2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Buick Envista

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. However, some interior materials reminded occupants of the Sequoia's pickup truck origins.

The 2024 Buick Envista, based on the Chevy Trax platform, took a different approach with its "crossover coupe" styling, reminiscent of more expensive vehicles like the BMW X2. Its sleek design featured a sloping roofline and a new front-end styling inspired by the Buick Wildcat EV concept. The Envista's interior shared similarities with the Trax but offered a more streamlined look with softer materials. Despite some materials feeling cheap, the cabin was a step up from the Trax, providing a comfortable and quiet ride. The Envista's design and features aimed to offer a premium feel at an entry-level price point.

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, and a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator. This setup delivered an impressive 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, allowing the Sequoia to tow up to 4,137 kilograms. The hybrid system also improved fuel efficiency, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving. Despite its power, the Sequoia's steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2024 Buick Envista featured a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, the Envista offered a refined driving experience. While it lacked an all-wheel-drive option, the Envista's suspension, including a Buick-exclusive Watts Link rear suspension on certain models, provided a comfortable ride. The Envista accelerated with urgency and maintained a quiet cabin, making it a suitable choice for highway driving.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with features like heated and ventilated seats, a JBL premium audio system, and a panoramic glass moonroof. However, the Sequoia's interior space was compromised by its hybrid powertrain, resulting in reduced cargo capacity compared to its predecessor. The third-row seats were less comfortable, and the overall utility was diminished.

The 2024 Buick Envista, with its longer wheelbase and wider body, provided increased rear-seat legroom and shoulder room compared to the Buick Encore. However, the coupe-like design reduced headroom, especially in the second row. The Envista's cargo space was limited, with 586 litres available with the rear seats up and 1,189 litres with the seats folded. Despite these limitations, the Envista offered a comfortable and spacious cabin for its class.

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, along with connected services and an Intelligent Assistant. However, the system had some quirks, such as glare on the display and occasional issues with Bluetooth pairing. The Capstone trim also offered a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system.

The 2024 Buick Envista came standard with an 11-inch touchscreen and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The interface was user-friendly, with physical controls for climate and audio. While the Envista lacked some advanced tech features, it offered a solid set of standard equipment for its price range.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped 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 and rear cross-traffic alert. While crash-test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's platform shared high safety ratings with the Tundra.

The 2024 Buick Envista offered standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and forward collision warning. In Canada, additional features like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring were standard. Crash-test ratings were not available at the time of publication.