2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia, despite its attempts to stay modern with a 2018 facelift, showed its age with a design that harked back to its 2007 origins. The subtle updates, such as the lines connecting the grille to the headlights, were overshadowed by the vehicle's large silhouette. Inside, the Sequoia's massive, multi-tiered center dash design felt dated, reminiscent of mid-2000s styling. The standard 7-inch touchscreen appeared small against the expansive dashboard, and while the cabin offered ample space, the front seats were bulky, limiting headroom for taller drivers. The second-row seats, however, provided generous headroom and legroom, and all seats were noted for their comfort and support.

The Sequoia offered a range of trims, from the entry-level SR5 to the top-tier Platinum, each adding various features and styling touches. The new-for-2021 Nightshade Special Edition brought black 20-inch wheels and black leather upholstery, among other features. The TRD Pro trim catered to off-road enthusiasts with its specialized suspension and skid plates, while the Platinum trim added luxury touches like heated-and-ventilated front seats and a larger touchscreen. Despite these offerings, the Sequoia's design and features reflected its age, with newer SUVs offering more modern amenities and space utilization.

The 2022 Genesis GV70, while inheriting some styling elements from other Genesis models, boasted a unique appearance with its quad LED strips and large shield-shaped grille. The sloping roofline and ribbed detailing added a muscular profile, blending SUV bulk with sleek, car-like elements. The Sport Prestige models featured distinctive styling, including 21-inch wheels with a web pattern and dark chrome trim, enhancing the vehicle's character. The interior followed an elliptical theme, inspired by an airplane wing's cross-section, with a minimalistic design that hid air vents and perched the touchscreen atop the dashboard. The rotary gear selector and infotainment controller added a futuristic touch, while a variety of interior color options allowed for personalization.

The GV70's interior, though stylish, compromised on storage space with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, it included a covered storage cubby with USB ports and rear-seat climate controls. The Sport Prestige's heavily bolstered front seats offered heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions, though some controls were less intuitive. Overall, the GV70 combined luxury with a sporty edge, though its interior space and storage were not segment-leading.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a 5.7-liter V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, provided robust acceleration despite the SUV's hefty weight of up to 6,000 pounds. The transmission, while a throwback compared to modern multi-speed options, held gears longer under acceleration, impacting fuel economy. The Sequoia's driving dynamics resembled a truck, with a soft suspension and strong brakes, appealing to those who appreciated a pickup-like feel. However, it exhibited body-roll in corners, though its wide stance helped stabilize it. The Sequoia's towing capacity reached 7,400 pounds, trailing behind competitors like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options: a base 2.5-liter turbo-four with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The GV70 included features like a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty intentions. The Sport+ drive mode enhanced throttle response and maintained high revs for quick overtaking. However, the GV70's chassis felt heavy, lacking the sharpness of rivals like the BMW X3 or Porsche Macan. The steering, while adequate, wasn't precise enough for spirited driving, and the exhaust sound was less than pleasant. The GV70 excelled in highway cruising, though its firm ride on 21-inch wheels detracted from the luxury experience.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia's standout feature was its spacious cabin, offering nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and 120 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. While not class-leading, it provided ample room for passengers and cargo. The Sequoia's power-retractable rear window was a practical feature for accessing items without fully opening the hatch. Despite its age, the Sequoia offered deep in-door pockets, a massive center console, and multiple cupholders, though newer SUVs optimized space more effectively.

The 2022 Genesis GV70's interior space was average for its segment, with front-seat headroom comparable to the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and back-seat headroom similar to the BMW X3. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded, placing it in the middle of the segment. The GV70's daring design limited storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, it included a covered storage cubby with USB ports and rear-seat climate controls. The Sport Prestige's front seats offered various comfort features, though some controls were less intuitive.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot. Our test model's larger 9-inch screen still felt small on the expansive dash. The older infotainment system was user-friendly, with simple menu navigation and large hard buttons. The digital trip computer, though small, was easy to use, offering a straightforward experience despite the Sequoia's dated technology.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 boasted a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Its tile-based layout and crisp graphics were user-friendly, complemented by a glass rotary controller with pinch-and-zoom functionality. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 included a digital-key feature, allowing smartphone use in place of a key fob, and a fingerprint scanner for starting the car. Genesis Connected Services provided remote camera activation and other features, enhancing the GV70's tech appeal.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, it lacked advanced tech like lane-keeping assist. The Sequoia scored four out of five stars in the NHTSA's rollover test, with no further crash test ratings available.

The 2022 Genesis GV70, as a new model, lacked crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA. It came standard with lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, and Highway Driving Assist. The GV70 also included eight airbags, with a front-center airbag for added protection. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. The GV70's safety tech impressed, though its lane-centering function had limitations on curvy roads.