2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson was a standout in the compact SUV segment, riding on a new platform that offered a long-wheelbase model exclusively in North America. This design choice provided two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area, making it a practical choice for families. The Tucson's exterior was marked by Hyundai's new design language, featuring a parametric grille that cleverly concealed LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. The unique lighting design, reminiscent of the Aztec Spirit Bird's wings, added a distinctive flair. The side profile borrowed styling cues from the Hyundai Elantra, with a silver D-pillar creating a floating roof effect. At the rear, toothy LED taillights and various alloy wheel options, ranging from 17 to 19 inches, contributed to its striking appearance. High-end trims boasted premium features like gloss black pillars, a panoramic sunroof, and advanced safety technologies.

Inside, the Tucson's cabin was well-appointed, offering a blend of hard- and soft-touch materials that elevated its perceived quality. Standard features included stain- and odour-resistant cloth seats, with higher trims offering sport combination or leather-trimmed seats. The dashboard's horizontal lines and uncluttered design enhanced the sense of spaciousness, while the inclusion of heated mirrors, blind-spot monitoring, and keyless entry added to the convenience. Overall, the Tucson's interior was competitive with other compact SUVs, providing a comfortable and upscale environment for its price point.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia, on the other hand, was a bold and imposing three-row SUV that drew inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Its redesigned exterior featured a traditional grille and front bumper, giving it a more SUV-like appearance compared to its predecessor. Inside, the Sequoia shared design elements with the Tundra, showcasing an industrial theme with leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. The Capstone's interior was luxurious, with a massive 14-inch infotainment system dominating the dashboard. However, some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, from the off-road-focused TRD Pro to the luxurious Capstone, with prices ranging from $79,335 to $95,335. While the Sequoia offered impressive off-road capabilities, its ground clearance and approach angles were less capable than the previous generation. The TRD Off-Road trim provided a more affordable option with off-road enhancements, making it a versatile choice for adventurous drivers.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered two powertrain options: a 2.5-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine paired with an electric motor. The ICE engine produced 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, providing adequate performance for daily driving. The hybrid powertrain, however, was the star, delivering 226 combined horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, making it more powerful than competitors like the Ford Escape Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The Tucson Hybrid's fuel efficiency was impressive, with ratings of 6.3 L/100 km in the city, 6.6 on the highway, and 6.4 combined. The Tucson also offered an all-wheel-drive option, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The upcoming plug-in hybrid variant promised even more power, with an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful Tucson in the lineup.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a robust hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine with a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This setup delivered an impressive 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, significantly improving towing capacity to 4,137 kilograms. The Sequoia's fuel efficiency also saw improvements, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving with 4WD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience to their preferences. However, the regenerative braking system could feel unresponsive, and the steering was slow, requiring more effort in tight spaces. Despite these quirks, the Sequoia's power and towing capabilities made it a strong contender in the full-size SUV segment.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson impressed with its spacious and well-appointed interior, offering more passenger volume than competitors like the CR-V, RAV4, and Escape. The cabin featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, with higher trims offering an eight-way version with lumbar support. Heated front seats were standard, and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and memory settings were available. The Tucson's rear seats provided ample legroom, surpassing the RAV4 by 90 millimetres. Its 1,095-litre cargo space was competitive, with a dual-level cargo floor for added versatility. The Tucson's interior was designed for comfort and practicality, making it an excellent choice for families.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable and quiet cabin with features like soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs provided comfort, but they didn't slide forward, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat, mounted above the battery pack, offered adequate legroom but lacked thigh support. Cargo space was a compromise, with only 325 litres behind the third row, expandable to 631 litres by sliding the seats forward. The Sequoia's cargo capacity was smaller than its predecessor and segment rivals, but the adjustable cargo shelf added some versatility. Despite these limitations, the Sequoia's interior was well-suited for long road trips.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with a robust set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a fully digital instrument cluster. The Tucson's infotainment system was user-friendly, though the lack of physical buttons on the centre console required reliance on steering wheel controls and voice commands. Overall, the Tucson's tech offerings were competitive for its class.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with most trims boasting a large 14-inch touchscreen. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Intelligent Assistant responded to voice commands, though it occasionally struggled with specific requests. The Sequoia's tech package included a 10-inch head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and a digital rearview mirror. While the infotainment system was generally user-friendly, glare on the display and occasional bugs were noted during testing. Despite these minor issues, the Sequoia's tech offerings were comprehensive and modern.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson featured the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, offering a comprehensive list of driver-assist technologies. Standard features included forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. Additional safety features, such as blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control, were available on higher trims. While the Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, its safety features were on par with luxury SUVs in its class.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features. This included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Sequoia also offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's safety features were impressive, providing peace of mind for drivers and passengers.