2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Toyota RAV4

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. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with luxurious touches in the Capstone trim, such as leather, wood, and metallic finishes. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system was a standout feature, although 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. Off-road enthusiasts found the TRD Pro trim appealing, while the TRD Off-Road offered a more budget-friendly option with off-road capabilities.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota RAV4 aimed to project a rugged image with its aggressive styling, including angular body cladding and dual exhaust outlets. The TRD Off-Road trim, available in the U.S., was discontinued in Canada, where the Limited trim topped the lineup. Canadian buyers could choose from a range of trims, with prices starting at $36,215 for the LE and reaching $47,815 for the Limited. The RAV4's interior focused on practicality, with features like storage shelves, rubber-lined storage areas, and easy-clean surfaces. The cabin offered comfort with SofTex artificial leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The RAV4's spacious interior accommodated four adults comfortably, with a roomy cargo area of 1,059 litres, expandable to 1,977 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a powerful 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, making it more capable than its predecessor. Fuel efficiency improved, 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 driving experience. However, the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive, and the steering was slow, requiring effort in tight spaces.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. The engine required high revs to access maximum power, and while it was powerful for its class, it sounded loud and unrefined. The RAV4 came with standard all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Multi-Terrain Select offered driving modes like Normal, Snow, Mud & Sand, and Rock & Dirt. Fuel economy was rated at 8.5 L/100 km in combined driving, with the LE model achieving 7.9 L/100 km. The RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition offered even better fuel efficiency at 6.4 L/100 km. The RAV4's performance was adequate for its class, but the engine's noise and lack of refinement were notable drawbacks.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with features like soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. The Sequoia's interior was spacious, with comfortable front seats and a wide, flat door panel shelf for resting arms. However, the third-row seat was less comfortable due to its high floor and low roof, and the cargo space was limited compared to its predecessor. With the third-row seat in place, the Sequoia offered 325 litres of cargo space, expandable to 631 litres by sliding the seat forward. Folding the third-row seats increased cargo capacity to 1,387 litres, while folding the second-row seats provided 2,460 litres of space. Despite the hybrid powertrain's benefits, the Sequoia's overall utility was compromised.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 prioritized practicality and utility, with a well-designed interior featuring storage shelves, trays, and rubberized control knobs. The cabin offered comfort with SofTex artificial leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The RAV4's driver seat was comfortable, and outward visibility was excellent. The rear seat accommodated four adults comfortably, with good legroom and footroom. The RAV4's cargo area provided 1,059 litres of space, expandable to 1,977 litres with the rear seats folded. These figures were competitive for the segment, making the RAV4 a practical choice for recreational activities.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured the Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in most trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected services included user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant for directions. However, the system had some quirks, such as glare on the display and occasional issues with Bluetooth pairing. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. The Sequoia's tech successfully prevented accidents with features like parking sensors and automatic rear braking.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 also featured the Toyota Audio Multimedia system, with an 8-inch or 10.5-inch touchscreen. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and various connected services. Service Connect and Safety Connect were free for ten years, while Remote Connect was complimentary for three years. Drive Connect required a subscription and added cloud-based navigation and a digital voice assistant. The system was sophisticated but had some drawbacks, such as the lack of a multi-panel Home screen and issues with the digital voice assistant. The RAV4 offered a JBL premium audio system and a digital rear-view mirror for enhanced visibility.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5), which included features like forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. The Sequoia's safety tech was effective, with adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist making highway driving easier. However, the Sequoia had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 also featured TSS 2.5, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as standard in Canada. The safety tech was adequate, with adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist performing well on straight highways. However, the RAV4 lost its Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS due to a Marginal rating in the small overlap frontal-impact crash test and an Acceptable rating in the side-impact test. These results highlighted the need for an updated RAV4 design.