2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Genesis GV70

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 the Tundra's "manta ray on wheels" appearance. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with upscale touches like leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the Capstone trim. The interior was dominated by a 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, and while the Capstone trim exuded luxury, some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins.

In contrast, the 2024 Genesis GV70 stood out with its sleek design, balancing SUV presence with luxury-car style. It featured signature Genesis styling elements like split headlights and a large grille, but with a more streamlined profile than its larger sibling, the GV80. The GV70's interior was distinctive, with quilted Nappa leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof, complemented by unique details like an elliptical pod for climate controls and a rotary infotainment controller. The GV70's design successfully conveyed both luxury and practicality, making it a compelling choice in its segment.

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 and 583 pound-feet of torque, allowing for a maximum towing capacity of 4,137 kilograms. The Sequoia's fuel efficiency improved significantly, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving. Despite its power, the Sequoia's ride quality was busy and occasionally jittery, especially in Normal mode, but it offered various driving modes to tailor the experience.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered a choice between a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 producing 375 horsepower. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Electrified GV70 featured dual electric motors, delivering 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, with a Boost Mode providing 483 horsepower for short bursts. While the GV70 offered strong straight-line acceleration, its chassis tuning was less sporty than some rivals, and its suspension could be harsh over bumps. The Electrified model included adjustable regenerative braking for a customizable driving experience.

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, its interior space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with limited third-row comfort and reduced cargo capacity compared to its predecessor. The Sequoia's cargo space was 325 litres with the third row in place, expandable to 2,460 litres with the second row folded, but still smaller than its rivals.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 provided competitive interior space, with slightly less headroom than some rivals but more front-seat legroom. It offered 818 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up, expanding to 1,611 litres with them folded. The Electrified GV70's interior space was minimally affected by the battery pack, with only slight reductions in legroom and headroom. The GV70's stylish interior design came at the cost of limited small-item storage, but it included features like automatic side bolsters for added comfort.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in most trims. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with connected services like an Intelligent Assistant. However, the system had some quirks, such as glare on the display and occasional issues with phone pairing. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2024 Genesis GV70's infotainment system was straightforward, with a 14.5-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch head-up display. The system was user-friendly, with a rotary controller for added convenience. The GV70 also included a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles, although digital key functionality was not yet available.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included features like forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. It also offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's platform shared with the Tundra, which received high safety ratings.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 received the IIHS's Top Safety Pick+ award for both gasoline and Electrified models. It included standard safety features like lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and Highway Driving Assist. An advanced Highway Driving Assist 2 system was available, adding automated lane-change capability and blind-spot monitoring. The GV70 also featured a safe exit assist function and a radar-based rear occupant alert system.