2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

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. However, despite its premium appearance, some materials reminded drivers of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, each catering to different preferences, from off-road enthusiasts to those seeking luxury.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a modernist and reductive design philosophy, focusing on clean and simple lines. While it might not have appealed to those seeking flashy luxury, it exuded understated elegance. Our test vehicle, finished in Eiger Grey with silver 23-inch wheels, exemplified this approach. Inside, the Range Rover Sport featured a Deep Garnet over Ebony theme with aluminum and shiny black trim, creating a luxurious atmosphere. The SUV offered various trims, including the Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, and Autobiography, each with its own set of features. The Range Rover Sport's design highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and advanced aerodynamics, making it a sophisticated choice for those who appreciated subtle luxury.

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 a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator. This setup delivered an impressive 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. While it lacked the V8's rumble, the new V6 offered superior towing capacity, with a maximum tow rating of 4,137 kilograms in Canada. The Sequoia also improved fuel efficiency, achieving 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving with 4WD. During testing, it averaged 13.2 L/100 km on a mountainous route. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor their experience. However, the steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and driver engagement. It featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography trim, offering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft. The Range Rover Sport's 395-hp engine accelerated to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive. It had a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms. The SUV's adaptive damping air suspension and Dynamic driving mode enhanced ride comfort and handling. However, it struggled to match the agility of sport-tuned competitors. Off-road, the Range Rover Sport excelled, with advanced suspension and impressive ground clearance, making it a formidable choice for adventurous drivers.

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 climate control system. The front seats were particularly comfortable, and the wide, flat door panel shelf provided a convenient resting place for long drives. However, the Sequoia's interior space was compromised by its hybrid powertrain. The third-row seat was less comfortable, with limited thigh support and legroom. Cargo capacity was also reduced, with only 325 litres available with the third-row seat in place. Folding the seats expanded cargo space to 2,460 litres, but this was still smaller than its segment rivals.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained its Command Driving Position, offering a tall and airy feel. The front seats were comfortable, with Windsor leather upholstery and 20-way power adjustments. However, the rear seat was less accommodating, with limited legroom and hard seatback panels. The cargo area provided 903 litres of space, expandable to 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded. The Range Rover Sport featured a power liftgate and controls for lowering the air suspension, making loading easier. Despite its luxurious interior, the Range Rover Sport's rear seat comfort and cargo space were not as generous as some competitors.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in most trims. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with connected services. The system was intuitive but suffered from glare issues. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, the Intelligent Assistant had some limitations, and the parking sensors and automatic rear braking system occasionally intervened unexpectedly.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport boasted a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment platform was often confusing and frustrating to use. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems and Active Noise Cancellation. Despite its advanced technology, the digital assistant struggled with basic commands, and the system's usability was a concern.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's safety features were comprehensive.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist. It also included a driver monitoring system, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The adaptive cruise control and steering assist had some limitations, and the steering assist struggled on highway curves. Despite these issues, the Range Rover Sport offered a range of safety features.