2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Volvo XC60

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 Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system was a dominant feature on the dashboard, although some interior materials reminded occupants 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. While the TRD Pro trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities, the Sequoia's overall off-road performance was less impressive than its predecessor.

The 2023 Volvo XC60, on the other hand, was a testament to Volvo's reputation for style and design. Despite its aging theme, the XC60 maintained a graceful appearance, especially in the Recharge spec with the Ultimate package and Dark exterior theme. The interior showcased classic Scandinavian minimalism, with black leather, wood trim, metal accents, and ambient lighting creating an opulent atmosphere. The panoramic sunroof added to the sense of space, while the Orrefors crystal gear selector knob in the Ultimate package was a standout feature. The XC60's controls required some acclimation, but after a few hundred kilometres, they became intuitive. Overall, the XC60 Recharge Ultimate's look and feel were spot on, reflecting Volvo's commitment to design excellence.

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, 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 a notable improvement over its predecessor, with a maximum tow rating of 4,137 kilograms in Canada. Fuel efficiency also saw enhancements, with the new model rated at 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving with 4WD. During testing, the Sequoia averaged 13.2 L/100 km on a mountainous evaluation loop. The SUV offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience to their preferences. However, the Sequoia's steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

In contrast, the 2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 455 horsepower and 423 lb-ft of torque. The XC60's maximum towing capacity was 1,587 kilograms. The SUV offered several driving modes, including Hybrid, Power, Pure, Off-road, and Constant AWD, accessible through the 9-inch touchscreen display. The XC60 Recharge was exceptionally quick, with a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4.7 seconds. The PHEV powertrain provided an estimated 58 kilometres of electric driving range, and during testing, the XC60 achieved 61 km on electricity alone. The XC60's Power mode enhanced responsiveness and handling, while Pure and Hybrid modes offered a comfortable and efficient driving experience. The one-pedal driving function and regenerative brakes contributed to impressive fuel economy, with an average of 4.3 L/100 km over a 105-kilometre evaluation route.

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 automatic climate control system. The front seats were particularly comfortable, and the wide, flat, padded upper door panel shelf provided a convenient resting place for the driver's arm. However, the Sequoia's interior space was compromised by its hybrid powertrain. The third-row seat was mounted above the battery pack, resulting in a high floor and limited thigh support. Cargo capacity was also reduced, with only 325 litres available behind the third row, expandable to 631 litres by sliding the seat forward. The Sequoia's maximum cargo capacity was 2,460 litres, significantly less than its predecessor and segment rivals.

The 2023 Volvo XC60, being a compact crossover SUV, was best suited for four passengers, although it could accommodate five if needed. The front seats offered outstanding comfort, with Nappa leather upholstery, heating, ventilation, and power cushion extensions. The back seats were also comfortable, though legroom was limited for taller passengers. The XC60's cargo space was well-designed, with 730 litres available behind the back seat and 1,792 litres with the seats folded down. The power liftgate and optional air suspension made loading easier, and a ski pass-through panel added versatility. However, the XC60 Recharge's battery pack eliminated underfloor storage space.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base TRD Off-road trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Capstone trim included 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 parking sensors and automatic rear braking system were effective in preventing accidents.

The 2023 Volvo XC60 came with a 12-inch digital instrumentation panel and a Google Built-in infotainment system, offering four years of complimentary access to Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play. The system supported both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with a 9-inch touchscreen providing a clean and intuitive interface. The voice-recognition system was impressive, though it occasionally required specific phrasing for accurate results. The optional Bowers & Wilkins sound system delivered exceptional audio quality, though the standard Harman Kardon system was also satisfactory.

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 safety features included 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 Volvo XC60 was equipped with Pilot Assist, combining adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, and lane-centring capability. The system performed well on highways, maintaining smooth and accurate control. Oncoming Lane Mitigation helped prevent collisions with oncoming vehicles. While the XC60 Recharge had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA, the B5 and B6 mild-hybrids received top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS.