2024 Acura MDX vs 2023 Toyota Sequoia

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 infotainment system. However, despite its high-end 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 essential off-road features.

The 2024 Acura MDX impressed with its sleek and modern design, highlighted by a large shield grille and rakish headlights. Inside, the MDX was high-tech but busy, with a centre console filled with controls that could be overwhelming. The MDX was available in several trims, including the A-Spec and Platinum Elite, with the Type S Ultra offering top-tier features. Standard features included tri-zone climate control, a panoramic moonroof, and heated seats. The Type S Ultra added a 25-speaker ELS sound system and massaging front seats, providing a luxurious experience. The MDX's cabin was comfortable, though the third-row seats were best suited for children. Despite its busy interior, the MDX offered a refined and comfortable ride, making it a strong contender in the luxury SUV market.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine with a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour 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 was impressive, with a maximum rating of 4,137 kilograms in Canada, a significant improvement over the previous model. Fuel efficiency also improved, 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. However, the steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system could feel unresponsive. Despite these drawbacks, the Sequoia's power and improved fuel efficiency made it a compelling choice for those seeking a robust SUV.

The 2024 Acura MDX featured a standard 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The Type S Ultra trim came with a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, delivering 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Power was managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission and Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive System. The MDX Type S Ultra offered strong acceleration and a comfortable ride, thanks to its adaptive air suspension and Brembo performance brakes. The Integrated Dynamics System provided various driving modes, including Sport, Sport+, Snow, Comfort, and Normal, with an Individual mode for personalized settings. The MDX's ride was firm yet comfortable, and its steering was responsive, making it a pleasure to drive on highways and boulevards. With a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms, the MDX was a versatile and capable luxury SUV.

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 Sequoia's interior featured power-deploying running boards and a panoramic glass moonroof, though the latter reduced second-row headroom. The second-row captain's chairs were comfortable but lacked adjustability, limiting third-row space. The third-row seats were less comfortable than competitors, with limited thigh support and legroom. Cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with only 325 litres available behind the third row, expandable to 631 litres. Folding the third-row seats increased capacity to 1,387 litres, while folding the second row provided 2,460 litres. Despite its towing and hauling capabilities, the Sequoia's overall utility was reduced compared to previous models.

The 2024 Acura MDX offered three rows of seating, with the first two rows providing comfort and support. The third-row seats were smaller and best suited for children. Cargo space was generous, with 512 litres behind the rear seats, expandable to 1,367 litres with the rear seats folded. Maximum cargo capacity reached 2,690 litres with both the second and third rows folded. The MDX featured a hands-free power liftgate and additional storage under the cargo floor. The Type S Ultra trim included a second-row bench with a fold-down centre console, providing a captain's chair experience. The centre console offered ample storage, though the centre stack of controls was cluttered and unintuitive. Despite this, the MDX's interior was practical and well-suited for families.

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. Connected services included user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant, though some features were not fully refined. The Capstone trim added a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, the infotainment system suffered from glare, and the regenerative braking system could feel unresponsive. Despite these issues, the Sequoia's technology package was comprehensive and user-friendly.

The 2024 Acura MDX's infotainment system was its weak point, with a 12.3-inch display controlled by a touchpad that was unintuitive and frustrating to use. However, the MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The MDX also featured multiple USB ports, a digital instrument panel, and wireless device charging. The touchpad/charging pad packaging was cleverly designed, but the overall infotainment experience was lacking. Despite this, the MDX's technology package was competitive, though not as user-friendly as some rivals.

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, lane-centring assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While the Sequoia had not been crash-tested, the Tundra on which it was based received high ratings, suggesting strong safety performance.

The 2024 Acura MDX offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and more. The MDX also featured a surround-view camera system and a head-up display on higher trims. The 2022 MDX received high safety ratings, including a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS, indicating strong safety performance for the 2024 model.