2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 BMW X7

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia presented a bold and commanding presence, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Its redesigned exterior featured a traditional grille and front bumper, distinguishing it from the Tundra's more unconventional look. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, offering an industrial yet upscale feel, especially in the Capstone trim with its leather, wood, and metallic finishes. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system dominated the dashboard, while the cream white-over-black two-tone interior added a touch of luxury. However, some materials reminded drivers of its pickup truck origins.

The 2023 BMW X7 underwent a mid-cycle makeover, adopting a bolder design reminiscent of the BMW 7 Series sedan. The front end featured LED accent lights and recessed headlights, maintaining the oversized kidney grille that sparked mixed reactions. While the new styling was polarizing, the sides and rear remained largely unchanged. Inside, the X7 received a refreshed dashboard with a curved glass display housing the digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The interior boasted high-quality materials, including leather upholstery and a sport leather steering wheel. Despite some harsh reflections from glossy trim options, the X7's interior was well-built and offered a modern, elegant appearance.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This hybrid powertrain delivered 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 4,137 kilograms (9,120 pounds) in Canada, while its fuel efficiency improved to 11.7 L/100 km with 4WD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, but its steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive.

The 2023 BMW X7 lineup started with the base xDrive40i model, featuring a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine and a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The X7 M60i model upgraded to a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with a similar hybrid system, delivering 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. The X7's acceleration was impressive, with the V8 model reaching 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. Despite its weight, the X7 handled well, with minimal body roll and a composed ride. The ride was slightly firmer than some luxury SUVs, but it offered a good balance of performance and comfort.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs provided comfort but lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row space. The third-row seat was less comfortable, with limited thigh support and legroom. Cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with only 325 litres behind the third row, expandable to 2,460 litres with all seats folded. The Sequoia's utility was reduced compared to its predecessor and rivals.

The 2023 BMW X7 offered ample space, with comfortable second-row seats and a large sunroof enhancing the airy feel. Accessing the third row required time, but it provided adequate headroom and legroom for average-sized adults. Cargo space was generous, with 362 litres behind the third row, expandable to 2,560 litres with all seats folded. The X7 featured a split tailgate and air suspension for easier loading. Front-seat passengers enjoyed ample storage space, including a large centre console bin and door pockets.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in most trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected services allowed for user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant for directions. However, the system had some glitches, and the head-up display was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The Sequoia included a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2023 BMW X7 came with the latest iDrive 8 infotainment system, which had a logical menu structure but lacked physical buttons for basic functions. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. Voice commands were available but interrupted audio playback. The X7 featured a Harman Kardon premium sound system and an optional head-up display. The system's complexity and lack of physical controls were drawbacks, but the sound quality and connectivity options were commendable.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and road sign recognition. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. The Sequoia's safety features were effective, though crash test results were not available.

The 2023 BMW X7 offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane departure warning, adaptive headlights, and parking sensors. Optional features included a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward cross-traffic alerts, and a highway driving assist feature. The X7's safety features performed well, reducing driver fatigue on long trips.