2023 Kia Sportage vs 2024 Toyota Sequoia

The 2023 Kia Sportage emerged with a completely redesigned look that was both exciting and exotic, reminiscent of French automotive styling. Its distinctive features, such as the bright boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and textured metal trim on the D Pillar, added a touch of class to this compact crossover. The Sportage was available in five trim levels in Canada, starting with the LX trim, which offered front-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive as an option. Inside, Kia opted for synthetic leather upholstery, which, while durable, didn't quite match the feel of genuine leather. The interior boasted a large display dominating the dash in higher trims, though some hard plastic elements detracted from the overall premium feel.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform and several design cues with the Tundra pickup, including hexagonal grilles and muscular stances. The exterior appearance varied significantly with colour choices, with the Capstone model featuring chrome accents that gave it a somewhat dated look. Inside, the Sequoia's resemblance to the Tundra continued with a blocky, geometric dash layout and physical controls for climate and audio. The Capstone trim offered semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims featured SofTex leatherette or standard leather. The Sequoia's interior was spacious, with power-adjustable front seats and a power-tilt and -slide moonroof standard across the lineup.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While this engine provided slightly more power than its predecessor, it fell short of the previous turbocharged option, which delivered 240 horsepower. The Sportage's fuel economy was commendable, with figures of 9.3 L/100 km in the city and 7.4 on the highway for front-wheel drive models. The X-Line trim added rugged visual cues but lacked additional off-road capabilities. The Sportage's all-wheel drive models offered 21 centimetres of ground clearance, making it capable for most off-road adventures.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia, on the other hand, was exclusively available in a hybrid format, utilizing the iForce MAX hybrid powertrain. This setup combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, producing an impressive 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. The Sequoia's fuel economy improved significantly, with a combined rating of 11.7 L/100 km for four-wheel drive models. The Sequoia's 4WD system included a selector for 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD, with TRD Pro models featuring additional off-road enhancements. The Sequoia's towing capacity reached 4,137 kilograms, with various towing-related upgrades available.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, as a compact crossover, offered increased dimensions compared to its predecessor, providing more interior space. Rear-seat legroom measured 1,050 mm, with 966 mm of rear headroom, and the trunk offered 1,121 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,098 litres with the rear seats folded. The Sportage's interior featured decent storage options, though the touch-sensitive HVAC controls proved frustrating in practice.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia provided a maximum of 2,460 litres of cargo space with both second- and third-row seats folded. Behind the second row, it offered 1,387 litres, and behind the third row, it ranged from 325 to 631 litres. The Sequoia's interior was spacious, though the third-row seats' positioning above the hybrid powertrain's battery pack reduced headroom and comfort. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, offering wide but flat seating.

The 2023 Kia Sportage featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system on EX-and up trims, paired with a digital instrument cluster on the X-Line Limited. While the system was sharp and stylish, the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on higher trims was a drawback. The Sportage offered Bluetooth, keyless entry, and a Harman Kardon audio system on the X-Line Limited trim.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim boasted a 14-inch centre touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system prioritized functionality over flashiness, with a full-colour 12.3-inch driver information display standard across all trims. The Sequoia also featured a Panoramic View monitor and a 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system on higher trims.

The 2023 Kia Sportage came equipped with a range of collision-avoidance tech and advanced driver assistance systems as standard, including automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. However, the Sportage had not yet been crash-tested by major safety organizations.

Toyota made safety features standard on the 2024 Sequoia, with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite included across all trims. This package featured a pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Sequoia also offered a trailer backup guide on higher trims. Like the Sportage, the Sequoia had not been rated by major safety organizations, though its mechanically similar sibling, the Tundra, received a Top Safety Pick+ designation.