2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2023 Subaru Forester, despite its familiar and somewhat unremarkable exterior, offered a practical and functional design that had been consistent over the years. The Premier trim, with its Cascade Green Silica paint, was reminiscent of many Foresters seen on the road. It featured a two-box design with flared fenders and distinctive lighting, though it wasn't particularly striking. The Premier trim stood out with its 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim, while the robust roof rails added a touch of adventure-readiness. Inside, the Forester Premier boasted exclusive brown leather, metallic accents, and a traditional Subaru design with analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen. The interior was practical, with easy-to-clean hard plastics and a straightforward control layout, making it user-friendly despite its busy appearance.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, showcasing a muscular stance with hexagonal grilles and strong fender creases. The Capstone model, in Celestial Silver, featured chrome brightwork, giving it a slightly dated appearance. Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dash design, with physical dials and buttons for climate control. The Capstone trim offered semi-aniline leather upholstery, while the base SR5 TRD Offroad trim had SofTex leatherette seating. The Sequoia's interior was spacious, with power-adjustable front seats and a power-tilt and -slide moonroof. The overall design was functional, with a focus on practicality and ease of use.

The 2023 Subaru Forester was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with eight programmed ratios, providing a more traditional automatic feel. The Subaru Intelligent Drive SI-Drive system offered a Sport mode for enhanced responsiveness. The Forester's X-Mode off-road traction control system, with hill descent control, was standard, and the Sport trim added Deep Snow and Mud settings. The Forester Wilderness trim further enhanced off-road capabilities with all-terrain tires and modifications. During testing, the Forester Premier handled adverse weather conditions with confidence, showcasing its excellent driving dynamics, light steering, and effective brakes. However, the 2.5-litre engine was merely adequate, and the Forester's fuel economy fell short of expectations, returning 9.1 L/100 km compared to the official rating of 8.2 L/100 km.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia, offered exclusively in hybrid format, featured the iForce MAX hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor. This setup delivered 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, significantly more than its predecessor. The Sequoia's fuel economy improved to 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. The standard 4WD system included a selector for 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD, with TRD Pro models featuring a skid plate. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the Sequoia's on-road handling was adequate. The SR5 TRD Off-Road model offered adventure-readiness with unique tires, 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.

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over form, offering practicality and simplicity. The Touring trim included features like a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. Higher trims offered StarTex artificial leather or genuine leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and power-adjustable front passenger seats. The Forester's high seating position and large windows provided excellent visibility, making it easy to drive and park. However, the panoramic sunroof lacked sufficient tinting, causing solar heating issues. The rear seats offered ample space but lacked comfort for taller adults. The Forester's doors were well-sealed, and interior storage was plentiful. The cargo area, with a power liftgate, offered 762 litres of space behind the rear seats and 1,957 litres with the seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding entry for shorter individuals. The Sequoia's cargo space reached a maximum of 2,460 litres with both second- and third-row seats folded. Behind the second row, it offered 1,387 litres, and behind the third row, 325 to 631 litres, depending on seat position. 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. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, providing comfort but lacking bolstering. The Sequoia's interior was spacious, though it fell behind some rivals in legroom measurements.

The 2023 Subaru Forester's technology appeared outdated at first glance, but it offered practical features. The Base trim included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Starlink connected services. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system was available. The Forester's older Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly, with separate climate controls and easy-to-use knobs. However, the voice-recognition system was unreliable, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable for navigation.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim was equipped with advanced technology. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, accessed through an 8-inch touchscreen on the SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system prioritized functionality over flashiness. The Sequoia featured a 12.3-inch driver information display, a Panoramic View monitor, and a 10-inch head-up display on the Capstone trim. The 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on the Limited trim and standard on Platinum and Capstone.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured the next-generation EyeSight collection of collision avoidance and driver assist technologies, with updated software and cameras for improved performance. Adaptive cruise control was standard, and higher trims included Automatic Emergency Steering, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Rear Automatic Braking system was available, though it occasionally misinterpreted obstacles. The Forester's DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System was exclusive to higher trims. The Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and five-star crash-test ratings from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite, 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 only optional driver aid was a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist. The Sequoia had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the similar Toyota Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.