2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2025 Subaru Outback

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 a muscular stance. 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, with a blocky, geometric dashboard layout, 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 seating was power-adjustable, and all models included a power moonroof, with higher trims offering a panoramic version.

The 2025 Subaru Outback stood out with its adoption of crossover trends, including chunky wheel-arch flares and skid plate-like fascias. Its design conveyed an off-road-ready intent, especially in earthy shades. Subaru focused on buyers needing off-road capabilities, and this strategy paid off, with the Outback being one of its best-selling models. The 2025 model saw no major changes, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel standard in Canada. The interior featured cloth upholstery on base trims, while higher trims offered StarTex synthetic leather and leather upholstery. The Premier XT trim included Nappa leather and ventilated front seats. The Outback's rugged exterior housed a well-executed interior with reasonable use of chrome and black plastic, and easy-to-read gauges.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively offered 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, a significant increase over its predecessor. Fuel economy improved to 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. The Sequoia featured a standard 4WD system with a 10-speed automatic transmission, offering smooth operation. The SR5 TRD Off-Road model catered to adventure seekers with unique tires, off-road suspension, and driver-assist features like Crawl Control. The Sequoia's towing capacity reached 4,137 kilograms, with available towing upgrades.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured a horizontally opposed "Boxer" engine in two forms: a 2.5-litre four-cylinder with 182 horsepower and a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine producing 260 hp. Both engines ran on regular unleaded gas, with power routed through a CVT and standard AWD. The turbocharged engine provided smart acceleration, while the base engine was less adequate. The Outback offered 22 centimetres of ground clearance, with the Wilderness model increasing it to 24.1 centimetres. The Outback's ride was smooth and comfortable, with light steering and powerful brakes. However, the stop/start technology and CVT's response were less impressive.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim featured automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding entry for shorter individuals. Cargo space reached a maximum of 2,460 litres with seats folded, while third-row seats offered 325 to 631 litres. The second-row seats were easy to move for third-row access, but the hybrid powertrain's battery pack affected the load floor and headroom. Legroom varied across rows, with the Sequoia trailing some rivals. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, though they lacked bolstering.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape provided practicality, with easy entry and exit due to its lower chassis. Cargo space measured 923 litres with the rear seat up and 2,141 litres with it folded. The flat floor and square shape maximized usability. The Outback's total passenger volume was larger than its crossover competitors, offering more front headroom and legroom. Buyers were advised to test different trims, as the Wilderness model's features affected driving dynamics. Towing capacity increased with the turbocharged engine.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim included standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, accessed through an 8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system prioritized functionality over flashiness. A 12.3-inch driver information display was standard, with a Panoramic View monitor available on higher trims. The Capstone trim featured a 10-inch head-up display and a 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package included an 11.6-inch touchscreen with large icons, though the Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless functionality on most trims. The Harman Kardon audio system performed well, but Starlink disturbances affected audio quality. The dashboard featured a mix of buttons and knobs, with some functions requiring touchscreen access. The Premier XT trim included a CD player and USB ports for older devices.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured standard Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5, 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. An optional trailer backup guide was available on higher trims. The Sequoia had not been rated by safety organizations, but the similar Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

The 2025 Subaru Outback included standard EyeSight driver-assist technology, with features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The DriverFocus system monitored for driver distraction, though it occasionally issued false notifications. The 2024 Outback earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with the 2025 model expected to perform similarly.