2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Buick Encore GX

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, with its bold design inspired by the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The SUV's exterior featured a traditional grille and front bumper, which distinguished 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. This top-tier version boasted a luxurious cream white-over-black two-tone interior, dominated by a massive 14-inch infotainment system. Despite its high-end appearance, some materials reminded drivers of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, each catering to different preferences, from off-road capabilities to luxury features.

In contrast, the 2023 Buick Encore GX departed from Buick's historical design cues, opting for a modern yet somewhat awkward exterior. The rounded surfaces and tall stance did not fully capture the SUV aesthetic that many buyers sought. The Sport Touring Package attempted to enhance its appearance with subtle design tweaks, but the changes were not immediately noticeable. Inside, the Encore GX Essence trim offered expected features like leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control, but the interior's plastic elements reminded occupants of its entry-level status within Buick's lineup. The dashboard design was reminiscent of 1990s styles, with a notable instrument cluster featuring two round binnacles framing a digital display.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a robust hybrid powertrain, featuring a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and an electric motor/generator. This setup delivered an impressive 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, significantly enhancing its towing capacity to 4,137 kilograms. The Sequoia's fuel efficiency improved, achieving 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving with 4WD. Despite its power, the Sequoia's ride quality varied across driving modes, with Sport mode offering the most enjoyable experience. The steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt heavy and unresponsive, typical of such systems.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX, available in Canada with a 1.3-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, produced 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission provided AWD as standard. While acceleration felt stronger than expected, power delivery was not smooth, requiring a patient driving approach. The Encore GX excelled in ride comfort and noise reduction, thanks to its well-damped suspension and active noise cancellation. However, the steering was slow and lifeless, and the suspension allowed for significant body roll, detracting from the overall driving experience.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on highways, offering a quiet cabin with comfortable front seats and a premium audio system. The interior featured thoughtful touches like a padded door panel shelf for arm support. However, the Sequoia's third-row seating was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, resulting in limited cargo space. With the third-row seat in place, cargo capacity was just 325 litres, expandable to 631 litres by sliding the seat forward. Folding the third-row seats increased capacity to 1,387 litres, but this was still less than the previous model. The Sequoia's overall utility was reduced compared to its rivals.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX provided competitive passenger space, with headroom comparable to rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30. Cargo capacity was respectable, offering 665 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,422 litres with them folded. However, the front seats were positioned close together, affecting the sense of spaciousness. Despite this, Buick maximized small-item storage with large door pockets and a space-efficient wireless charging pad. The instrumentation was well-executed, with clear information displays and user-friendly controls.

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 included an Intelligent Assistant for navigation, though it occasionally misinterpreted commands. The Capstone trim added a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, the system's glare and occasional bugs detracted from the experience.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch driver information display. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional features included navigation, a head-up display, and a Bose audio system. The interface was consistent with other GM vehicles, offering clear graphics and easy navigation.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and more. Additional features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's platform shared high ratings with the Tundra.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered standard driver assistance features like automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system. The Encore GX received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2022, with top ratings in crash tests.