2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was a testament to Jeep's commitment to its iconic design heritage. The vehicle featured the brand's signature seven-slot grille, which was updated with active shutters for improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. This design element, along with the forward rake of the grille, paid homage to the classic Wagoneer. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was available only as a two-row, five-passenger SUV, with a trim lineup that included the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. The Overland trim, in particular, offered a luxurious interior with leather seats, wood and metal accents, and heated and ventilated front seats. However, the presence of hard plastic materials in the interior raised concerns about durability and noise over time.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia made a bold statement with its redesigned exterior, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The Sequoia's traditional grille and front bumper gave it a distinct SUV appearance, setting it apart from its pickup counterpart. Inside, the Sequoia shared design elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. The Capstone's interior boasted a massive 14-inch infotainment system and a luxurious cream white-over-black color scheme. Despite its luxurious appearance, some interior materials reminded occupants of the Sequoia's pickup truck origins. The Sequoia's lineup included the SR5, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, and Capstone trims, with prices ranging from $59,895 to $79,895.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe stood out with its plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with a 400-volt, 17-kWh battery pack. This setup delivered an impressive 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the output of Jeep's 5.7-liter V8 engine. The Grand Cherokee 4xe featured standard four-wheel drive, managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission, and achieved 56 MPGe. It offered a total driving range of 470 miles, with 25 miles of all-electric driving range. The vehicle's off-road capabilities were enhanced by two available systems: Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II, with the latter providing superior off-road performance. However, the 4xe's towing capacity was limited to 6,000 pounds, less than its V6 and V8 counterparts.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia, on the other hand, was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kWh nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This hybrid powertrain produced 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, significantly improving towing and payload capacities compared to the previous model. The Sequoia's maximum tow rating was 9,520 pounds, and it offered improved fuel efficiency, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg for 4WD and 22 mpg for RWD. The Sequoia featured multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the vehicle's performance to their preferences. However, the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive and heavy, affecting braking consistency.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered ample space for passengers, with a two-row configuration that provided plenty of room for a family of four. Folding the second row expanded cargo space from 37.7 cubic feet to 70.8 cubic feet, offering incremental improvements over the previous generation. The available air suspension allowed for quick adjustments, making loading and unloading easier. Despite the hot Texas weather during testing, the standard heated steering wheel promised comfort in colder climates.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, with a comfortable cabin featuring soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs offered comfort but lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat, mounted above the battery pack, had limited thigh support and legroom. Cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with only 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 86.9 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Sequoia's cargo capacity was significantly smaller than its predecessor and segment rivals.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an Android-powered interface with customization options. The My Pages feature allowed users to personalize the display with various widgets. The Grand Cherokee 4xe included multiple screens, such as a 10.25-inch front-passenger display and a frameless digital driver information display. Optional features included a wireless charging pad, dual rear-seat entertainment screens, and a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, which was standard on the Summit Reserve trim.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came with the Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on the base SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with connected services and an Intelligent Assistant. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, the system had some quirks, such as glare on the display and occasional issues with Bluetooth pairing.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a range of standard and optional advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Standard features included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection-collision assist, night vision, front parking sensors, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. However, crash test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of review.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5), which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and road sign recognition. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While crash test ratings for the Sequoia were not available, the Tundra, on which it is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.