2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, blending the bold aesthetics of the Toyota Tundra with a newly designed SUV body. Its traditional grille and front bumper gave it a distinct look, setting it apart from the Tundra's more unconventional design. Inside, the Sequoia shared many elements with the Tundra, featuring 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 was a standout feature, though some interior 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. Off-road enthusiasts could opt for the TRD Pro or add a TRD Off-Road Package to the SR5 and Limited trims for enhanced capability.

The 2023 Ford Escape, meanwhile, embraced a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. The refreshed model featured a traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar and the Ford blue oval logo. The Escape offered a range of trims, from the base Active to the top-tier ST-Line Elite, which we tested. The ST-Line Elite boasted 19-inch wheels and a sleek design, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Escape featured diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt somewhat hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat made long drives enjoyable. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt cost-cutting.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a powerful hybrid powertrain, featuring 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 an impressive 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, and its payload capacity rose to 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency improved significantly, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg for 4WD and 22 mpg for RWD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor their experience. However, the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive, and the steering was slow, requiring effort in tight spaces.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. While the Escape's suspension was soft and compliant, it lacked the precision of a performance crossover. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors. The Escape's suspension excelled on rough roads, offering a comfortable ride.

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. However, the panoramic sunroof reduced second-row headroom, and the third-row seat was less comfortable due to its high floor and low roof. Cargo space was limited, with only 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet by sliding the seat forward. The Sequoia's maximum cargo capacity was 86.9 cubic feet, significantly less than its predecessor and competitors.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided comfortable seating and excellent ergonomics, with well-positioned armrests and convenient cupholders. The head-up display was easy to adjust for different drivers. While the Escape's cargo space was competitive with some rivals, it fell short of leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. With 37.5 cubic feet of storage behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, the Escape was suitable for daily use but might feel cramped during larger moves. Rear-seat legroom was slightly less than some competitors, but headroom was impressive.

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 screen on higher trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, glare on the display was an issue, especially in the Capstone trim. The Intelligent Assistant responded well to commands, though it occasionally provided incomplete information. The Sequoia included a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look and offered easy navigation between features like Android Auto and the native navigation system. While Sync 4 was generally user-friendly, it was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient. Despite these minor issues, the system's layout and features were impressive.

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, adaptive cruise control, and more. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking were also standard. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's platform shared with the Tundra, which received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with high scores in frontal and side-crash tests. However, it received a Marginal score in the IIHS side-impact test. The Escape came with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology, enhancing the Escape's safety features.