2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander presented a bold and distinctive front styling, characterized by the automaker’s “Dynamic Shield” grille and lighting concept. This design choice gave the Outlander a unique identity, with a balanced and appealing aesthetic from the front wheels to the rear bumper. Available in various trim levels, the Outlander offered standard or optional 20-inch wheels, with prices ranging from $25,795 to $35,345. The test vehicle, an SEL trim with AWD, featured luxurious touches like premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof, enhancing the interior ambiance. Despite some interior plastics reminding occupants of its compact crossover status, the Outlander maintained a minimalist design with authentic aluminum accents.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia boasted a bold design that combined the look of the Toyota Tundra with a newly creased SUV body, offering a substantial presence. The Sequoia’s interior shared an industrial theme with the Tundra, featuring leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. A massive 14-inch infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the Capstone’s interior was available in a cream white-over-black two-tone color scheme. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, with prices starting at $59,895 for the base SR5 and reaching $79,895 for the Capstone with 4WD. The test vehicle, a Capstone with 4WD, showcased a rear air suspension and extra-cost paint, with an MSRP of $81,365.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) powered the front wheels, with an optional Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system. Despite the promise of paddle shifters for manual control, the driving experience was less satisfying than expected. The Outlander offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud, but the power felt insufficient for confident acceleration, especially on highways or during overtaking. The steering was vague and disconnected, and the suspension was firm, leading to a brittle ride on imperfect roads. The Outlander returned 24.9 mpg on the testing route, slightly below the EPA’s rating of 26 mpg for AWD models.

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 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This setup delivered 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia’s towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, and it offered improved fuel efficiency, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg for 4WD and 22 mpg for RWD. The test vehicle averaged 17.8 mpg on a mountainous evaluation loop. The Sequoia’s adaptive rear air suspension adjusted ride and handling traits based on driving modes, but the ride quality was busy and occasionally jittery. The steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive. Despite these issues, the Sequoia’s power and torque were impressive, and the Custom mode allowed drivers to tailor dynamic settings to their preferences.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, with roomy and comfortable front seats, deeply padded armrests, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. The interior design was clean and uncluttered, with intuitive controls and impressive displays, including a digital instrumentation panel and a head-up display (HUD). However, the center console had wasted space, limiting storage options. The rear seat offered generous room and comfort, with a sliding mechanism for adjusting space. The third-row seat was cramped and best suited for children, with limited cargo space of 11.7 cubic feet when in use. Folding the third row expanded cargo capacity to 33.5 cubic feet, with a maximum of 79.7 cubic feet available.

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 front seats were comfortable, and the wide, flat door panel shelf provided a convenient resting place for long trips. Power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, though taller individuals might find them unnecessary. The second-row captain’s chairs were comfortable but lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row space. The third-row seat was mounted high, with limited thigh support and legroom. Cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with only 11.5 cubic feet available behind the third row. Folding the third row expanded capacity to 49 cubic feet, and the maximum cargo space was 86.9 cubic feet, significantly less than the previous model.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL with the Touring Package featured standout technology, including a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a large HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay. The infotainment system included stereo volume and tuning knobs, a two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect services, and wireless smartphone charging. The 10-speaker Bose audio system delivered impressive sound quality. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise, affecting its accuracy.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia offered a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in all trims except the base SR5. The system was intuitive, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and allowed for user accounts and a guest mode. The Intelligent Assistant responded to voice commands, though it occasionally provided incomplete results. The Sequoia included a surround-view camera system, a digital rearview mirror, and a 10-inch HUD, though the latter was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The parking sensors and automatic rear braking system effectively prevented collisions, enhancing safety.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured the Mi-Pilot Assist driver-assist system, similar to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist. This Level 2 system provided smooth and accurate assistance, though the steering assistance and lane-departure prevention systems could be intrusive. The Outlander included standard driver-assist technologies like forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features, all standard. The Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5) package included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems were effective, though the lane-departure warning system’s beeping was irritating. Crash-test results were unavailable, but the Tundra, on which the Sequoia is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.