2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 BMW X7

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia presented a bold and commanding presence, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Its redesigned exterior featured a traditional grille and front bumper, which distinguished it from the Tundra's more unconventional look. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, offering an industrial theme with luxurious touches in the Capstone trim, such as leather, wood, and metallic finishes. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the interior was available in a cream white-over-black two-tone color scheme. Despite its upscale appearance, some materials reminded drivers of its pickup truck origins. 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 2023 BMW X7 underwent a mid-cycle makeover, adopting a design reminiscent of the BMW 7 Series sedan. The front end featured LED accent lights and recessed headlights, creating a bold yet polarizing look. While the new styling was controversial, the sides and rear remained largely unchanged. The interior received updates, including a curved glass housing for the digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The center console featured a new gear selector, and the interior materials were of high quality, with options for leather upholstery and wood trim. The X7's interior was well-built, offering a modern and elegant appearance, even if the exterior design divided opinions.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and a hybrid system, delivering 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain allowed for a maximum tow rating of 9,520 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,730 pounds. The Sequoia's fuel efficiency improved significantly, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg for 4WD and 22 mpg for RWD. The SUV offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, with a Custom mode for personalized settings. The adaptive rear air suspension contributed to a varied ride quality, and the steering was slow, requiring effort in tight spaces. The regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times, but overall, the Sequoia provided a robust and efficient driving experience.

The 2023 BMW X7 lineup began with the xDrive40i model, featuring a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine and a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The X7 M60i model upgraded to a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Despite its nearly 6,000-pound weight, the X7 offered impressive acceleration and handling, with well-managed body roll and a composed ride. The ride was slightly firmer compared to other luxury SUVs, but it maintained a good balance of performance and comfort.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on highways, offering a quiet cabin with comfortable front seats, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, while the panoramic sunroof reduced second-row headroom. The second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row space. The third-row seat was less comfortable than competitors, with limited cargo space due to the hybrid powertrain. The Sequoia offered 11.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in place, expandable to 86.9 cubic feet with all seats folded. However, the new Sequoia's interior space was smaller than its rivals, impacting overall utility.

The 2023 BMW X7 provided ample space, with comfortable second-row seats and a large sunroof enhancing the cabin's airy feel. Accessing the third row required time due to power-operated middle-row seats, but once inside, there was adequate head- and legroom. The third-row seat was lower to the floor, reducing thigh support. Behind the third row, the X7 offered 12.8 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 90.4 cubic feet with all seats folded. The split tailgate and adjustable suspension made loading easier. Front-seat passengers enjoyed ample storage space, including a large center console bin and door pockets.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected services included user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant for voice commands. However, the system had some glitches, such as issues with phone pairing. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display, but it was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The Sequoia also had a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2023 BMW X7 came with the latest iDrive infotainment system, which had a less intuitive layout compared to previous versions. Many physical buttons were replaced with touchscreen controls, making simple tasks more complicated. Voice commands were available but interrupted audio playback. The system's complexity detracted from its usability, and more physical buttons would have been appreciated for frequently used features.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 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 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 was slightly irritating. Crash test results were not available, but the Sequoia's platform shared high ratings with the Tundra.

The 2023 BMW X7 offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane departure warning, adaptive headlights, and automatic high beams. The M60i trim added a surround-view camera system, and options included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward cross-traffic alerts, and a semi-automated parking function. The highway driving assist feature reduced driver fatigue on long trips, and all safety features performed reliably without false alarms.