2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan maintained its design from the previous year, with the most notable update being the addition of a complimentary five-year Car-Net Safe & Secure connected services plan for owners. Available in S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, the Tiguan's price ranged from $26,950 to $37,680, excluding a $1,295 destination charge. The SEL R-Line trim, priced at $38,975, featured sporty styling and 20-inch machined-finish wheels. Despite offering a variety of exterior and interior color options, the Tiguan's choices were limited by trim level, restricting customization. The Atlantic Blue paint and Storm Gray leather interior of the test vehicle were appealing, though some combinations, like pairing Atlantic Blue with Noisette leather, were unavailable. The Tiguan's design was conservative yet gracefully aging, with features like adaptive front lighting and a light bar across the grille enhancing its upscale appearance. Inside, the cabin was upscale with quality materials, digital instrumentation, and a panoramic sunroof, though some materials reminded of its base price.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, featuring similar design elements like hexagonal grilles and muscular stances. The exterior color significantly influenced its appearance, with the Capstone model in Celestial Silver appearing somewhat dated, while bolder colors like Solar Octane orange transformed its look. Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dashboard design, with physical dials and buttons for climate control. The Capstone trim featured semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered fabric, SofTex, or leather seating. The Sequoia's seats were power-adjustable, enhancing comfort across trims. A power-tilt and -slide moonroof was standard or optional, depending on the trim. The Sequoia's interior was spacious, though the third-row seats, positioned above the hybrid powertrain's battery pack, reduced headroom and comfort. The second-row captain's chairs in higher trims were wide but lacked bolstering.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system available. The SEL R-Line trim included AWD as standard, offering various driving modes like Eco, Normal, and Sport, along with Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad settings. The Tiguan's fuel economy was rated at 24 mpg combined, though real-world testing yielded 22.6 mpg. The turbo-four engine provided adequate power, though it struggled at higher revs, and the transmission occasionally stumbled with delayed downshifts. The Tiguan's dynamic qualities were commendable, with light and lively steering, excellent tire grip, and a stable, predictable feel. The ride was compliant, with minimal road noise, though an odd resonance was noted on certain freeways. The Tiguan's 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 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. This marked a significant increase over its predecessor, with improved fuel economy rated at 20 mpg combined with 4WD. The Sequoia TRD Pro was exclusively 4WD, while other trims offered 4WD as an option. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the on-road handling was adequate for its class. The TRD Off-Road package, available on select trims, added all-terrain tires, a skid plate, and off-road suspension, enhancing its adventure-readiness. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, with various towing-related upgrades available. The power-extending trailer tow mirrors, however, obstructed the view for shorter drivers.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a roomy interior, with FWD models featuring a standard third-row seat. However, the third row reduced cargo space, making AWD models with larger cargo areas more appealing. The SEL R-Line's front seats were comfortable, with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. Storage space was generous, though the center armrest bin was small. The dashboard's touch-sensing controls were problematic, with poor ergonomics and usability issues. The Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with large rear door openings and a spacious back seat. The cargo area was cavernous, with adjustable load floor height and handy features for convenience. With AWD, the Tiguan offered 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim featured automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding entry for shorter individuals. The Sequoia offered up to 86.9 cubic feet of cargo space with both second- and third-row seats folded. The third-row seats, positioned above the hybrid powertrain's battery pack, did not create a flat load floor, reducing headroom and comfort. Legroom was limited in the third row, though the second and first rows offered more space. Second-row captain's chairs in higher trims were wide but lacked bolstering. The Sequoia's interior space was behind some rivals but offered competitive legroom in the front row.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch display on most trims and a 10.25-inch display on the SEL R-Line. The larger display offered a sophisticated appearance and a full-panel navigation map. The infotainment system included a touchscreen display, with sizes varying by trim. The SEL R-Line had an 8-inch touchscreen with 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 voice-recognition system underperformed, likely due to inactive subscriptions in the test vehicle.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim was equipped with a 14-inch center touchscreen, standard on all but the SR5 trim, which had an 8-inch screen. The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashiness. The Sequoia featured a 12.3-inch driver-information display, a Panoramic View monitor, and a 10-inch color head-up display on higher trims. The 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on the Limited trim and standard on higher trims.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features, offering tech often found in luxury models. Standard features included Front Assist and Side Assist, with forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. The IQ.Drive package, standard on most trims, 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 a side-impact test.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite as standard, including a pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. The Sequoia's blind-spot monitoring system included Trailer Merge Warning. The Tow Technology Package, available on select trims, added a digital rearview mirror and trailer backup guide. As of this writing, the Sequoia had not been rated by safety organizations, though the similar Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.