2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

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 theme with upscale touches like leather, wood, and metallic finishes, especially in the Capstone trim. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system was a standout feature, although 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 luxurious Capstone.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe embraced a unique design philosophy, moving away from the sleek, futuristic aesthetics of its Ioniq siblings. The Santa Fe's boxy shape was a deliberate choice to maximize storage capacity, as explained by Hyundai's design chief, SangYup Lee. Despite its unconventional appearance, the Santa Fe exuded an upscale vibe, turning heads with its sophisticated exterior colours and anodized-finish badging. Inside, the Santa Fe offered premium styling, with trims like the XRT and Ultimate Calligraphy showcasing luxurious materials and thoughtful design elements. The Santa Fe's interior was both functional and elegant, providing a comfortable and organized space for passengers.

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, 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 a standout feature, with a maximum tow rating of 4,137 kilograms in Canada, surpassing its predecessor. Fuel efficiency also improved, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving with 4WD. 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 Sequoia's steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a different approach to performance, with the hybrid powertrain as the entry-level option in Canada. The 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid engine produced an estimated 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Other models featured a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup. The Santa Fe's fuel economy was commendable, with the hybrid achieving 6.9 L/100 km combined, while the gas powertrain consumed 10.6 L/100 km combined. The Santa Fe's driving dynamics were smooth and stable, with notable body roll through turns. The XRT trim offered off-road capabilities, making it suitable for adventurous outings.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with features like soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. The Sequoia's interior was spacious, with comfortable front seats and a wide, flat, padded upper door panel shelf for added comfort on long trips. However, the third-row seat was less accommodating, with limited thigh support and legroom. The Sequoia's cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, offering 325 litres with the third-row seat in place and 2,460 litres with the second-row seats folded. The lack of a power liftgate window was a notable change from previous models.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe prioritized cargo space, with a longer wheelbase and body compared to its predecessor. The design was inspired by the concept of "chabak," emphasizing a spacious cargo area for car camping and tailgating. The Santa Fe's interior was well-designed, with spacious first and second rows, and a choice of seating configurations depending on the trim. The cargo area offered 413 litres of space, expanding to 2,267 litres with the second and third rows folded. The Santa Fe also featured thoughtful touches like a UV sanitization compartment in the glovebox and a new grab handle for easier cargo loading.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in most trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, glare on the display was an issue, especially in the Capstone trim. The Sequoia's connected services included an Intelligent Assistant and simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two devices. The Capstone trim also featured a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. The Sequoia's parking sensors and automatic rear braking system were effective in preventing accidents.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a curved panoramic display, a first in its segment, providing an elegant and intuitive interface. The touchscreen display was easy to use, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across the lineup. The Santa Fe's infotainment system included a 12-speaker Bose stereo, dynamic voice recognition, and multiple USB ports. Higher trims offered wireless charging and Hyundai's BlueLink system for vehicle access and information. The Santa Fe's technology package was comprehensive, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, offering a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features. These included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. The Sequoia also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's safety features were impressive.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a robust safety package, with most advanced safety features standard across the lineup. The base Preferred trim included adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitors, and more. Higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera system, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and remote automatic parking. The Santa Fe also introduced driver monitoring, enhancing safety by tracking alertness and issuing warnings if necessary.