2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was characterized by its modernist and reductive design, which translated to a clean and simple aesthetic. This approach might not have appealed to those seeking a flashy luxury SUV, as Land Rover offered limited options for making the vehicle stand out, such as a Firenze Red paint colour and diamond-turned, multi-spoke 23-inch wheels. Our test vehicle, finished in Eiger Grey with silver 23-inch wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, complemented by aluminum and shiny black trim, added to the sophisticated ambiance. The Range Rover Sport was available in various specifications, including Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, Autobiography, and the sold-out SV Edition One. The Dynamic SE test vehicle featured heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and other premium features, pushing the MSRP beyond $120,000. Notable design elements included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology taillights, contributing to its aerodynamic profile with a drag coefficient of 0.29. The interior boasted a luxurious, high-tech appearance with sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform and design cues with the Tundra pickup, featuring hexagonal grilles, strong fender creases, and a muscular stance. The exterior colour significantly influenced its appearance, with our Celestial Silver Capstone model showcasing more chrome brightwork than other trims. While the overall effect appeared somewhat dated, the Sequoia's interior closely resembled the Tundra's, with a blocky, geometric dash layout and physical controls for volume and climate. The Capstone trim featured semi-aniline leather upholstery, while SofTex leatherette and leather were standard on lower trims. The Sequoia offered power-adjustable front seats across the lineup, enhancing customization options. A power-tilt and -slide moonroof was standard on higher trims, with a panoramic version available. The Sequoia's interior design prioritized functionality, with a spacious centre console and practical storage solutions.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement, comfort, and driver-focused engagement. It featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography trim, offering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft. The sold-out SV Edition One boasted a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine. A fully electric version was expected in 2024. The Range Rover Sport's 395-hp inline-six provided ample power, achieving 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, with a towing capacity of 3,500 kg. Fuel efficiency averaged 10.5 L/100 km, with a suburban highway drive returning 9.4 L/100 km. The SUV's new architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35%, and its adaptive damping air suspension adjusted up to 500 times per second. Dynamic driving mode, cornering brake control, and roll stability control enhanced handling. Off-road capabilities included a 28.2 cm ground clearance, 90 cm wading depth, and Terrain Response technology.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively offered in a hybrid format, utilizing Toyota's iForce MAX hybrid powertrain. This combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. The Sequoia's fuel economy improved significantly, rated at 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. Standard 4WD included a part-time system with 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD options. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, providing adequate on-road handling. The SR5 TRD Off-Road model featured unique tires, TRD badging, off-road suspension, and an electronic locking rear differential. It also included Crawl Control, Multi-Terrain Select, and hill-descent control. The Sequoia's towing capacity reached 4,137 kg, with available towing-related upgrades. The Tow Technology Package and power-extending trailer tow mirrors were optional, though the latter obstructed the view for shorter drivers.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained its Command Driving Position, offering a tall, airy feel with a low dashboard and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, benefiting shorter individuals. The front seats were comfortable, with 20-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. A massage feature, soft-closing doors, and a heated steering wheel were available. The rear seat, though improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The back seat provided excellent support but had a reclined angle. Storage space was decent, with a deep bin under the centre armrest and a second bin under the sliding cupholder tray. The power liftgate revealed a 903-litre cargo area, expandable to 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded. A full-size spare occupied space under the cargo floor, but Land Rover provided a contraption to prevent items from rolling around.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone featured automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding shorter individuals in accessing the vehicle. Inside, the Sequoia offered a maximum of 2,460 litres of cargo space with both second- and third-row seats folded. Behind the second row, it provided 1,387 litres, and behind the third row, it ranged from 325 to 631 litres. The second-row seats did not slide fore and aft but were easy to move for third-row access. Folding the third-row seats did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack, reducing headroom by 7.5 cm. Legroom varied, with the third row offering 713 to 855 mm, the second row 995 mm, and the first row 1,041 mm. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, offering width but lacking bolstering.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an Online Pack with connected services. While intuitive, the Pivi Pro infotainment platform was often confusing and frustrating. The automatic driver exit assist feature was difficult to disable, and the native digital assistant struggled with basic tasks. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power, along with Active Noise Cancellation. A wireless smartphone charging pad was tucked under the infotainment screen.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone came equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, accessible through an 8-inch touchscreen on the SR5 trim and a 14-inch screen on higher trims. The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashiness. The driver information display was a full-colour 12.3-inch unit, and the Panoramic View monitor was standard on Platinum and Capstone trims. A 10-inch colour head-up display was standard on Capstone, and a 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on Limited and standard on Platinum and Capstone.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included numerous safety features, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Additional features included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. Remote Park Assist allowed the SUV to park itself using a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control was slow to respond, and the steering assist technology was dissatisfactory, especially on highway curves.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite of safety and driver-assistance features as standard. This included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The only optional driver aid was a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist, available on Platinum and Capstone trims. The Sequoia had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the similar Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.