2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC

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 top-tier version boasted a luxurious cream white-over-black two-tone interior, dominated by a 14-inch infotainment system. However, despite its premium appearance, some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, each catering to different needs, from off-roading to luxury.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC, a compact crossover, maintained its status as a best-seller in North America with a cautious redesign. The exterior changes were subtle, with new taillights and repositioned door handles, while the interior retained its sumptuous appeal. The GLC's cabin was driver-focused, with a plethora of controls and a two-tone leather upholstery option. The AMG models featured a distinctive grille and sporty design elements. The GLC's interior was gadget-heavy, with numerous screens, ambient lighting, and a wood-and-metal dash treatment. Despite its compact size, the GLC offered a class-leading interior experience, appealing to those who appreciated luxury and technology.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine with a 36-kilowatt electric motor, delivering 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. This setup allowed the Sequoia to tow up to 4,137 kilograms, surpassing its predecessor's capabilities. The SUV's 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 the experience to their preferences. However, the ride quality was occasionally jittery, and the steering was slow, making manoeuvring in tight spaces challenging.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC 43 featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 416 horsepower, aided by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This engine outperformed the base GLC 300, which offered 255 horsepower. The GLC 43's nine-speed automatic transmission, known as the AMG Speedshift MCT, provided quick shifts, enhancing performance driving. However, the firmer suspension and rougher shifts made it less suitable for daily commuting. The GLC's performance suspension offered improved handling, but it was still firmer than what most luxury crossover buyers might prefer. Enthusiasts appreciated the sporty nature and standard four-wheel steering, which enhanced cornering capabilities.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on highways, offering a quiet and comfortable ride. The cabin featured soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone climate control system. However, the panoramic glass moonroof reduced second-row headroom, and the third-row seats were less comfortable due to the high floor and low roof. The Sequoia's cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, offering only 325 litres with the third-row seats in place, expandable to 2,460 litres with all seats folded. This was significantly less than its predecessor and competitors, limiting its overall utility.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC's cabin was driver-centric, with controls angled towards the driver. The front seats offered heat and memory functions, with optional ventilation and heated rear seats. The GLC SUV provided 620 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,680 litres with the rear seats folded. The GLC Coupe offered less cargo space, with 545 litres available, expanding to 1,490 litres. Despite the tighter interior, the GLC's power-folding rear seats and flat-folding capability added convenience. The Coupe's hatchback-like configuration allowed for more flexible cargo arrangements.

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. The Intelligent Assistant responded to voice commands, though it occasionally misinterpreted requests. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, the display suffered from glare, and the parking sensors were overly sensitive, sometimes engaging unexpectedly.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC's cockpit centred around an 11.9-inch touchscreen running the MBUX infotainment system. The system included a responsive voice command feature, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Optional features included a 15-speaker Burmester sound system, augmented reality navigation, and a "Transparent Hood" feature for off-road driving. The GLC's technology suite was comprehensive, offering a seamless and advanced user experience.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and more. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist systems were effective, though the lane-departure warning was occasionally annoying. While the Sequoia hadn't been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, the Tundra's high safety ratings were promising.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, with an "Acceptable" rating for its standard front crash-prevention system. Standard safety features included active brake assist, attention assist, blind-spot monitoring, and Pre-Safe, which prepared the vehicle for an imminent collision. Optional advanced driver-assistance systems were available, enhancing the GLC's safety credentials.