2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2022 Toyota Sequoia

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia, a stalwart in the SUV market, continued its second generation into its 14th year without substantial changes. Its exterior design adhered to the principle that "good taste never goes out of style," featuring a modestly sized grille, elegant wheel arches, and straight lines that gave it a mature and timeless appearance. Despite its age, the Sequoia's interior was typical of Toyota's high-quality craftsmanship, though it appeared dated compared to modern design trends. The 7-inch touchscreen and 4.2-inch TFT driver information screen seemed relics from another era, yet the interior was built to last, with tight seams and high-quality materials.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a "modernist" and "reductive" design philosophy, resulting in a clean and simple aesthetic. While it lacked flashy factory options, the test vehicle's Eiger Grey paint and silver 23-inch wheels exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, coupled with aluminum and shiny black trim, created a high-tech and luxurious atmosphere. The Range Rover Sport offered a range of specifications, with the Dynamic SE model featuring heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and other premium features, pushing its MSRP beyond $120,000. The SUV's design highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and excellent aerodynamics, contributing to its refined appearance.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a 5.7-litre i-Force V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, provided a reliable and durable powertrain. The Sequoia's truck roots contributed to its impressive payload capacity of up to 608 kilograms and a maximum towing capacity of 3,221 kilograms. Despite its weight of nearly 2,721.5 kilograms, the Sequoia offered a smooth and stable ride on highways and was competent off-road, thanks to its robust body-on-frame construction and ample ground clearance.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography model, delivering 434 horsepower. The Range Rover Sport's 395-horsepower engine allowed it to accelerate to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, and it could tow up to 3,500 kilograms. The SUV's new vehicle architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35 percent, and its adaptive damping air suspension provided a comfortable ride. However, the Range Rover Sport's driving dynamics fell short of sport-tuned SUVs from competitors, and its steering lacked involvement.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia prioritized passenger comfort, offering spacious seating across all three rows with ample headroom and legroom. Three-zone climate control catered to all passengers, and a standard power moonroof added to the airy feel. The Sequoia's cargo compartment provided 535 litres of space behind the third row, expandable to 1,886 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 3,401 litres with both the second and third rows folded.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall and airy feel for the driver. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with 20-way power adjustments. However, the rear seat was less accommodating, with limited legroom and hard front seatback panels. The cargo area offered 903 litres of space, expandable to 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded. The Range Rover Sport's storage solutions included a deep bin under the centre armrest and a handy contraption to prevent items from rolling around in the cargo hold.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia's infotainment system felt outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch TFT driver information screen. While Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility were standard, the system lacked the modern features found in competitors. The Sequoia's technology under the hood also lagged behind, with no electrification options available. However, all exterior lighting was LED, and a rear backup camera and parking sonar were standard.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. While the Pivi Pro infotainment platform promised personalization, it often proved confusing and frustrating to use. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems and a next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system. However, the native digital assistant struggled with basic tasks, and the wireless smartphone charging pad was difficult to access.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia lacked crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, but it was equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense P suite, including pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The STAR safety system included stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and more. A full complement of airbags and other safety features were standard.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with numerous safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The SUV also had automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, and a surround-view camera system. Remote Park Assist was available, allowing the SUV to park itself while the driver directed it using a smartphone app. However, the adaptive cruise control and steering assist technology were not as smooth or reliable as expected.