2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Lexus RX

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 trim level boasted a luxurious cream white-over-black two-tone interior, dominated by a 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system. Despite its luxurious appearance, some interior materials reminded occupants of the Sequoia's 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.

The 2023 Lexus RX, built in Canada, entered its fifth generation with a design that was shorter in height, broader in width, and longer in wheelbase compared to its predecessor. Despite its similar overall length, the RX appeared smaller due to design changes like reduced rear overhang and a floating roof effect. The front featured a spindle-style grille integrated into the design, while the rear showcased a light-blade taillight design and sporty bumper. The RX's exterior was recognizable as a Lexus but offered a fresh and conservative look compared to the previous model. Inside, the RX featured a modern interior with fewer buttons, digital instrumentation, and a choice of touchscreen displays. The RX 350 was available in various trims, with Canadian pricing starting at $58,650 and reaching $80,000 for the RX 500h. The RX offered high-quality materials and a range of interior options, including NuLuxe artificial leather and genuine leather.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a 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 its 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 ride quality could be busy and jittery in Normal mode. The steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The RX 350 AWD accelerated to 100 km/h in approximately 7.3 seconds and offered an estimated fuel economy of 9.9 L/100 km in combined driving. The RX 350 Executive trim displayed occasional torque steer and excess body motion, while the F Sport 3 trim felt more secure with its adaptive damping suspension. The RX's braking system provided superior pedal feel and modulation compared to its hybrid counterparts.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, 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 limited space with the third-row seat in place. The Sequoia's maximum cargo capacity was 2,460 litres, significantly less than its rivals.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 provided a comfortable interior with options like semi-aniline premium leather upholstery and heated and ventilated seats. The RX's back seat offered good leg support and legroom, but taller passengers might find headroom tight. The RX's cargo area measured 838 litres with the second row in place and 1,308 litres with the rear seat folded down, offering more space than before but still not generous for the segment.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system with a 14-inch touchscreen in most trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but glare on the display was an issue. The Intelligent Assistant responded to voice commands, but some functions required manual input. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system, enhancing the Sequoia's technology offerings.

The 2023 Lexus RX introduced the Lexus Interface multimedia infotainment system with a choice of touchscreen displays. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and various connected services. The Intelligent Assistant responded accurately to voice commands, and user profiles could be set up for different drivers. The RX also featured a Mark Levinson premium sound system, digital instrumentation, and available digital rearview mirror and digital key technology.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included features like forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Additional safety features included 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 Lexus RX was equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, offering advanced driving assistance systems like lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. New features included motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. The RX also introduced semi-autonomous driving technologies like Proactive Driving Assist and Traffic Jam Assist. However, some features, like curve-speed reduction, were not predictive and could be turned off.