2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Kia Telluride

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 was characterized by a traditional grille and front bumper, which gave it a more refined look compared to its pickup counterpart. 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 infotainment system was a focal point, though some interior materials reminded drivers 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. Off-road enthusiasts found the TRD Pro trim appealing, though its ground clearance and approach angles were less capable than the previous model.

The 2023 Kia Telluride, particularly in the X-Line and X-Pro models, showcased refreshed styling with updated headlights, taillights, and new wheel designs. The SUV offered new paint colours and interior options, enhancing its visual appeal. The X-Line replaced the Nightfall Edition, featuring a raised suspension and unique design elements, while the X-Pro added all-terrain tires and exclusive wheels. Inside, the Telluride boasted a digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, providing a modern and connected experience. The interior updates included new colours, a redesigned steering wheel, and improved functionality in the centre console. The Telluride's trim levels ranged from the EX to the X-Pro, with prices starting at $50,195 and reaching $62,795, making it a more affordable option compared to the Sequoia.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a powerful 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 an impressive 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, and it offered improved fuel efficiency, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving. During testing, the Sequoia averaged 13.2 L/100 km in RWD mode. The SUV featured multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience. However, the Sequoia's steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2023 Kia Telluride retained its 3.8-litre V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Telluride offered Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with an AWD system featuring a low-speed Lock setting. The X-Line averaged 9.8 L/100 km, while the X-Pro returned 11.5 L/100 km, including off-roading. The Telluride's suspension was raised for improved off-road performance, and it featured a Downhill Brake Control system. The X-Pro trim increased towing capacity to 2,495 kilograms and included a self-leveling rear air suspension. The Telluride excelled on highways, offering a smooth and quiet ride, though the steering felt overly firm in Sport mode.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on highways, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs were comfortable but lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row space. The third-row seat was less comfortable due to its high floor and low roof. Cargo space was limited, with 325 litres behind the third row, expandable to 631 litres by sliding the seat forward. The maximum cargo capacity was 2,460 litres, significantly less than the previous model and its competitors.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered a spacious interior with seating for seven or eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The test vehicles featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front and second-row seats. The second-row captain's chairs provided easy access to the third row, which was more comfortable than many competitors. The Telluride's cargo space was generous, with 601 litres behind the third row, expandable to 1,304 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,455 litres with both rear rows down. The SUV also featured a smart power tailgate with proximity-sensing and an automatic closing function.

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, though glare was an issue on the display. The Drive Connect plan offered an Intelligent Assistant for navigation, but it had limitations. The Sequoia allowed simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two devices, though there were some connectivity issues during testing. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system, though the latter's accuracy was questionable.

The 2023 Kia Telluride came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Kia Connect services. The voice recognition system performed well, though climate control adjustments required manual input. Over-the-air updates kept the system current, and Bluetooth supported pairing two devices simultaneously. The Telluride included Driver Talk and Quiet Mode, a wireless phone charger, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. New digital-key technology allowed smartphones or smartwatches to function as keys. The Telluride also offered a Full Display rear-view mirror and an optional head-up display with a larger viewing area.

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 adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist systems were effective, though the lane-departure warning system was noisy. Crash-test results were unavailable, but the Tundra, on which the Sequoia is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction turning system, and automatic emergency braking. The Telluride also included blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. The adaptive cruise control system featured stop-and-go capability and speed reduction based on navigation data. Highway Drive Assist 1.5 provided semi-autonomous driving assistance, with Advanced Highway Drive Assist adding Lane Change Assist. The Telluride also included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver attention warning system, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The IIHS rated the Telluride as a Top Safety Pick+.