2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Kia Seltos

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. Despite its high-end appearance, some materials reminded occupants 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 affordable TRD Off-Road.

In contrast, the 2024 Kia Seltos underwent a mid-cycle refresh, resulting in subtle yet effective design updates. The refreshed headlight and grille designs, along with a connecting light strip between the taillights, gave the Seltos a modern look. The new "Pluton Blue" paint added a sharp touch to its appearance. Inside, the Seltos introduced a new Gentle Brown interior colour, although our test model featured the standard black interior. The standout change was the large digital panel spanning two-thirds of the dash, combining a digital instrument panel and a larger touchscreen infotainment system. The Seltos offered a range of trims, each with its own set of features, from the base LX with essential amenities to the top-tier X-Line with unique styling elements.

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 increased to 4,137 kilograms, surpassing its predecessor. Fuel efficiency improved significantly, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor their experience. However, the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times, and the steering was slow, requiring effort in tight spaces.

The 2024 Kia Seltos featured two engine options. The base powertrain was a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). The SX and X-Line trims came with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine provided noticeable acceleration improvements, especially in Sport mode. The Seltos handled various road conditions well, with responsive steering and minimal body roll. The brakes initially felt touchy but settled down during the drive. With 18 centimetres of ground clearance, the Seltos was capable of light off-road adventures.

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 front seats were heated and ventilated, and the panoramic glass moonroof added a touch of luxury. However, the third-row seating was less comfortable due to its high floor and low roof. Cargo space was limited, with only 325 litres available with the third-row seats 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 its predecessor.

The 2024 Kia Seltos provided up to 1,778 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 753 litres with the seats in use. The Seltos offered an upright seating position with ample headroom and good rear legroom. The front seating area featured practical storage solutions, including in-door cupholders and cubbies. A hands-free power liftgate was standard from the EX Premium trim, enhancing convenience.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured the 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. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, the system had some quirks, such as glare on the display and occasional connectivity issues. The Sequoia's parking sensors and automatic rear braking system were effective in preventing accidents.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered a consistent digital bezel across trims, with screen sizes varying by trim. The base infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen, while upper trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel and touchscreen. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with physical controls for climate and audio. The SX and X-Line trims featured an upgraded Bose premium stereo system. The Seltos also offered Digital Key 2 Touch, allowing smartphone-based access.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While crash test ratings were unavailable, the Sequoia's platform shared with the Tundra, which received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered standard driver assistance features, including forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added smart adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and highway driving assist. The Seltos also featured Safe Exit Warning and drive-away warning, enhancing safety in various scenarios.