2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, following its 2022 updates, remained largely unchanged. In Canada, it was available in Trendline, Comfortline, Comfortline R-Line Black, and Highline R-Line trims, with the R-Line versions offering sportier styling. Prices ranged from $36,675 to $47,175, plus a $2,050 destination charge. The U.S. specification test vehicle was similar to the Canadian Highline R-Line trim. Despite offering six exterior colours, four interior colours, and various wheel designs, choices were limited by trim level, complicating the selection of a preferred combination. The test vehicle featured Atlantic Blue paint and Storm Grey leather seats, a combination unavailable in Canada unless opting for the Highline R-Line trim. Standard features included keyless entry, remote start, and an 8-way power driver’s seat. The Highline R-Line trim was favoured for its sporty look and 20-inch wheels, with adaptive front lighting and a light bar across the grille enhancing its appeal. Inside, the Tiguan offered an upscale cabin with quality materials, digital instrumentation, and a panoramic sunroof, though some materials reflected its mid-$30,000s base price. The vehicle felt solidly constructed.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform and several design cues with the Tundra pickup, including hexagonal grilles and muscular stances. The exterior colour significantly influenced its appearance. The test vehicle, a top-trim Capstone model, featured more chrome than other trims and was presented in Celestial Silver, giving it a somewhat dated look. Inside, the Sequoia closely resembled the Tundra and other Toyota vehicles, with a blocky, geometric dashboard layout and physical controls for volume and climate. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while SofTex leatherette was standard on the base SR5 TRD Offroad trim. All front seats were at least eight-way power-adjustable, allowing for seating customization across trims. Every Sequoia included a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, with a panoramic version standard on Platinum and Capstone trims.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system was standard, offering various driving modes like Eco, Normal, and Sport, along with Individual mode for dynamic settings. The AWD system featured Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad settings, varying power distribution between front and rear wheels. Fuel economy was rated at 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres, though testing showed 10.4 L/100 km. The Tiguan's powertrain was adequate but lacked power at higher revs, with turbo lag from a stop. The automatic transmission occasionally stumbled with delayed downshifts. Despite these quirks, the Tiguan offered rewarding dynamics, with light and lively steering, excellent tire grip, and stable handling. The ride was compliant, with road noise communicating road texture. Visibility was excellent, aided by thin windshield pillars and a surround-view camera.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured the iForce MAX hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. This marked a significant increase over its predecessor. Fuel economy improved to 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. The Sequoia came with standard 4WD, a part-time system with 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD options. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly. The SR5 TRD Off-Road model offered adventure-readiness with unique tires, off-road suspension, and driver-assist features like Crawl Control. The Sequoia's maximum towing capacity was 4,137 kilograms, with towing-related upgrades available. However, the power-extending trailer tow mirrors obstructed the view for shorter drivers.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a roomy interior, with certain configurations featuring a standard third-row seat. However, this reduced cargo space, so opting for a two-row version provided one of the largest cargo areas in the compact SUV class. The test vehicle had comfortable front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, along with a heated steering wheel. Storage space was generous, though the centre armrest bin was small. The dashboard's touch-sensing controls were problematic, with reflective gloss black plastic hampering usability. The Climatronic Touch climate control panel was poorly positioned, and touch-sensing steering-wheel controls were difficult to use. Despite these issues, the Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with large rear door openings and a spacious back seat. The hands-free power liftgate revealed a cavernous cargo area, with adjustable load floor height and handy features for convenience.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone featured automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding entry for shorter individuals. Inside, it offered a maximum of 2,460 litres of cargo space with both second- and third-row seats folded. Behind the second row, there were 1,387 litres, and behind the third row, 325 to 631 litres, depending on seat position. The second-row seats were easy to move for third-row access, but folding the third-row seats did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack. This reduced headroom and brought rear-seat passengers' knees closer to their chins. Legroom varied across rows, with the Sequoia trailing some rivals in space. Second-row captain’s chairs were available on higher trims, offering width but lacking bolstering.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with R-Line trims boasting a larger 10.25-inch display. The infotainment system had a touchscreen display, with lower trims using a 6.5-inch screen and others an 8-inch version. The top-of-line test vehicle included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the system's user interface was complex, with multi-layer processes for simple tasks. The navigation map could not display simultaneously on the digital instrumentation and centre screen without adjustments. The voice-recognition system underperformed, likely due to inactive subscriptions.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone was equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, accessed through an 8-inch touchscreen on the SR5 trim and a 14-inch screen on others. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system prioritized functionality over flashiness. The driver information display was a full-colour 12.3-inch unit, standard across trims. The Panoramic View monitor was standard on higher trims, aiding visibility. A 10-inch colour head-up display was standard on Capstone, and a 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on Limited and standard on higher trims.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features, offering tech often found on luxury models. Standard features included Front Assist with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, and Side Assist with blind-spot monitoring. The Automatic Post Collision Braking System helped avoid secondary impacts. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Tiguan's safety technology was effective and unobtrusive. However, crash-test ratings were incomplete, with concerns about the driver's door unlatching during side-impact tests.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia included the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite as standard, featuring a pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring were also standard. The only optional driver aid was a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist. The Sequoia had not been rated by safety organizations, but the similar Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.