2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Volvo XC60

The 2022 Volvo XC60 underwent subtle styling changes, enhancing its sporty appearance with a new front fascia featuring "air blades" and a reworked grille that cleverly concealed sensors behind a heated Volvo logo. The rear bumper was redesigned to hide the tailpipes, and new wheel designs were introduced across all models. The interior remained largely unchanged, maintaining its clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design model added flair with aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, while the Inscription trim offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

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 look featured a traditional grille and front bumper, giving it a more SUV-like appearance. Inside, the Sequoia shared an industrial theme with the Tundra, highlighted by leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. The interior boasted a massive 14-inch infotainment system and a luxurious cream white-over-black color scheme. However, some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins, and the Sequoia's off-road capabilities were slightly diminished compared to its predecessor.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 engines. Both powertrains combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system, providing an additional 13 horsepower in short bursts. The B6 version also featured an electric supercharger. The 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 the B5 offering FWD or AWD and the B6 exclusively AWD. The XC60's acceleration times were slightly slower than the 2021 model, with the B5 reaching 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds and the B6 in 5.9 seconds. The XC60's standout features included a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, enhanced by optional air suspension. Volvo also offered a plug-in hybrid version, the XC60 Recharge, with 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5 seconds. The Polestar Engineered variant increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kWh nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This hybrid powertrain delivered 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. While it lacked the V8's rumble, the new V6 offered improved towing and payload capacities, with a maximum tow rating of 9,520 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,730 pounds. The Sequoia's fuel efficiency improved, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg with 4WD and 22 mpg with RWD. The Capstone 4WD test vehicle averaged 17.8 mpg. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, with a Custom mode for personalized settings. The adaptive rear air suspension adjusted ride and handling traits, but the ride quality could be busy and jittery in Normal mode. The Sequoia's steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 maintained its competitive passenger space, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom. Legroom was average for the segment. The mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 49.8 cubic feet with them folded. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo capacity. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors.

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 climate control system. The Sequoia's power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, while the panoramic sunroof reduced second-row headroom. The second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding capability, limiting third-row space. The third-row seat was less comfortable than rivals, with limited legroom and thigh support. The Sequoia's cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, offering just 11.5 cubic feet with the third-row seat in place and 86.9 cubic feet with all seats folded. The adjustable cargo shelf helped maximize space, but 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 WiFi 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 enabled, and the system was compatible with iPhones. 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 on the base SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with connected services for user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant for voice commands. The Capstone trim added 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, and more. New features for 2022 included a Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. Volvo's Pilot Assist driver-assistance system was available as an option.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. The Sequoia's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems were effective, though the lane-departure warning system's beeping was irritating. The Sequoia had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the Tundra on which it is based received high ratings.