2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a modern crossover design that leaned towards a more European aesthetic, moving away from the rugged, boxy look of its predecessors. The refreshed model featured a traditional front end with a Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar, replacing the previous grille design. Despite its sleek appearance, the Escape was not designed for extreme off-road adventures but still managed to present an upscale look, akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the ST-Line Elite trim boasted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, which, while visually appealing, felt somewhat hard and plasticky. The interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt cost-cutting, but the seats were comfortable and supportive, making it a pleasant vehicle for long drives.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform and several design cues with the Tundra pickup, including hexagonal grilles and muscular stances. The Capstone model, with its chrome accents and Celestial Silver colour, appeared somewhat dated. Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dashboard design, featuring physical dials and buttons for climate control. The Capstone trim offered semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims had SofTex leatherette or standard leather. The Sequoia's interior was spacious, with power-adjustable front seats and a power-tilt and -slide moonroof available across the lineup. The vehicle's design and features catered to those seeking a robust and comfortable SUV experience.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine could be configured with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Higher trims like the ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite featured a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. Despite its impressive output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters for manual gear control. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness common in some competitors.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively available in a hybrid format, utilizing Toyota's iForce MAX hybrid powertrain. This system combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 427 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, a significant increase over its predecessor. The Sequoia's fuel economy improved to 11.7 L/100 km combined with four-wheel drive. Standard 4WD in Canada included a selector for 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD, with TRD Pro models featuring additional off-road capabilities. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the Sequoia's on-road handling was adequate for its class. The maximum towing capacity was 4,137 kilograms, with several towing-related upgrades available.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable driving experience with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The interior featured well-positioned armrests and convenient cupholders. However, the Escape fell short in cargo space, offering up to 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the second row folded. Passenger space was slightly limited compared to competitors, but the back seat offered good headroom and soft padding on the front-seat backs.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim included automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding entry for shorter passengers. The Sequoia offered a maximum of 2,460 litres of cargo space with both second- and third-row seats folded. The third-row seats, positioned above the hybrid powertrain's battery pack, did not create a flat load floor when folded, affecting headroom and legroom. The second-row captain's chairs, available on higher trims, were wide but lacked bolstering. Overall, the Sequoia provided ample space but had some limitations in rear-seat comfort.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured the Sync 4 infotainment system, with lower trims equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen and higher trims offering a 13.2-inch screen. Sync 4 was intuitive, with easy navigation between applications like Android Auto and the native navigation system. A wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system was optional on higher trims. Despite minor annoyances like a slow response time and inconvenient volume knob placement, the technology package was impressive.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim came with a 14-inch centre touchscreen, standard on all but the base SR5 trim, which had an 8-inch screen. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system prioritized functionality over flashy design. A 12.3-inch driver information display was standard across all trims, and the Panoramic View monitor was included on higher trims. The 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on the Limited trim and standard on Platinum and Capstone. The Sequoia's technology package was comprehensive and user-friendly.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal- and side-crash tests. However, the IIHS did not award it a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including features like forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Co-Pilot360 2.0, available as an upgrade, added adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia included the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite as standard, featuring a pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and more. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking were also standard. The only optional driver aid was a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist, available on higher trims. The Sequoia had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but its mechanically similar sibling, the Tundra, received a Top Safety Pick+ designation.