2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Volvo XC60

The 2022 Volvo XC60 underwent subtle styling changes, enhancing its sporty appearance with new "air blades" on the front fascia and a redesigned rear bumper that concealed the tailpipes. The front grille was reworked to house sensors for driver-assist systems behind the heated Volvo logo, ensuring functionality in cold weather. Built on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, the XC60 shared its foundation with other Volvo models like the XC90 and S90. Inside, the XC60 maintained its clean design with a new digital instrument cluster, a portrait-oriented touchscreen, and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design model featured aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, adding flair to an otherwise subdued interior. The Inscription trim offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia made a bold statement with its redesigned exterior, combining the rugged look of the Toyota Tundra with a newly styled SUV body. The Sequoia's traditional grille and front bumper distinguished it from the Tundra's "manta ray on wheels" appearance. Inside, the Sequoia shared an industrial theme with the Tundra, featuring leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. A massive 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the Capstone's interior boasted a cream white-over-black two-tone colour scheme. Despite its luxurious appearance, some interior materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, from the TRD Off-road to the Capstone, with prices ranging from $79,335 to $95,335, including destination charges and fees.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 versions. Both powertrains combined a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system and integrated starter generator, adding 13 horsepower in short bursts. The B6 powertrain also featured an electric supercharger. The XC60 B5 delivered 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 offered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The XC60 B5 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, and the B6 in 5.9 seconds. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid offered 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 5 seconds. The Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, with a zero to 60 mph time of 4.9 seconds.

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 produced 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 lb-ft of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 4,137 kilograms, while payload capacity remained at 640 kilograms. Fuel efficiency improved, 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+, with a Custom mode for personalized settings. The steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive. Despite these drawbacks, the Sequoia's power and torque made it a capable performer.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 retained its interior space, offering competitive passenger space within its segment. Front-seat headroom was above average, but rear-seat headroom was tied with the Audi Q5 for the worst in its class. Legroom in both rows was average. The mild-hybrid models provided 611 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,410 litres with them folded. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo capacity. The XC60 offered a commanding driving position with good visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, with a comfortable cabin featuring soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs did not slide, limiting flexibility for third-row passengers. The third-row seat was mounted above the battery pack, resulting in limited comfort. Cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with only 325 litres available with the third-row seat in its rearmost position. Folding the third-row seats expanded capacity to 1,387 litres, and folding the second-row seats increased it to 2,460 litres. Despite the hybrid powertrain's benefits, the Sequoia's overall utility was reduced compared to its predecessor.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul with a 9-inch touchscreen running the Android Automotive operating system. It included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The system featured Google Assistant for voice control, Google Maps for navigation, and access to third-party apps via the Google Play Store. Over-the-air software updates were also enabled. The system was compatible with iPhones, but Android users enjoyed additional functionality. The digital instrument cluster offered a "Calm" setting to minimize distractions.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen in the base TRD Off-road trim and a 14-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, user accounts, and an Intelligent Assistant. The Capstone trim offered a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. The Sequoia's tech successfully prevented accidents with its parking sensors and automatic rear braking system.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA for the 2022 model year, but the 2021 model received top ratings. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. An optional driver assistance system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centring.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came with a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assistance features, bundled into Toyota Safety Sense 2.5. This included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and road sign recognition. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. The Sequoia's adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist systems made highway driving easier.