2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander presented a bold and distinctive front styling, characterized by the automaker’s “Dynamic Shield” grille and lighting concept. Despite its daring front, the Outlander maintained a balanced and appealing design from the front wheels to the rear bumper. In Canada, the Outlander was available in several trims, including ES, SE, LE, LE Premium, SEL, GT, and GT Premium, with prices ranging from $31,998 to $42,178. All-wheel drive was standard across all trims, and the GT Premium trim offered luxurious features such as premium semi-aniline leather, a head-up display, and a premium sound system. The interior design adhered to minimalism, with authentic aluminum accents and gloss black trim, although some interior plastics reminded users of its compact crossover SUV segment.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia, with its bold styling inspired by the Toyota Tundra, offered a substantial presence on the road. The Sequoia’s design featured a traditional grille and front bumper, giving it a distinct SUV look. Inside, the Sequoia shared an industrial theme with the Tundra, featuring leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. The Capstone’s interior was luxurious, with a 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system and a cream white-over-black two-tone colour scheme. However, some interior materials reminded users of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included TRD Off-road, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, and Capstone trims, with prices starting at $79,335 and reaching $95,335 for the Capstone. The Sequoia offered impressive off-road capabilities, although its ground clearance and angles suggested less capability than the previous model.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) powering Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system. Despite the promise of manual control through paddle shifters, the driving experience was less satisfying than expected. The Outlander offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud, but the Eco mode made the vehicle feel sluggish. The Outlander was most responsive in urban environments, but its power deficit was evident on highways and during overtaking. The steering felt vague and disconnected, and the suspension was firm, leading to a brittle ride on imperfect roads. The Outlander returned 9.4 litres per 100 kilometres, slightly missing the official rating of 8.9 L/100 km.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre 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 hybrid powertrain delivered 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia’s towing capacity increased to 4,137 kilograms, and it was more fuel-efficient, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km. During testing, it averaged 13.2 L/100 km. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, but the suspension communicated road impacts unless in softer settings. The steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive. The Sequoia’s Custom mode allowed drivers to configure settings to personal preferences, but the steering remained slow, and the braking system was inconsistent.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, with roomy and comfortable front seats, deeply padded armrests, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat in the GT and GT Premium trims. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard on most grades. The controls were intuitive, and the displays, including the digital instrumentation and HUD, impressed. However, the centre console had wasted space, and the third-row seat was cramped, suitable only for children. The Outlander offered 331 litres of cargo space with the third-row seat in use, expanding to 948 litres with it folded down, and a maximum of 2,256 litres without the panoramic sunroof.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, with comfortable front seats, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The Sequoia featured power-deploying running boards, a panoramic glass moonroof, and second-row captain’s chairs with separate climate controls. However, the third-row seat was cramped, with limited legroom and thigh support. The Sequoia’s cargo space was limited, with 325 litres behind the third row, expandable to 631 litres. The adjustable cargo shelf helped maximize space, but the Sequoia’s overall utility was compromised by its hybrid powertrain, offering less cargo capacity than its predecessor and segment rivals.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander GT and GT Premium featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a large HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Wireless smartphone charging was standard on higher trims, and the GT Premium had a 10-speaker Bose audio system. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise, affecting its performance.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in most trims. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, user accounts, and an Intelligent Assistant. The Capstone trim had a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, the display suffered from glare, and the Intelligent Assistant had some limitations. The Sequoia’s parking sensors and automatic rear braking system were effective, enhancing safety.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a driver-assist system similar to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, offering smooth and accurate performance. It included forward collision mitigation, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Outlander received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia included Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, with features like forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and road sign recognition. It also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking. The Sequoia’s adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist systems were effective, although the lane-departure warning system was slightly irritating. Crash test ratings were not available, but the Tundra, on which it is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.