2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia, despite its age, attempted to maintain a modern appearance with updates in 2018, including new headlights and grille designs. However, these subtle changes were often overshadowed by the vehicle's large silhouette. Inside, the Sequoia's design was reminiscent of the mid-2000s, with a multi-tiered center dash and a standard 7-inch touchscreen that appeared small against the expansive dashboard. The front seats, although bulky, offered limited headroom for taller drivers, especially with the optional sunroof. In contrast, the second-row seats provided ample headroom and legroom, ensuring comfort for passengers. The Sequoia was available in several trims, including the SR5, TRD Sport, Limited, Nightshade Edition, TRD Pro, and Platinum, each offering various features and enhancements.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey, while adhering to the traditional minivan design, offered a sense of style with its kinked sliding doors and hockey-stick character lines. The Elite trim, which topped the lineup, featured dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels. The Odyssey's interior was designed with practicality in mind, offering quality materials and a classic open-concept layout. The center stack, though cluttered with switchgear, was user-friendly, with commonly used functions placed near the infotainment display. The Odyssey provided an expansive view through its large windshield, enhancing the driving experience. The Elite trim also included features like leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and a tri-zone climate control system, ensuring comfort for all passengers.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a robust 5.7-liter V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, provided strong acceleration, even for an SUV weighing up to 6,000 pounds. The Sequoia offered both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive options, with the latter including a low range for off-road capabilities. Despite its power, the Sequoia's six-speed transmission was considered outdated compared to modern multi-speed transmissions, impacting fuel economy. The Sequoia's driving dynamics were akin to a truck, with a soft suspension and strong brakes, though it exhibited some body roll during cornering. It could tow up to 7,400 pounds, which was less than competitors like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This front-wheel-drive minivan utilized a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive or an electrified powertrain, resulting in an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. Despite this, the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with responsive handling and quick acceleration. However, its brakes were prone to heating up during extended use, leading to pedal vibration and noise. The Odyssey excelled in various driving conditions, from freeways to mountain roads, but required more robust brakes for optimal performance.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia boasted a spacious cabin, with nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and over 66 cubic feet with the third row folded. With all rear seats down, it offered 120 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to competitors like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition. The Sequoia's power-retractable rear window was a unique feature, allowing easy access to the cargo area. While the front-row space could have been better utilized, the Sequoia provided ample storage options, including deep door pockets and a large center console.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather, power-adjustable front seats, and a tri-zone climate control system. Storage was abundant, with various compartments and a center console tray. The second-row seats were comfortable, with the option to remove the center section for additional space. The Odyssey's Magic Slide seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing safety and convenience. The third-row seat was spacious, accommodating adults comfortably. The Odyssey provided 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded. With the second-row seats removed, it offered a substantial 144.9 cubic feet of cargo space.

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 included a larger 9-inch screen, though it still felt small on the large dash. The infotainment system, while dated, was user-friendly, with simple menu navigation and large hard buttons. The digital trip computer was also easy to use, despite its small size.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims offered navigation and HondaLink connected services. The Odyssey included CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, allowing the driver to monitor and communicate with rear passengers. The rear-seat entertainment system featured a 10.2-inch display, though it was considered outdated. The Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad. While the infotainment system was functional, it lacked modern features and required specific voice commands for navigation.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was 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 parking sensors. However, it lacked advanced tech like lane-keeping assist and scored four out of five stars in the NHTSA's rollover test.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also included automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on higher trims. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, though its safety features could be overly sensitive.