2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, and this connection 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, presented 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 dash layout and physical controls for volume and climate. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered SofTex leatherette or standard leather. The seating was customizable, with power-adjustable front seats across the lineup, and every Sequoia came with a power-tilt and -slide moonroof or an upgraded panoramic version.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined an old-school, boxy profile with modern features like angular headlights, connecting it visually to other Land Rover models. However, its interior was more rugged and adventure-ready, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with more soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with various trims. Our test vehicle, the Defender 110 S, came with a U.S. specification visual package. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic glass roof, and a 10-speaker Meridian sound system. The X-Dynamic SE and X trims offered larger wheels and distinctive styling, while the V8 trim combined leather and microsuede upholstery. The Outbound trim, available only in Canada with the Defender 130, provided added cargo space by removing the third row.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively offered in a hybrid format, utilizing Toyota's iForce MAX hybrid powertrain. This system combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, surpassing its V8 predecessor by 46 hp and 182 lb-ft. Fuel economy improved significantly, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD, compared to the previous 16.4. In Canada, the Sequoia came standard with 4WD, featuring a part-time system with a selector for 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD. The TRD Pro models included a skid plate, and 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 and hill-descent control. The Sequoia's maximum towing capacity was 4,137 kilograms, with available towing-related upgrades.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Two supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine options, the P500 and P525, produced 493 hp and 450 lb-ft, and 518 hp and 461 lb-ft, respectively. All engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission with full-time active 4WD. The six-cylinder and eight-cylinder powertrains allowed the Defender to tow up to 3,500 kilograms, while the four-cylinder version could tow up to 2,500 kilograms. The most powerful V8 accelerated the SUV from zero to 96 km/h in 5.1 seconds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system. Our P400 test model provided ample power for highway speeds, though there was a slight lurch off the line and during deceleration.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone featured automatic power-deploying running boards, also available on the Platinum trim, 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, there were 1,387 litres, and behind the third row, it ranged from 325 to 631 litres, depending on the third-row seat position. The second-row seats did not slide fore and aft but were easy to move for access to the back row. The third-row bench 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. Headroom was reduced by 7.5 centimetres, with 995 mm up front, 952 to 975 mm in the middle, and 904 mm in the back. Legroom ranged from 713 to 855 mm in the third row, 995 mm in the second row, and 1,041 mm in the first row. Second-row captain's chairs were available on Platinum and Capstone models, offering width but lacking bolstering.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender blended luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and numerous cargo compartments. The multifunctional climate control dials required an additional button press to switch between temperature and fan speed. Seating capacity ranged from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration and body style. The Defender 110 offered an optional third row for children, while the Defender 130 had three seats in the third row, accommodating up to eight passengers. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 offering 433 litres behind the third row, 1,013 litres behind the second row, and 2,155 litres with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 provided 962 litres behind the second row and 2,231 litres behind the first row in the two-row version. The two-door Defender 90 offered 441 litres of space behind the second row and up to 1,650 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone trim was equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, standard across all trims. The SR5 featured an 8-inch touchscreen, while other trims boasted a 14-inch centre touchscreen. The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashy design. The driver information display was a full-colour 12.3-inch screen with attractive graphics. The Panoramic View monitor was standard on Platinum and Capstone trims, aiding in vehicle maneuvering. A 10-inch colour head-up display was standard on Capstone, and the 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on Limited and standard for Platinum and Capstone.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. Despite seeming small compared to competitors, the touchscreen was simple and aligned with the Defender's utilitarian persona. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The interior layout was straightforward, with home buttons on the left and right rails for easy access to features like Apple CarPlay.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite of safety and driver-assistance features as standard across all trims. 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, available on Platinum and Capstone trims. The Sequoia had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the similar 2024 Toyota Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered an extensive list of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional standard safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist features were somewhat touchy, but they could be deactivated. The Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.