2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Toyota Sienna was a minivan that defied traditional expectations. While many associated minivans with outdated aesthetics, Toyota made a concerted effort to modernize the Sienna's appearance. The front-end styling was reminiscent of a Japanese bullet train, and the XSE trim level featured 20-inch wheels, adding a sporty touch. The Sienna offered a variety of trim levels, including the base LE, XLE, sporty XSE, and the luxurious Limited. The 25th Anniversary Special Edition trim was a new addition for 2023, positioned just below the Limited in terms of pricing. Inside, the Sienna impressed with its high-quality materials, such as the brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents in the Platinum trim. It accommodated seven or eight passengers, with the LE and XLE trims offering the larger capacity. The Sienna's interior was designed with families in mind, featuring creative storage solutions and the ability to support three-across car seats in the middle row.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, and this connection was evident in its design cues. The Sequoia featured hexagonal grilles, strong fender creases, and a muscular stance. The exterior colour played a significant role in altering its appearance, with the Capstone model showcasing more chrome brightwork. Inside, the Sequoia's resemblance to the Tundra was striking, with a blocky, geometric dashboard layout and physical dials for climate control. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while the base SR5 TRD Offroad trim featured SofTex leatherette seating. The Sequoia offered a range of power-adjustable seating options, and every model came with a power-tilt and -slide moonroof or an upgraded panoramic version. The Sequoia's interior was spacious, with a maximum cargo capacity of 2,460 litres when both the second and third rows were folded.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, featuring a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with two front-mounted electric motors and an additional rear-mounted motor for AWD trims. This setup delivered a combined 245 horsepower, which was somewhat underwhelming compared to competitors. The Sienna's CVT struggled with acceleration, and the powertrain's sound left much to be desired. However, the Sienna's chassis and steering were commendable, offering nimble handling and a comfortable highway cruising experience. The light steering feel made city driving a breeze, and the Sienna's turning radius was surprisingly tight for a minivan. While the Sienna offered various drive modes, the Normal mode was the most practical choice, as Eco mode extended the CVT's gears excessively, and EV mode was largely ineffective.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured the iForce MAX hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor. This setup produced an impressive 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, a significant improvement over its V8 predecessor. The Sequoia's fuel economy also saw a boost, with a combined rating of 11.7 L/100 km for 4WD models. In Canada, the Sequoia came standard with 4WD, featuring a part-time system with selectable modes. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the Sequoia's on-road handling was adequate for its class. The SR5 TRD Off-Road model catered to adventure-seekers with unique tires, off-road suspension, and driver-assist features like Crawl Control. The Sequoia's towing capacity reached 4,137 kilograms, with available towing-related upgrades for added convenience.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior storage solutions, offering ample space for bags and personal items. The open cubby below the centre console and a long shelf on the dash provided convenient storage options. The Sienna featured a big bin in the centre console and numerous cupholders, ensuring everyone had access to refreshments. Three-zone climate control was standard, with four-zone available on higher trims. The Sienna's dimensions, at 5,175 millimetres in length and a 3,061-millimetre wheelbase, made it a spacious vehicle. It offered 949 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,129 litres with the seats folded. The total cargo capacity was 2,860 litres, although the middle row couldn't be fully removed or folded into the floor. The second-row captain's chairs were functional and comfortable, with extending ottomans for added support.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim featured automatic power-deploying running boards, enhancing accessibility. Inside, the Sequoia offered a maximum cargo capacity of 2,460 litres with both rear rows folded. The second-row seats were easy to move for access to the third row, and the 60/40 split third-row bench seats folded at the push of a button. However, the seats didn't create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack. The Sequoia's interior dimensions included 995 mm of headroom in the front, 952 to 975 mm in the middle, and 904 mm in the back. Legroom ranged from 713 to 855 mm in the third row, 995 mm in the second row, and 1,041 mm in the front. The second-row captain's chairs were wide but lacked bolstering, relying on the armrest for support.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment interface, lacking the latest technology seen in other Toyota models. It included core features like SiriusXM, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, but required a wired connection for the latter two. The interface was functional but felt outdated, with some quirks in accessing Android Auto. The 9-inch touchscreen didn't appear undersized, and the 12-speaker JBL audio system delivered good sound quality.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim was equipped with advanced technology, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SR5 trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen, while other trims boasted a 14-inch centre touchscreen. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system prioritized functionality over flashy design. The Sequoia's driver information display was a full-colour 12.3-inch unit, and the Panoramic View monitor was standard on higher trims. The 10-inch head-up display was exclusive to the Capstone trim, and the 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on the Limited and standard on Platinum and Capstone.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna impressed with its standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. These features were part of the Toyota Safety Sense package, contributing to the Sienna's 5-star NHTSA rating and Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS. While competitors offered additional features like intercom systems and rear-seat cameras, the Sienna focused on essential safety technologies.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia came with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite, offering a comprehensive range of safety and driver-assistance features. These included a pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking were standard, as was blind-spot monitoring. The only optional driver aid was a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist, available on higher trims. The Sequoia hadn't been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the similar Tundra received a Top Safety Pick+ designation.