2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was a longer version of the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, extending 11.4 inches to accommodate a third row of seats. Its wheelbase stretched five inches, providing more legroom in the second row and wider rear doors. The additional length and mass blended seamlessly into the body, making the standard Grand Cherokee appear truncated. Jeep's decision to introduce the L first, as a 2021 model, before releasing the two-row version in 2022, contributed to this perception. The Grand Cherokee L maintained Jeep's recognizable design elements, such as the seven-slot grille and U-shaped wheel arches, while modernizing the lighting and improving the paint finish and panel fit. The interior was luxurious, featuring dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, and quilted Nappa leather, offering a Mercedes-like style and quality without sharing parts.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia, with its bold styling inspired by the Toyota Tundra, presented a more commanding presence than its predecessor. The Sequoia's design featured a traditional grille and front bumper, distinguishing it from the Tundra's "manta ray on wheels" appearance. Inside, the Sequoia shared an industrial theme with the Tundra, incorporating leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. A massive 14-inch infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the interior was available in a cream white-over-black two-tone color scheme. Despite its luxurious appearance, some interior materials reminded occupants of the Sequoia's pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, with prices ranging from $59,895 for the base SR5 to $79,895 for the Capstone with 4WD.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two engine options: a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in RWD or 4WD. The V6 produced 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, but it struggled to provide sufficient power for the vehicle's weight, especially when fully loaded. The V8, with 357 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, offered a more satisfying performance. The 4xe plug-in hybrid, although untested, promised 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. The V6 achieved an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8 was less efficient at 14/22/17 mpg. The Grand Cherokee L's chassis was praised for its ride composure and steering feel, with an optional air suspension offering five ride height settings for various driving conditions. The vehicle's towing capacity was 6,200 pounds for RWD models and 7,200 pounds with 4WD.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a hybrid powertrain 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 battery pack. This setup delivered 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, significantly improving towing and payload capacities compared to the previous model. The Sequoia's maximum tow rating increased to 9,520 pounds, and its payload capacity rose to 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency improved, with the new Sequoia achieving 20 mpg with 4WD and 22 mpg with RWD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, with an adaptive rear air suspension adjusting ride and handling traits. However, the suspension could be busy and jittery in Normal mode, and the steering was slow, requiring more effort in tight spaces. The regenerative braking system felt unresponsive and heavy, leading to inconsistent braking behavior.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, known for its simplicity and sleek interface. Physical switches for climate and stereo controls were easy to use, and the central rotary shifter was intuitive. The Laredo and Altitude trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, while higher trims offered a 10.1-inch display. The Grand Cherokee L provided ample space in all rows, with second-row captain's chairs standard and a 60/40 split bench seat optional. A panoramic roof, large windows, and USB ports enhanced comfort, but the air vents were insufficient, requiring the fan to be on high, which was noisy.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, with comfortable front seats, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone climate control system. Power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, though taller individuals might find them cumbersome. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding capability, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat, mounted above the battery pack, offered limited comfort and legroom. The Sequoia's cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with only 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet. The third-row seats folded to provide 49 cubic feet, and the maximum cargo capacity was 86.9 cubic feet, significantly less than the previous model and competitors.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered advanced features on upper trims, including massage modes for the front seats, a head-up display, night vision, a 360-degree camera system, and Active Driving Assist. The navigation system integrated with the instrument panel, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available. An optional 10.3-inch touchscreen for the front passenger and dual 10.1-inch rear-seat displays with Amazon Fire TV were new for 2022. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured the Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base SR5 and a 14-inch display on higher trims. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected services allowed for user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. The Sequoia's parking sensors and automatic rear braking system effectively prevented collisions, and the digital rearview mirror was standard on the Platinum trim and above.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L had not been tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. It came standard with driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert, trailer sway control, and various driver aids.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia included all available driver-assistance features as standard, bundled into Toyota Safety Sense 2.5. This package offered forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. The Sequoia also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While crash tests had not been conducted, the Tundra, on which the Sequoia is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.