2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Jeep Compass

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, blending the bold aesthetics of the Toyota Tundra with a newly sculpted SUV body. This redesign gave the Sequoia a more commanding presence compared to its predecessor. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with luxurious touches in the Capstone trim, such as leather, wood, and metallic finishes. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system was a focal point of the interior, though some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, with prices starting at $79,335 for the TRD Off-road and reaching $95,335 for the Capstone. The TRD Pro trim was recommended for off-roading enthusiasts, while the TRD Off-Road offered a more budget-friendly option with off-road capabilities.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Compass embraced a refined design ethos, moving away from ruggedness to a more upscale appearance. The Compass shared design cues with larger Jeep models like the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee. The 2023 lineup included seven trims, with prices ranging from just over $35,000 to more than $45,000, excluding destination charges. The Limited trim, with its Granite Crystal paint and 19-inch wheels, resembled a smaller Grand Cherokee. Inside, the Compass offered a two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents, featuring sophisticated digital displays and metallic trim. However, the test vehicle's $55,000 price tag seemed steep, considering the availability of well-equipped small luxury SUVs at that price point.

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, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This setup 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, while fuel efficiency improved to 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving. 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 Jeep Compass introduced a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The engine's peak torque was available from 1,750 rpm to 4,250 rpm, and it was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard Jeep Active Drive AWD system. The Compass offered Selec-Terrain with Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud driving modes, while the Trailhawk trim featured a Rock mode and additional off-road capabilities. The Compass's fuel economy improved to 8.8 L/100 km in combined driving. While the new engine transformed the Compass's performance, it still exhibited significant body motions on uneven surfaces, and the AWD system was slow to engage.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on highways, offering a comfortable cabin with features like soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone climate control system. However, the Sequoia's interior space was compromised by its hybrid powertrain, resulting in reduced cargo capacity compared to its predecessor. The third-row seat was less comfortable, and the cargo area offered only 325 litres with the third-row seat in place, expandable to 1,387 litres with the seats folded.

The 2023 Jeep Compass provided a roomy interior for four adults, with standard features like an air filtration system and dual-zone climate control. Higher trims offered leather seats, power-adjustable front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Compass's rear seat provided adequate space for adults, and the cargo area offered 770 litres of volume, expandable to 1,693 litres with the rear seat folded. The Compass also featured a foot-activated power liftgate for easy access to the cargo area.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but glare on the display was an issue. The Capstone trim offered a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, the system had some quirks, such as issues with Bluetooth pairing and contact access.

The 2023 Jeep Compass came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Uconnect 5 technology, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM services. The system supported over-the-air updates and offered an embedded navigation system, a nine-speaker Alpine sound system, and Alexa Built-in technology. The Compass also had a parking assist system and a surround-view camera, though the parking assist was less necessary due to the vehicle's size.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included features like forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Sequoia also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's platform shared with the Tundra received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a drowsy driver detection system and a rear-seat reminder system. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Compass's lane-keeping inputs were sometimes intrusive, and the adaptive cruise control was not always smooth. Crash test ratings were incomplete, but the previous model received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.