2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Chevrolet Traverse

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 distinguished it from the Tundra's more unconventional look. 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 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, including destination charges.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse offered a fresh take with its three main trims: LT, Z71, and RS. The Z71 was a new addition, designed for moderate off-roading. Chevrolet emphasized that the Z71 was not intended for extreme off-road adventures but could handle rugged terrain. The Traverse's pricing was competitive, with the LT starting at $50,833 and the RS reaching $65,733. The Z71 model, priced at $56,833, featured gloss black-painted 18-inch alloy wheels and Iridescent Pearl Tricoat paint. Inside, the Jet Black interior with "Torch Red" accents added a touch of flair, and the standard cloth seats provided comfort and breathability. The Traverse's design and features made it a strong contender in its segment.

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, and its fuel efficiency improved to 11.7 L/100 km with 4WD. 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 heavy and numb.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse replaced its previous 310-horsepower 3.6-litre V6 with a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive was standard, with the Z71 trim featuring a more advanced system. The Traverse provided acceptable acceleration and passing power, with a pleasant exhaust note. The steering was adequate, and the ride quality was commendable, even with all-terrain tires. The brakes offered a progressive feel, and the stop-and-start feature was seamless. Fuel economy was rated at 12.4 L/100 km in the city, 9.9 on the highway, and 11.3 combined.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on highways, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs did not slide, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat was mounted high, reducing comfort. Cargo space was limited, with 325 litres behind the third row, expandable to 631 litres. The Sequoia's hybrid powertrain compromised overall utility, with a maximum cargo capacity of 2,460 litres.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse provided seating for eight in the LT and Z71 trims, with the RS offering seven seats. The Smart Slide second-row seats facilitated access to the third row, which accommodated average-size adults. The Traverse's cargo volume was 648 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,764 litres with the seats folded. The cabin featured numerous storage options, including a hidden storage area under the centre console. Visibility was generally good, except for the third row. The Z71 trim included a power-operated driver's seat, but the front passenger seat was manually adjustable.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base trim and a 14-inch screen on higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but glare was an issue. The Intelligent Assistant responded to voice commands, though it occasionally misinterpreted requests. The Capstone trim offered a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. The parking sensors and automatic rear braking system were effective in preventing accidents.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse boasted a 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen, standard on all models, with rapid response times and intuitive menus. An 11-inch digital instrument display provided customizable information. The system ran on Google-based software, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The wireless charging pad was effective, and physical controls for volume and HVAC functions were appreciated. The Traverse introduced Super Cruise, a hands-free driving aid, expanding its functionality to single-lane roads.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, including 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. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services were also standard. The Sequoia had not been crash-tested, but the Tundra, on which it was based, received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it offered a comprehensive suite of driver aids. These included automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and a surround-view parking camera. The Traverse's safety features provided peace of mind during our test drive.