2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's recent models. While it maintained an attractive appearance, it lacked the standout looks of other vehicles in the brand's lineup. This design approach was expected to change with the 2024 redesign. The 2023 model continued with the same look and feel as the 2022 version, offering a five-passenger configuration across four trim levels in Canada, all with standard all-wheel drive. The U.S.-spec Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in Stormy Sea paint, featured a distinctive wide grille and thin LED headlights, contributing to its unique look. Inside, the black leather interior of the Calligraphy trim was high-quality but dark, with Nappa leather seats providing comfort and style. Heated and cooled front seats were standard, and the second row also featured seat heaters, making it adaptable to varying weather conditions.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform and several design cues with the Tundra pickup, including hexagonal grilles and muscular stances. The exterior colour significantly influenced its appearance, with the Capstone model featuring more chrome and presented in Celestial Silver, giving it a slightly dated look. Inside, the Sequoia closely resembled the Tundra with a blocky, geometric dashboard layout and physical controls for climate and audio. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered SofTex leatherette or standard leather. The Sequoia's seating was highly adjustable, with power-adjustable front seats across the lineup. A power-tilt and -slide moonroof was standard on higher trims, enhancing the interior's appeal.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged version delivering 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine, available in the Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, provided a significant performance boost with its eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes, enhancing its adaptability to different driving conditions. The turbocharged version excelled in acceleration and passing power, with no noticeable turbo lag. Handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering. The turbocharged Santa Fe could tow up to 1,587 kg, while the non-turbo version had a towing capacity of 907 kg.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively offered 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 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain improved fuel economy, achieving a combined rating of 11.7 L/100 km with 4WD. The Sequoia featured a part-time 4WD system with selectable modes and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The SR5 TRD Off-Road model offered off-road capabilities with unique tires, an off-road suspension, and driver-assist features like Crawl Control and hill-descent control. The Sequoia's towing capacity reached 4,137 kg, with available towing-related upgrades for enhanced capability.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe prioritized spaciousness by offering a two-row configuration, resulting in generous rear-seat legroom of 1,060 millimetres and a competitive cargo space of 1,032 litres behind the second row. Folding the second row expanded the cargo area to 2,041 litres. The Santa Fe's interior featured comfortable seating with an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats as standard. Higher trims included additional features like a hands-free smart liftgate, ventilated front seats, and a head-up display. The panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting added to the cabin's appeal. However, some drivers found the seating position and centre console design slightly restrictive.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia offered a maximum cargo space of 2,460 litres with both second- and third-row seats folded. Behind the second row, it provided 1,387 litres, while the third row offered 325 to 631 litres, depending on seat position. The Sequoia's interior featured second-row captain's chairs in higher trims, providing comfort but lacking bolstering. The third-row seats were easy to fold but did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack. Legroom varied across rows, with the front row offering 1,041 mm, the second row 995 mm, and the third row 713 to 855 mm. The Sequoia's interior space was competitive but fell behind some rivals in certain measurements.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, offering a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system in higher trims. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with customizable settings and efficient voice recognition for navigation and weather-related commands. However, it struggled with music requests and climate control adjustments. The Santa Fe's technology package included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims, providing clear graphics and versatility.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured a standard 8-inch touchscreen in the SR5 trim, while higher trims boasted a 14-inch centre touchscreen. The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashy graphics, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sequoia's driver information display was a full-colour 12.3-inch unit, providing attractive and legible graphics. The Panoramic View monitor and 10-inch head-up display were standard on higher trims, enhancing visibility and convenience. The 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on the Limited trim and standard on Platinum and Capstone.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and a rear-seat reminder system. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added Highway Driving Assist, enhancing adaptive cruise control capabilities. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation from the IIHS, with high crashworthiness ratings.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite as standard across all trims, including a pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring were also standard. The Sequoia offered a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist as an optional feature on higher trims. As of this writing, the Sequoia had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the mechanically similar Tundra received a Top Safety Pick+ designation.