2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

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 massive 14-inch infotainment system. Despite its luxurious appearance, 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. 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 Volkswagen Tiguan, following updates in 2022, remained largely unchanged. In Canada, it was available in Trendline, Comfortline, Comfortline R-Line Black, and Highline R-Line trims, with prices ranging from $36,675 to $47,175. The Tiguan offered a variety of exterior and interior colour options, but choices were limited by trim level. Our test vehicle featured Atlantic Blue paint and Storm Grey leather seats, a combination not available in Canada unless opting for the Highline R-Line trim. The Tiguan's standard equipment included keyless entry, remote start, and an 8-way power driver's seat. The Highline R-Line trim stood out for its sporty appearance and 20-inch wheels, offering a sophisticated design that aged gracefully. Inside, the Tiguan's cabin was upscale, with quality leather upholstery, soft-touch materials, and impressive digital instrumentation. The panoramic sunroof added to the overall appeal, and the vehicle felt solidly constructed.

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 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 payload capacity remained at 640 kilograms. Fuel efficiency improved, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving. During testing, the Sequoia averaged 13.2 L/100 km. The SUV offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, but the ride quality was occasionally jittery. The steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive. A Custom mode allowed drivers to configure settings to their preferences.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, the Tiguan came standard with VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. Drivers could choose between Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with an Individual mode for customization. The Tiguan's fuel economy was rated at 9.8 L/100 km, and during testing, it achieved 10.4 L/100 km. The Tiguan's powertrain was adequate for most situations, but it lacked power at higher engine revs. The automatic transmission occasionally stumbled, and turbo lag was noticeable from a stop. Despite these quirks, the Tiguan's dynamic qualities were rewarding, with excellent tire grip and stable handling. The ride was compliant, and road noise was present but not intrusive. The Tiguan's steering was light and lively, making it easy to park and maneuver.

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 heated and ventilated, and a heated steering wheel was standard. The Sequoia's panoramic moonroof reduced second-row headroom, but passengers enjoyed captain's chairs with separate climate controls. The third-row seat was less comfortable, with limited thigh support and legroom. Cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with only 325 litres available behind the third row. Folding the seats expanded capacity to 2,460 litres, but this was still less than the previous model.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a spacious interior with comfortable front seats featuring eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The dashboard's touch-sensing controls were a drawback, but the Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space. The rear seat provided generous legroom, headroom, and foot room, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The cargo area was cavernous, accommodating 1,064 litres behind the second row and 2,078 litres behind the front seats. The hands-free power liftgate and adjustable load floor added convenience.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in most trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected services included an Intelligent Assistant, but some glitches were noted during testing. The Capstone trim added a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. The Sequoia's parking sensors and automatic rear braking system were effective in preventing accidents.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan came with digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch display in lower trims and a 10.25-inch display in R-Line trims. The infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a Fender premium sound system. However, the system's user interface was complex, with multi-step processes for simple tasks. The voice-recognition system was disappointing, often failing to connect.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia included Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, offering a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features. These included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services were also standard. While crash-test ratings were unavailable, the Sequoia's platform shared high ratings with the Tundra.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features, with standard Front Assist and Side Assist. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and more. The Tiguan's safety technology was effective and unobtrusive. However, crash-test ratings were incomplete, with concerns about the driver's door unlatching during a side-impact test. The IIHS awarded the Tiguan a Top Safety Pick+ rating for 2022, but this did not apply to 2023.