2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Volvo XC60

The 2023 Volvo XC60 presented a sophisticated and stylish appearance, with its sleek design and attention to detail. The test vehicle, a Recharge spec with the Ultimate package, showcased a Dark exterior theme complemented by Thunder Grey paint and 20-inch wheels. The interior exuded classic Scandinavian minimalism, featuring black leather seats, wood trim, metal accents, and ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof and Orrefors crystal gear selector knob added a touch of opulence. Despite its compact size, the XC60 offered a comfortable and luxurious cabin experience, with intuitive controls that became second nature after some driving time.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform and design cues with the Tundra pickup, featuring hexagonal grilles, strong fender creases, and a muscular stance. The Capstone model, with its Celestial Silver exterior, appeared somewhat dated, reminiscent of a "cop car." Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dashboard layout, with physical dials and buttons for climate control. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while the base SR5 TRD Offroad trim featured SofTex leatherette seating. The Sequoia's interior offered ample space, with power-adjustable front seats and a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, enhancing the overall comfort and convenience.

The 2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined 455 horsepower and 423 lb-ft of torque. This setup allowed for an estimated 58 kilometres of electric driving range. The XC60 offered various driving modes, including Hybrid, Power, Pure, Off-road, and Constant AWD, accessible through a 9-inch touchscreen display. The vehicle's performance was impressive, with a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4.7 seconds. The XC60 Recharge's updates included a more powerful electric motor, enhancing its fun-to-drive nature. The vehicle averaged a fuel economy of 4.3 L/100 km during testing, showcasing its efficiency.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia, equipped with the iForce MAX hybrid powertrain, combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. This marked a significant improvement over its V8-powered predecessor. The Sequoia's fuel economy improved to 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. The vehicle featured a part-time 4WD system with a selector for 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD. The Sequoia's on-road handling was adequate, and the TRD Off-Road model offered adventure-readiness with unique tires, off-road suspension, and driver-assist features. The Sequoia's maximum towing capacity reached 4,137 kilograms, with towing-related upgrades available.

The 2023 Volvo XC60, a compact crossover SUV, was best suited for carrying four people comfortably, though it could accommodate five if necessary. The front seats, wrapped in Nappa leather upholstery, provided outstanding comfort with heating, ventilation, and power cushion extensions. The back seats were also comfortable, though legroom was limited for taller passengers. The XC60 offered 730 litres of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 1,792 litres with the seats folded. Practical storage solutions included wide door panel bins and a glovebox, while a power liftgate and ski pass-through panel added convenience.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia offered a maximum of 2,460 litres of cargo space with both second- and third-row seats folded. Behind the second row, it provided 1,387 litres, and behind the third row, it ranged from 325 to 631 litres. The second-row seats did not slide fore and aft but were easy to move for access to the back row. The third-row seats folded at the push of a button, though they did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack. The Sequoia's interior dimensions placed it behind rivals like the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon in terms of legroom.

The 2023 Volvo XC60 featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation panel, operated via steering wheel controls. The 9-inch infotainment system, equipped with Google Built-in, offered access to Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play. The system supported Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with additional features like Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Wi-Fi access. The voice-recognition system impressed, though it occasionally required specific phrasing. The optional Bowers & Wilkins sound system delivered exceptional audio quality, though the standard Harman Kardon system sufficed for most users.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, accessible through a 14-inch touchscreen. The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashy design. The Sequoia featured a full-colour 12.3-inch driver information display and a Panoramic View monitor on Platinum and Capstone trims. The 10-inch colour head-up display was standard on Capstone, while the 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on Limited and standard for Platinum and Capstone.

The 2023 Volvo XC60, known for its safety innovations, came with Pilot Assist, combining adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, and lane-centring capability. Oncoming Lane Mitigation helped avoid collisions with oncoming vehicles. The XC60 B5 and B6 mild-hybrids earned top safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, though the PHEV version had not been assessed.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring were standard. The only optional driver aid was a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist, available on Platinum and Capstone trims. The Sequoia had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the similar Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.