2024 Toyota 4Runner vs 2023 Toyota Sequoia

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, with its bold design that borrowed elements from 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 distinguished it from the Tundra's "manta ray on wheels" look, its appeal was subjective. Inside, the Sequoia shared much with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with upscale touches of 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, though some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner retained its classic, albeit outdated, design. Despite its need for a makeover, the 4Runner's boxy shape remained fitting for an all-terrain vehicle. Its flared fenders and wide stance conveyed stability, essential for off-road adventures. The TRD Pro model enhanced its rugged persona with underbody skid plates, all-terrain tires, and a beefy roof rack. Inside, the 4Runner's old-school styling and technology were evident, with an analog instrument panel and an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen. While the interior featured hard plastics, cushioned panels provided comfort. The 4Runner's nostalgic design was reminiscent of the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, though it lacked some modern touches.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine paired with 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 V8's rumble, the new V6 offered improved towing capacity, with a maximum tow rating of 4,137 kilograms in Canada. Fuel efficiency also improved, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving with 4WD. The Sequoia's driving modes included Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, with a Custom mode for personalized settings. However, the steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner featured a 4.0-litre V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. While its powertrain specs were comparable to the Bronco and Wrangler, the 4Runner's five-speed automatic transmission limited its responsiveness and fuel economy. The TRD Pro model came with standard 4WD and a two-speed transfer case. On-road, the 4Runner felt sluggish, with noticeable rear-end squat during acceleration. The engine's noise was exacerbated by the sportier exhaust, and the soft suspension resulted in nosedive during hard braking. Off-road, the 4Runner excelled, but on-road handling suffered from body roll and floatiness. The 4Runner's ride was more comfortable with a loaded cargo space, but passengers prone to motion sickness needed precautions on bumpy roads.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on highways, offering a quiet cabin with comfortable front seats, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The Sequoia's interior featured power-deploying running boards, a panoramic glass moonroof, and second-row captain's chairs. However, the third-row seat was less comfortable due to its high floor and low roof. Cargo space was limited, with 325 litres behind the third row, expandable to 631 litres. The Sequoia's hybrid powertrain compromised its overall utility, with a maximum cargo capacity of 2,460 litres, significantly less than its predecessor.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's interior design appeared dated, but its layout was user-friendly. The front seats offered ample space, though the steering wheel's limited telescoping range was a drawback for taller drivers. The second-row provided generous legroom, but headroom was limited due to the elevated bench height. The 4Runner's cargo capacity reached 1,337 litres behind the rear seats, expandable to 2,540 litres with the rear seats stowed. The sliding glass rear window and hitch receiver added convenience, but the lack of remote seat releases and a powered liftgate were notable omissions.

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 system's glare and occasional bugs were drawbacks. The Sequoia's parking sensors and automatic rear braking system effectively prevented collisions.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's infotainment system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the eight-inch touchscreen was challenging to use while driving. The TRD Pro model featured a 15-speaker JBL audio system, though road noise often obscured the sound quality. The 4Runner's terrain controls were located in the headliner console, with pictograms instead of descriptions. The Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select systems enhanced off-road capabilities, but the lack of off-road specific apps was a limitation.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped 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 crash test ratings were unavailable, the Sequoia's Tundra platform received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner received mixed safety ratings, with four out of five stars from NHTSA for overall and frontal crash protection. The IIHS gave it "Good" ratings for moderate frontal overlap and side protection tests, but "Marginal" and "Poor" results in the small overlap frontal test. The 4Runner included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning. The TRD Pro and Limited trims featured a surround-view camera system. However, the 4Runner's safety alerts were often oversensitive.