2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

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 14-inch infotainment system. Despite its upscale appearance, 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. The TRD Pro trim was recommended for off-roading enthusiasts, while the TRD Off-Road offered a more budget-friendly option with essential off-road features.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic boxy profile with modern design elements, such as angular headlights, creating a visual link to other Land Rover models. Inside, the Defender's cabin was rugged and adventure-ready, with soft-touch materials enhancing its durability. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each offering various trims. Our test vehicle, the Defender 110 S, came with a U.S. specification visual package. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, and a panoramic glass roof. The Defender's interior was practical, with options for premium Windsor leather upholstery and additional climate control features. The Outbound trim, exclusive to Canada, offered extra cargo space by removing the third row, catering to those needing more room for gear.

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 was impressive, with a maximum rating of 4,137 kilograms in Canada, surpassing the previous model's 3,356 kilograms. Fuel efficiency improved significantly, 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. However, the steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered multiple powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Defender also offered two supercharged 5.0-litre V8 options, the P500 and P525, with 493 hp and 518 hp, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active 4WD. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 3,500 kilograms, while the four-cylinder version could tow up to 2,500 kilograms. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system enhancing its performance. The P400 model provided ample power for highway driving, though there was a slight lurch during acceleration and deceleration.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. The front seats were heated and ventilated, and a heated steering wheel was standard. 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 behind the third row, expandable to 631 litres by sliding the seat forward. The Sequoia's hybrid powertrain compromised overall utility, with a maximum cargo capacity of 2,460 litres, significantly less than its predecessor.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a blend of luxury and functionality, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied, with the Defender 110 offering an optional third row for children, while the Defender 130 accommodated up to eight passengers. Cargo capacity depended on the model, with the Defender 130 providing 433 litres behind the third row and up to 2,155 litres with all seats folded. The Defender 110 offered 962 litres behind the second row in the two-row version, while the three-row configuration had 303 litres behind the third row. The Defender 90 provided 441 litres behind the second row and up to 1,650 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base TRD Off-road trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with connected services offering features like an Intelligent Assistant. However, the system had some quirks, such as glare on the display and issues with Bluetooth pairing. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system, though the parking sensors and automatic rear braking system were occasionally overzealous.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, offering navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The infotainment system was straightforward, with home buttons for easy navigation. The Defender also included Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The interior layout balanced refinement and utility, appealing to those who preferred a simpler setup.

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, lane-centring assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and road sign recognition. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While the Sequoia had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, the Tundra, on which it was based, received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were somewhat intrusive but could be deactivated. The Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.