2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Mazda CX-30

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 newly creased and kinked body gave it a more substantial presence compared to its predecessor. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with upscale touches like leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the Capstone trim. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the interior was available in a luxurious cream white-over-black two-tone colour scheme. Despite its luxurious appearance, some interior materials reminded drivers of its pickup truck origins.

In contrast, the 2023 Mazda CX-30 offered a more artful design with its long hood and dramatically drawn flanks, though its appearance was somewhat marred by excessive grey body cladding. Inside, the CX-30's cabin was elegant and upscale, with quality materials and a tasteful combination of off-white leather and chocolate brown accents in the GT Turbo trim. The interior was reminiscent of an entry-level luxury SUV, justifying its premium pricing. However, the CX-30's design was not without flaws, as the black wheels tended to blend into the lower-body darkness, making them nearly invisible.

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 was significantly improved, with a maximum tow rating of 4,137 kilograms in Canada. Fuel efficiency also saw improvements, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving with 4WD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience to their preferences.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30 offered a range of powertrains, starting with the base GX trim's 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine producing 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque. The GS and GT models featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. The GT Turbo trim boasted a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium gas. The CX-30's fuel economy improved to 8.2 L/100 km combined, and it featured a six-speed automatic transmission with AWD. The CX-30's handling was praised for its G-Vectoring Control Plus technology, making it enjoyable to drive on twisty roads. However, the small 48-litre fuel tank limited its range, requiring frequent refueling stops.

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 automatic climate control system. The Sequoia's interior was spacious, with comfortable front seats and a wide, flat, padded upper door panel shelf for resting your arm on long trips. However, the third-row seat was less comfortable, with limited thigh support and legroom. The Sequoia's cargo capacity was compromised by its hybrid powertrain, with a maximum of 2,460 litres of cargo space, significantly less than its predecessor and segment rivals.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30 provided a comfortable driving experience with standard dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and a power moonroof. However, the front passenger seat offered limited adjustment options. The CX-30's rear seats were tight on legroom, but the front seatbacks were padded for added comfort. Cargo space was limited, with 572 litres available with the rear seats up and 1,280 litres with the seats folded down. The CX-30's interior storage options were reasonable, with various bins and compartments for organizing items.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured the new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in most trims. The system was intuitive and included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Capstone trim added a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, the system had some quirks, such as glare on the display and occasional issues with the Intelligent Assistant. The Sequoia's tech package included a digital rearview mirror and parking sensors with automatic braking.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30's Mazda Connect infotainment system had several drawbacks, including the lack of a touchscreen display and conversational voice-recognition technology. The system required drivers to use centre console controls, which could be distracting. The CX-30 offered Bluetooth, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and connected services. The GT Turbo trim added SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and a 14-speaker Bose premium sound system. Despite its shortcomings, the system featured pleasing graphics and a logical menu structure.

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 offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's platform shared with the Tundra, which received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30 received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, thanks to improvements in side-impact crash protection and standard rear side airbags. The CX-30 offered a range of safety features, with higher trims adding adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and a head-up display. The CX-30's safety systems worked well, though some responses seemed excessive in certain situations.