2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV

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. Despite its upscale appearance, some interior materials reminded drivers of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, from the TRD Off-road to the Capstone, with prices starting at $79,335 and reaching $95,335, including destination charges.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV represented a significant evolution for the Blazer nameplate, transitioning from its truck-based origins to a modern electric SUV. Built on the General Motors Ultium platform, the Blazer EV featured a long wheelbase shared with the Cadillac Lyriq, giving it a stretched appearance. Its design incorporated elements from the gasoline Blazer, such as a tall hood and boomerang-shaped taillights, while maintaining a more traditional SUV look compared to aerodynamic rivals like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6. The Blazer EV launched with LT and RS trims, each offering distinct styling elements, and promised a forthcoming SS model with unique features. Inside, the Blazer EV's interior was characterized by large round air vents, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and optional red leather upholstery, creating a more engaging atmosphere than some competitors.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a 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 fuel efficiency improved to 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving with 4WD. The SUV offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience. However, the Sequoia's steering was slow, and its regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV offered a range of powertrain options, including a single-motor RWD with 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, and a dual-motor AWD with 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque. The Blazer EV SS model promised a dual-motor AWD powertrain with 557 horsepower and 648 pound-feet of torque, capable of accelerating from zero to 96 km/h in under four seconds. The Blazer EV's driving experience was characterized by strong acceleration and precise steering, though its stiff suspension compromised comfort. The vehicle featured a steering-wheel paddle for adjusting regenerative braking levels, enhancing driver involvement.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on highways, offering a quiet cabin with comfortable front seats, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone climate control system. However, the panoramic glass moonroof reduced second-row headroom, and the third-row seat was less comfortable due to its high floor and low roof. Cargo space was limited, with only 325 litres available with the third-row seat in place, expandable to 1,387 litres with the seats folded. The Sequoia's hybrid powertrain compromised its overall utility, reducing cargo capacity compared to the previous generation.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV's interior felt spacious, though its headroom and legroom were similar to the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6. The Blazer EV's cargo space was 722 litres with the second row in place and 1,673 litres with the seats folded, less than the gasoline Blazer but more than the EV6. The vehicle featured a "presence activated" liftgate and ample small-item storage, though some controls were moved to the touchscreen, requiring adjustment.

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, though glare was an issue in the Capstone trim. The Sequoia offered connected services, an Intelligent Assistant, and a 10-inch head-up display. However, some features, like Bluetooth pairing, had issues during testing. The Capstone trim also included a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV debuted a Google-based infotainment system with built-in Google apps, eliminating standalone Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The system featured a 17.7-inch touchscreen and an 11-inch digital instrument cluster, offering sharp graphics and built-in route planning. The Blazer EV also introduced a hands-free start sequence, allowing drivers to start the vehicle by pressing the brake pedal.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included features like forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. The Sequoia also offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking. While crash-test ratings were unavailable, the Tundra's high IIHS rating suggested good safety performance for the Sequoia.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV included standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-keep assist. The Super Cruise hands-free driver assist system was standard on the SS trim and optional on the RS. Crash-test ratings were not available at the time of publication.