2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2025 Lexus GX

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 Celestial Silver on the Capstone model giving it a somewhat dated look reminiscent of a "cop car." Inside, the Sequoia closely resembled the Tundra and other Toyota vehicles, featuring a blocky, geometric dashboard layout with physical dials and buttons. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered SofTex leatherette or standard leather. The Sequoia provided power-adjustable front seats and a moonroof, enhancing its interior comfort and customization options.

The 2025 Lexus GX underwent a complete redesign, presenting a striking new look compared to its predecessor. Its boxy shape evoked old-school Land Rover vibes, with LED headlights accentuating its brawny facial expression. The GX 550 Overtrail+ test vehicle featured 33-inch tires, matte grey wheels, and a raised ride height, enhancing its rugged appearance. Inside, the GX exuded luxury with clean and elegant design elements, quality switchgear, and chic dashboard and console layouts. The seats offered ample headroom and were upholstered in stitched black and tan faux leather, providing heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. The GX's overall visibility was excellent, thanks to its tall windows and elevated ride height.

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, delivering 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. This marked a significant increase over its V8-powered predecessor, with improved fuel economy rated at 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. The Sequoia featured a standard 4WD system in Canada, with a 10-speed automatic transmission providing smooth operation. The TRD Off-Road model offered adventure-readiness with unique tires, off-road suspension, and driver-assist features like Crawl Control and hill-descent control. Its maximum towing capacity was 4,137 kilograms, with optional towing-related upgrades available.

The 2025 Lexus GX came equipped with a twin-turbo 3.4-litre V6 engine, producing 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. It featured full-time 4WD with a limited-slip centre differential and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The GX accelerated from 0-100 km/h in approximately 6.5 seconds, showcasing its improved performance over the previous V8 model. Despite its weight, the GX felt faster than expected, with ample power throughout the rev band. However, its fuel economy was rated at 15.3 L/100 km in the city and 13.5 combined, with our testing averaging 19.0 L/100 km. The GX excelled in both on-road and off-road performance, with adaptive dampers and off-road capabilities enhancing its versatility.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding entry for shorter individuals. Its cargo space reached a maximum of 2,460 litres with both second- and third-row seats folded. The second-row seats were easy to move for access to the back row, but the third-row seats did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack. Headroom and legroom measurements varied across rows, with the Sequoia offering competitive front-row legroom but falling behind rivals like the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, providing comfort but lacking bolstering.

The 2025 Lexus GX offered generous interior dimensions, with front headroom measuring 1,001 mm and rear headroom at 1,095 mm. Legroom was ample, with 1,047 mm up front and 933 mm in the second row. The GX's cargo space was impressive, with up to 2,563 litres available in the Overtrail packages. Its towing capacity reached 4,111 kilograms, making it suitable for adventurous pursuits. Despite its spaciousness, the GX maintained a manageable footprint, making it easier to park on tight streets compared to other midsize SUVs.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim was equipped with a range of features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, accessible through an 8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen depending on the trim. The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashiness. A 12.3-inch driver information display was standard across all trims, while the Panoramic View monitor and 10-inch head-up display were available on higher trims. The 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was standard on Platinum and Capstone trims.

The 2025 Lexus GX featured a user-friendly infotainment system with a 12.3-inch gauge cluster and a 14-inch touchscreen. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The Mark Levinson Premium Audio system was included with higher packages, providing good audio quality. Six USB-C ports were standard for connectivity and charging, and the Executive and Overtrail+ packages included cooling for the armrest storage.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia came with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite of safety features as standard, including a pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The only optional driver aid was a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist, available on higher trims. The Sequoia had not been rated by safety organizations at the time of writing.

The 2025 Lexus GX featured the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assistance, road sign assist, and more. The Overtrail+ tester included pedestrian detection. The GX's safety features were user-friendly and not intrusive during testing. It also had a 360-degree camera system and trail-viewing cameras for off-road visibility. The GX had not been rated by safety organizations at the time of writing but included 10 airbags for occupant protection.