2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Honda Pilot

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia presented a bold and commanding presence, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Its redesigned exterior featured a more pronounced and creased SUV body, which gave it a substantial presence compared to its predecessor. The Sequoia's traditional grille and front bumper distinguished it from the Tundra's "manta ray on wheels" look, offering a more conventional SUV appearance. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, showcasing 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 Capstone's interior was available in a cream white-over-black two-tone color scheme. Despite its luxurious appearance, some interior materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins.

The 2023 Honda Pilot underwent a complete redesign, adopting a more rugged and substantial appearance. Its upright grille and boxier styling made it look larger, and it was indeed bigger than the previous model. The Pilot's TrailSport model gained legitimate off-road parts, including a taller ride height, unique wheels, all-terrain tires, and underbody skid plates. The interior took a more conventional styling route, focusing on functionality and versatility. Materials quality met class expectations, and the Pilot emphasized function over form without sacrificing attractiveness. Overall, the new Pilot offered a tidy and utilitarian aesthetic that was preferred over the previous generation.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped 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 hybrid powertrain delivered 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. While it lacked the rumble of the previous 5.7-liter V8, the new V6 offered improved towing and payload capabilities, with a maximum tow rating of 9,520 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,730 pounds. The Sequoia's fuel efficiency also improved, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg with 4WD and 22 mpg with RWD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, with a Custom mode for personalized settings. However, the steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive and heavy.

The 2023 Honda Pilot featured an all-new 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all models and standard on the Elite and TrailSport trims. The Pilot's acceleration was quick, and the engine emitted a pleasant hum. The brake pedal was soft, suitable for a family SUV, and the Pilot cornered well for a three-row SUV, with noticeable but manageable body roll. The Pilot prioritized comfort over performance, with feather-light steering that felt somewhat vague on the highway. The TrailSport trim offered increased ground clearance and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road capabilities without sacrificing on-road comfort.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. The wide, flat, padded upper door panel shelf provided a perfect resting place for the driver's arm. 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 functionality, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat was mounted above the battery pack, resulting in a high floor and low roof, reducing comfort. Cargo space was limited, with only 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet. The Sequoia's maximum cargo capacity was 86.9 cubic feet, significantly less than its predecessor and competitors.

The 2023 Honda Pilot's interior was more conventional, with a handy dash shelf for the front passenger. The entry-level trims featured a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, while higher trims upgraded to a nine-inch display. The Pilot offered logical placement of climate and drive mode controls, a large rubberized shelf for phones, and a wireless charging pad. Clever storage solutions included large cupholders and a wide center console bin. The stowable second-row center seat provided a useful pass-through for third-row access. The second row offered ample space for adults, while the third row was less inviting but suitable for short trips. The Pilot's cargo capacity was impressive, with 22.4 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 60.1 cubic feet with the second row folded, and a maximum of 114.3 cubic feet.

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 allowed for user accounts and a guest mode. The Drive Connect plan included an Intelligent Assistant for directions, though it occasionally provided incomplete results. The system allowed simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two devices, but there were occasional glitches. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display, though it was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The Sequoia also featured a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror, with effective parking sensors and automatic rear braking.

The 2023 Honda Pilot's EX-L trim and higher offered a larger infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, and USB ports in every row. Higher trims included a multi-view camera system, with the Elite trim adding a head-up display and a fully digital instrument panel. The infotainment system was responsive and logically laid out, with large on-screen buttons. Features included Honda's CabinTalk, a navigation system, Bose premium audio, remote monitoring, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The TrailSport and Elite trims featured the TrailWatch camera system for enhanced off-road awareness.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 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 Sequoia's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist made highway driving easier, though the lane-departure warning system was slightly irritating. Crash test results were not available, but the Tundra, on which the Sequoia is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2023 Honda Pilot had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA, but Honda expected top scores. The Pilot received a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. Standard Honda Sensing safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, traffic-jam assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign reader, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims added low-speed automatic braking and parking sensors. The TrailSport and Elite trims featured surround-view and multi-view camera systems. The Pilot's safety features functioned well, with no false alarms, and the adaptive cruise control maintained a smooth driving experience.