2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Honda HR-V

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, blending the bold aesthetics of the Toyota Tundra with a newly sculpted SUV body. Its design was a significant departure from the previous generation, offering a more commanding presence. The Sequoia's traditional grille and front bumper distinguished it from the Tundra's more unconventional look. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design 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 focal point of the interior, though some materials reminded occupants 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 Honda HR-V underwent a significant styling update, shedding some of its quirky charm for a more sophisticated and modern appearance. The lowered beltline and simplified detailing contributed to a sleeker look, with cleaner lines and fewer interruptions. The HR-V Sport trim featured unique design elements like black alloy wheels and a more aggressive grille. Inside, the HR-V offered a comfortable and refined cabin, with the EX-L trim providing perforated leather seats and dual-zone climate control. The interior design drew inspiration from the 2022 Civic, with premium touches like a metal honeycomb grille and touch-sensitive lights. Despite its fastback design, the HR-V maintained good visibility, and the rear seat and windshield were larger than the previous model's.

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 improved to 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency also saw a boost, with the new model achieving 20 mpg with 4WD and 22 mpg with RWD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience. However, the steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2023 Honda HR-V featured a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. This was an improvement over the previous model, but the HR-V still lacked the power of some competitors. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) included a Step-Shift function to mimic traditional automatic transmission sounds. Drivers could choose from Normal, Snow, ECON, and Sport modes to suit different driving conditions. The HR-V's new suspension setup and widened tracks contributed to a fun driving experience, especially on winding roads. However, the HR-V was noisier at higher speeds, and some competitors offered more powerful engine options.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable and quiet ride. The cabin featured soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs provided comfort, but they did not slide forward, limiting third-row space. The third-row seat was less comfortable than competitors, and the hybrid powertrain reduced cargo capacity. With the third-row seat in place, cargo space was limited to 11.5 cubic feet, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet by sliding the seat forward. Folding the third-row seats increased cargo capacity to 49 cubic feet, but this was still less than the previous model. The Sequoia's overall utility was compromised by the hybrid powertrain.

The 2023 Honda HR-V offered a well-thought-out interior, with a center console featuring a shelf for storage and USB ports. The HR-V's fastback design slightly reduced rear-seat headroom, but cargo space remained competitive, with 24.4 cubic feet available with the rear seats up and 55.1 cubic feet with them folded. The HR-V's rear seats featured a new hinge design for easier entry and egress, and they created a nearly flat floor when folded. Passenger volume varied slightly between trims, with the EX-L offering more space than the LX and Sport. Front legroom improved, but rear legroom decreased slightly.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came with 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 and included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Capstone trim featured 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 the Intelligent Assistant. The Sequoia's parking sensors and automatic rear braking system were effective in preventing accidents.

The 2023 Honda HR-V featured a tablet-style infotainment display, with a 7-inch screen on LX and Sport trims and a 9-inch screen on the EX-L. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across the lineup, with wireless versions available on the EX-L. The HR-V also included a 7-inch digital gauge cluster and a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad on the EX-L. The infotainment system offered programmable shortcuts and Smart Shortcuts, which adapted to user preferences. The HR-V's audio system varied by trim, with the EX-L offering an eight-speaker system.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included features like forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Sequoia also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking. While the Sequoia had not been crash-tested, the Tundra, on which it was based, received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2023 Honda HR-V included the Honda Sensing suite as standard, offering adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigation braking, lane-keeping assist, and more. New features for 2023 included traffic-sign recognition and traffic jam assist. The HR-V's safety features were generally unobtrusive and effective. The 2022 model received high safety ratings, and updates for 2023 aimed to improve its performance in crash tests.