2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

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, 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. Power-adjustable front seats were standard across the lineup, and all models included a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, with a panoramic version available on higher trims.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan presented a premium appearance, often perceived as more designed than its non-European rivals. Standard LED headlights and taillights, along with an illuminated grille light line on the Highline R-Line, enhanced its exterior. The Trendline trim offered only grayscale colours, while higher trims introduced more vibrant options. Inside, the base Trendline featured heated front seats and cloth upholstery, while the Comfortline added leatherette and a power tailgate. The R-Line trims included a panoramic sunroof, and the Highline R-Line upgraded to real leather, front-seat ventilation, and a heated steering wheel. The Highline R-Line also offered eight-way power adjustability for the front passenger seat and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively available 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. 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. In Canada, the Sequoia came standard with 4WD, featuring a part-time system with a selector for 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the on-road handling was adequate. 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 towing-related upgrades available.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it offered Volkswagen's 4Motion AWD as standard in Canada. Fuel economy ratings were 10.6 L/100 km city, 8.0 highway, and 9.4 combined for non R-Line trims, and 10.9 city, 8.1 highway, and 9.7 combined for R-Line trims. Our experience with the Tiguan Highline R-Line revealed inconsistent power delivery, with turbo and transmission lag. The gas pedal felt touchy, and the brake pedal had excessive travel. Steering was light but provided good visibility and handling. Road noise was minimal, and the ride was comfortable, though seating surfaces drew complaints.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone featured automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding shorter individuals in entering the vehicle. Cargo space was generous, with a maximum of 2,460 litres with both second- and third-row seats folded. Behind the second row, it offered 1,387 litres, and behind the third row, it ranged from 325 to 631 litres. The second-row seats were easy to move for third-row access, and the third-row seats folded at the push of a button, though they did not create a flat load floor. Headroom was reduced due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack, and legroom varied across rows. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, providing width but lacking bolstering.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan offered firm seats in both rows of the top-trim test car. In Canada, the third row was an $800 option, affecting cargo space. The two-row Tiguan provided 1,064 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, or 2,078 litres with the rear seats folded. The three-row configuration reduced cargo space but minimally impacted passenger space. The driver and front passenger enjoyed up to 1,006 mm of headroom and 1,021 mm of legroom. The second row offered 983 mm of legroom, while the third row had 858 mm of headroom and 708 mm of legroom. Despite tight third-row dimensions, the Tiguan remained one of the few compact crossovers offering this option.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone was equipped with 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. The Panoramic View monitor was standard on Platinum and Capstone trims, aiding in parking. The Capstone also featured a 10-inch colour head-up display and a 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system, available on Limited and standard on Platinum and Capstone.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan featured haptic touch slider buttons for climate control, which were responsive and easy to use. The infotainment system relied on monochromatic graphics, accessed through an 8-inch centre touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. USB-C ports were standard on the base Trendline, while higher trims offered wireless charging. The Digital Cockpit System was standard, with the R-Line trims featuring a fully configurable 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro screen. The nine-speaker Fender Premium Audio System was a highlight, providing excellent sound quality.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia included 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, 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.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. Standard safety features in Canada included forward collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, emergency calling, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control, lane assist, and Emergency Assist were part of the Travel Assist function, available on the Comfortline trim. Park Distance Control became standard at the Comfortline R-Line Black trim level, though its judgment was sometimes lacking.