2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Hyundai Kona

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 massive 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, each catering to different preferences, from the off-road-ready TRD Pro to the more budget-friendly TRD Off-Road.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed with an electric vehicle aesthetic in mind, evident in its grille and seamless horizon LED headlight. The new Kona was larger than its predecessor, yet it maintained a recognizable silhouette. The exterior featured new design elements like the creased "parametric surface" on the doors and more substantial black body cladding on lower trims. The N Line trim, however, sported body-coloured wheel arches. Standard LED lighting and a single taillight spanning the vehicle's width added to its modern look. Inside, the Kona's cabin was updated with a driver-oriented centre stack and a relocated gear shift, creating more space. The most noticeable change was the curved display housing both driver-information and infotainment screens, enhancing the vehicle's modern appeal.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a robust 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 an impressive 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia's towing capacity was significantly improved, with a maximum rating of 4,137 kilograms in Canada, compared to the previous model's 3,356 kilograms. Fuel efficiency also saw an upgrade, with the new model achieving 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving with 4WD, a notable improvement over the old model's 16.4 L/100 km. 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 felt unresponsive at times.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, with a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine for the Essential and Preferred trims, and a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine for the N Line trims. The base engine produced 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT, while the turbo engine delivered 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, now mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Kona's handling was nimble, and the steering was intuitive, making it well-suited for city driving. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional cost. Fuel economy varied depending on the drivetrain, with the N Line AWD consuming 9.7 L/100 km in the city, 8.3 on the highway, and 9.1 combined.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable and quiet ride. The cabin featured soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone automatic 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 its rearmost position, expandable to 631 litres by sliding the seat forward. Folding the third-row seats increased capacity to 1,387 litres, but this was still less than the previous model. The Sequoia's hybrid powertrain compromised overall utility, with a maximum cargo capacity of 2,460 litres, significantly less than its rivals.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona benefited from its increased length, offering more rear-seat legroom and headroom. The cargo area saw a substantial increase, with 723 litres of storage space with the rear seats up and 1,803 litres with them folded down. The cabin featured practical storage solutions, such as a handy shelf on the passenger's side of the dash and a "guardrail" on the wireless charging pad. The Kona offered various seating options, from cloth seats on lower trims to a leather/suede combination for the N Line. Ventilated front seats were available on the N Line with the Ultimate package, a first for the Kona.

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 touchscreen on higher trims. The system was intuitive and included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the display suffered from glare, especially in the Capstone trim. The system allowed for multiple user accounts and included an Intelligent Assistant for voice commands. The Capstone trim also featured a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, the parking sensors and automatic rear braking system could be overly sensitive at times.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display as standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on all trims except the N Line with the Ultimate package. The Kona's infotainment system was set to receive an OTA update to add wireless connectivity. The N Line's Ultimate package included a Bose stereo system, and the Kona featured dual 12.3-inch displays for a panoramic view. Hyundai's Bluelink connected services were standard, and a digital key feature was introduced in Canada.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features as standard, bundled into Toyota Safety Sense 2.5. This included 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. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's platform shared with the Tundra, which received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona offered a range of advanced driver-assistance features, with Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance as standard. High-beam assist and adaptive cruise control were also included, with the N Line's Ultimate package adding Surround View Monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist suite provided Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features, with smooth lane-keep assist and intuitive controls.