2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Subaru Outback

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.

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its familiar look, with the Wilderness trim receiving a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark grey cladding contrasted nicely with the Autumn Green Metallic paint of the Premier XT trim, creating an appealing aesthetic. The Outback's various trims featured different levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Premier XT showcasing tasteful chrome accents. Wheel sizes and designs varied by trim, with the Wilderness trim sporting matte black wheels. Inside, the top-trim test car impressed with its Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, offering a level of luxury unexpected from Subaru. The Outback's interior materials and design were a pleasant surprise, providing a comfortable and upscale experience.

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 (9,120 pounds) in Canada, surpassing the previous model's 3,356 kilograms (7,400 pounds). Fuel efficiency 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 experience to their preferences. However, the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive, and the steering was slow, requiring effort in tight manoeuvres.

The 2024 Subaru Outback featured a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine, with the base model powered by a 2.5-litre flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, were equipped with a 2.4-litre turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup increased the towing capacity from 1,225 to 1,587 kilograms (2,700 to 3,500 lbs). Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) were standard. The Premier XT test car's turbo engine provided ample power, and the CVT mimicked the feel of eight distinct gears. The Outback's suspension and reasonably sized wheels contributed to a comfortable ride, while the Wilderness trim offered increased ground clearance and off-road capabilities.

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 available with the third-row seat in place, expandable to 631 litres by sliding the seat forward. Folding the third-row seats increased capacity to 1,387 litres, while folding the second-row seats provided 2,460 litres of cargo space, still less than the previous model.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered ample interior space despite its sleek design. It provided more front-row headroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and it excelled in front-row legroom. The Outback's cargo area measured 923 litres with all seats in place and 2,141 litres with the rear seats folded. Dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel were standard, with heated rear seats available from the Onyx trim. The hands-free power liftgate and power moonroof were standard from the Touring trim, and the Outback's roof rails with retractable cross bars added versatility.

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 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's glare and the digital rearview mirror's limitations were noted. The Sequoia's parking sensors and automatic rear braking system effectively prevented collisions.

The 2024 Subaru Outback's Premier XT trim boasted an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform was functional, though dated in appearance. Climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for essential functions. Bluetooth and SiriusXM connectivity were standard, and most trims featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Outback's technology package was comprehensive, offering a mix of modern and traditional features.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 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 crash test ratings were unavailable, the Sequoia's TSS 2.5 system was praised for its effectiveness.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies was standard, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-centring, automatic pre-collision braking, and lane-keep assist. Reverse automatic braking was standard from the Touring trim, and the Premier XT included a digital rearview mirror and driver-attention monitor. The Outback's safety features were comprehensive and effective.