2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged charm with minor updates to the Wilderness trim, featuring a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark grey cladding contrasted beautifully with the Autumn Green Metallic of the Premier XT model, offering a unique and appealing aesthetic. The varying levels of black and chrome fittings across trims added a touch of sophistication, with the Premier XT showcasing tasteful chrome accents. Wheel designs varied, with the Wilderness trim sporting matte black 17-inch alloys, while the Onyx and Limited trims featured larger, machine-finished wheels. Inside, the Premier XT impressed with Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, elevating the Outback's interior to a level of luxury not typically associated with Subaru.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform and design cues with the Tundra, featuring hexagonal grilles and muscular stances. The Capstone model, with its chrome accents and Celestial Silver paint, appeared somewhat dated, reminiscent of a "cop car." Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dashboard design, complete with physical dials and buttons for climate control. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered SofTex leatherette or standard leather. The Sequoia's interior was spacious, with power-adjustable front seats and a power-tilt and -slide moonroof standard across the lineup.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered a choice between a 2.5-litre flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and a 2.4-litre turbocharged engine with 260 horsepower, standard on XT and Wilderness trims. The turbo engine enhanced towing capacity to 1,587 kilograms and provided a more robust driving experience. Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and Lineartronic CVT were standard, with the CVT mimicking an eight-speed transmission. The Outback's suspension and ground clearance, especially in the Wilderness trim, made it a capable off-road vehicle.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured the iForce MAX hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor for 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. This hybrid setup improved fuel economy to 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. The Sequoia's 10-speed automatic transmission provided smooth operation, and its 4WD system included a selector for 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD. The SR5 TRD Off-Road model offered off-road capabilities with unique tires, suspension, and driver-assist features. The Sequoia's towing capacity reached 4,137 kilograms, with available towing upgrades.

The Subaru Outback offered impressive interior space, with more front-row headroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. It provided ample legroom and a cargo volume of 923 litres with seats up, expanding to 2,141 litres with seats folded. Features like dual-zone climate control, heated seats, and a power moonroof were standard on most trims. The hands-free power liftgate and versatile roof rails added convenience.

The Toyota Sequoia's interior boasted a maximum cargo space of 2,460 litres with seats folded. The second-row seats were easy to move for third-row access, though the hybrid battery placement affected load floor flatness and rear-seat comfort. Headroom and legroom measurements varied, with the Sequoia offering competitive front-row space. Second-row captain’s chairs were available on higher trims, though they lacked bolstering.

The Subaru Outback Premier XT featured an 11.6-inch infotainment screen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto starting from the Touring trim. The Subaru Starlink system, while dated in appearance, offered essential connectivity. A 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was standard on most trims, enhancing the audio experience.

The Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim included a 14-inch touchscreen with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system prioritized functionality, and a 12.3-inch driver information display was standard across trims. The Panoramic View monitor and 14-speaker JBL audio system were available on higher trims, enhancing convenience and entertainment.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included the EyeSight suite with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. Reverse automatic braking and a wide-angle camera were added for 2024, improving pedestrian detection.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia came with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite, offering features like pre-collision detection and adaptive cruise control. Front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were standard. The Sequoia's safety features were comprehensive, though it had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA.