2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, and this was evident in its design cues, such as hexagonal grilles, wheel arches, and strong fender creases. The exterior colour significantly influenced its appearance, with the Capstone model featuring more chrome brightwork. Our tester, in Celestial Silver, appeared somewhat dated, reminiscent of a "cop car." Inside, the Sequoia closely resembled the Tundra and other Toyota vehicles, with a blocky, geometric dashboard layout. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered SofTex leatherette or standard leather. The Sequoia provided power-adjustable front seats across all trims and included a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, with a panoramic version available on higher trims.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban, a long-standing name in the automotive world, blended into traffic despite its massive size. Its dimensions, nearly the length of an NBA baseline three-point shot, made it a common sight on highways. The Suburban catered to those needing ample cargo and passenger space, with six trims offering various features. The base LS trim came with 18-inch alloy wheels, while the top-tier High Country rode on 22-inch alloys. Inside, the Suburban provided a comfortable cabin with leather upholstery on most trims. Our High Country tester featured a heated steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, and 12-way power-adjustable front seats. However, even the top-spec Suburban felt somewhat pedestrian inside, lacking the comfort expected for long road trips.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively available in a hybrid format, utilizing Toyota's iForce MAX hybrid powertrain. This combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. This marked an increase of 46 hp and 182 lb-ft over the previous model. Fuel economy improved significantly, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. The Sequoia featured standard 4WD in Canada, with a part-time system offering 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD options. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the TRD Off-Road model added adventure-ready features like unique tires and an off-road suspension. The Sequoia's maximum towing capacity was 4,137 kilograms, with towing-related upgrades available.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine options: two V8s and a straight-six diesel. The 5.3-litre V8, standard on most trims, delivered 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of up to 3,765 kilograms. The 6.2-litre V8, available on higher trims, produced 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, offering smoother acceleration. The Duramax 3.0-litre turbodiesel six-cylinder provided 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, with better fuel economy than the V8s. The diesel engine was praised for its acceleration and passing power, managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Suburban's size was noticeable, but its steering and brakes were up to the task, and the height-adjustable air suspension handled rough roads well.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone featured automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding shorter individuals in entering the vehicle. Inside, the Sequoia offered a maximum of 2,460 litres of cargo space with both second- and third-row seats folded. Behind the second row, cargo space was 1,387 litres, and behind the third row, it ranged from 325 to 631 litres. The third-row seats did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack, affecting headroom and legroom. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, providing wide but flat seating.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in cargo space, with 1,175 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,656 litres with the third-row seats folded. Maximum cargo capacity reached 4,097 litres, surpassing competitors like the Ford Expedition Max and Jeep Wagoneer L. The Suburban's 106-litre fuel tank allowed for extended highway driving, especially with the diesel engine's fuel efficiency. This made it an ideal choice for families needing ample space for road trips and towing.

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

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban's infotainment system featured a 10.2-inch touchscreen on most trims, with an 8-inch screen on the base LS trim. The system included Google Built-in, allowing access to Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play Store without phone pairing. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard, and a rear-seat entertainment system was available as an option. The 10-speaker Bose audio system provided good fidelity but lacked the richness of higher speaker count systems.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia came with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite of safety and driver-assistance features as standard. This included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The only optional driver aid was a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist on higher trims. The Sequoia had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the similar Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban received a four-star overall crash safety rating from the NHTSA, with four stars in frontal crash tests, five in side-crash tests, and three in rollover tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, front and rear park assist, lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warning, and Chevy's Teen Driver feature. Higher trims offered additional ADAS like rear cross-traffic alert and Super Cruise, a semi-autonomous driving technology available with a subscription.