2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Genesis GV70 boasted a distinctive design that set it apart from its siblings in the Genesis lineup. It featured the brand's signature quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, along with a prominent shield-shaped grille. The GV70's sloping roofline and ribbed detailing added a touch of athleticism to its SUV bulk, creating a balance between ruggedness and sleekness. The Sport Prestige model further enhanced its character with unique styling elements, including a model-specific front fascia, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark chrome trim. Inside, the GV70's interior embraced an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing's cross-section, with a minimalist design that incorporated a rotary gear selector and infotainment controller. The interior offered a range of color options and luxurious materials, such as Nappa leather upholstery with suede seat inserts in the Sport Prestige trim.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia made a bold statement with its redesigned exterior, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The Sequoia's new creased and kinked SUV body gave it a more commanding presence than its predecessor. Inside, the Sequoia shared design elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. The Capstone's interior was available in a cream white-over-black two-tone color scheme, and it housed a massive 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system. While the Sequoia's interior exuded luxury, some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, from the base SR5 to the top-tier Capstone, with prices ranging from $59,895 to $79,895, including destination charges.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options: a base 2.5-liter turbo-four engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a more powerful 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The GV70 also featured a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty character. The Sport+ drive mode further enhanced the driving experience by holding high revs and sharpening throttle response. However, the GV70's chassis felt heavy, lacking the sharpness of some competitors, and the steering, while adequate, wasn't precise enough for spirited driving. The GV70 excelled on highways and in urban settings, but its firm ride and lack of solidity detracted from its luxury appeal.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a hybrid powertrain consisting of a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This setup delivered 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, providing impressive towing and payload capabilities. The Sequoia's maximum tow rating increased to 9,520 pounds, and it offered improved fuel efficiency compared to its predecessor. The Sequoia's adaptive, load-leveling rear air suspension adjusted ride and handling traits based on driving modes, but the ride quality could be busy and jittery in certain settings. The Sequoia's steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times. Despite these drawbacks, the Sequoia's Custom mode allowed drivers to tailor dynamic settings to their preferences.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for its segment. Despite its car-like roofline, it provided front-seat headroom comparable to a Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and back-seat headroom similar to a BMW X3. Legroom in both rows was adequate, and rear-seat visibility was good due to thin rear pillars. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded, placing the GV70 in the middle ground of its segment. The interior design, while daring, compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. The Sport Prestige trim featured heavily bolstered front seats with heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions, though some controls were buried in touchscreen menus.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. The Sequoia's power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, though taller individuals might find them cumbersome. The Platinum trim and higher included a panoramic glass sunroof, which reduced second-row headroom. The second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat, mounted above the battery pack, offered limited comfort and legroom. Cargo space was a significant compromise, with only 11.5 cubic feet available with the third-row seat in its rearmost position. The Sequoia's maximum cargo capacity was 86.9 cubic feet, significantly less than its predecessor and segment rivals.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 impressed with its tech offerings, featuring a standard 14.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The infotainment system's tile-based layout and crisp graphics were user-friendly, and the glass rotary controller added functionality. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 also included a digital-key feature, allowing smartphone use in place of a key fob, and a fingerprint scanner for starting the car. Genesis Connected Services provided remote camera activation, driver profiles, and more, free for three years.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected services allowed user accounts and included an Intelligent Assistant for voice commands. The Sequoia's tech included a surround-view camera system, a digital rearview mirror, and a 10-inch head-up display. However, the system had some quirks, such as glare on the display and occasional issues with phone pairing.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver-attention monitor. It also featured Highway Driving Assist with automated lane centering and adaptive cruise control. The GV70 included eight airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. However, crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia offered an extensive array of standard driver-assistance features, bundled into Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5). This package included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and road sign recognition. The Sequoia also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While crash-test ratings were not available, the Tundra, on which the Sequoia is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.