V earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with some caveats for lower trims.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, it lacked more advanced tech like lane-keeping assist. The Sequoia scored four out of five stars in the NHTSA's rollover test but had not been rated in further crash tests.