2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Lexus TX

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 newly creased and kinked body gave it a more commanding presence compared to its predecessor. While the Sequoia's traditional grille and front bumper differentiated it from the Tundra's "manta ray on wheels" look, its appeal was subjective. 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 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the interior's cream white-over-black two-tone colour scheme added a touch of luxury. However, some materials reminded occupants of the SUV's pickup truck origins.

In contrast, the 2024 Lexus TX was based on the Toyota Grand Highlander but distinguished itself as a luxury SUV. The TX's styling was more conservative than other Lexus models, appealing to those who found previous designs too bold. The test model featured 22-inch silver-finished wheels, enhancing its upscale appearance. The TX came in three model series: TX 350, TX 500h F Sport Performance, and TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid. Prices ranged from $72,036 to $87,486, with the TX 550h+ expected to start over $90,000. The TX 350, likely the volume seller, featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and standard all-wheel drive. The interior, while luxurious, felt dark due to the Peppercorn colour scheme and black-grained trim, even with the panoramic glass sunroof. Despite this, the TX 350's interior was luxurious enough to bear the Lexus badge.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with 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 hybrid powertrain delivered 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. While it lacked the rumble of the previous 5.7-litre V8, the new V6 offered improved towing capacity, with a maximum tow rating of 4,137 kilograms in Canada. The Sequoia's fuel efficiency also improved, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving. During testing, the Capstone averaged 13.2 L/100 km. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, but the ride quality was occasionally jittery, especially in Normal mode. The steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive.

The 2024 Lexus TX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. Lexus claimed it accelerated to 100 km/h in roughly eight seconds, though it felt quicker due to the torque. The TX 350's fuel economy was rated at 10.3 L/100 km in combined driving, slightly better than the old RX L. During testing, it averaged 13.8 L/100 km. The TX 350's suspension provided a comfortable ride with commendable body motion control and accurate steering. The interior was quiet on the highway, but the brake pedal felt too soft. Despite this, the TX 350's performance was adequate for typical driving situations.

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 comfortable, and the heated steering wheel and power-folding mirrors were 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 seat, expandable to 631 litres by sliding the seat forward. The Sequoia's overall utility was compromised by its hybrid powertrain, resulting in less cargo capacity than its predecessor.

The 2024 Lexus TX addressed previous shortcomings in Lexus's three-row SUVs. The TX 350 featured premium semi-aniline leather and artificial suede upholstery, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard. The second-row seat was less welcoming due to its flat lower cushion, but the third-row seat was habitable for adults. The TX offered 572 litres of cargo space behind the third-row seat, expandable to 1,625 litres with the seats folded. With the second-row seats down, the TX provided 2,746 litres of cargo space, surpassing other Lexus SUVs and competitors.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in all trims except the base TRD Off-road. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the connected services allowed for user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant. However, the system had some bugs, and the head-up display was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The Sequoia also included a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror, with parking sensors and automatic rear braking.

The 2024 Lexus TX came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, a digital rearview mirror, and a 14-inch touchscreen display. The Lexus Interface infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a Drive Connect subscription offering cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The TX also featured Service Connect and Safety Connect subscriptions, with a 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system available in the Executive package.

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 features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While the Sequoia had not been crash-tested, the Tundra on which it was based received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2024 Lexus TX was equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, intersection assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, road sign assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Proactive Drive Assist and additional features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a safe exit assist system were also included. The Executive packages offered front and rear parking sensors, front cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, and traffic jam assist.