2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, combining the bold aesthetics of the Toyota Tundra with a newly designed SUV body. This redesign gave the Sequoia a more commanding presence compared to its predecessor. 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 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.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe had a more conservative exterior design, lacking the standout looks of some other Hyundai models. However, it remained an attractive SUV, with a wide upper and lower grille and thin LED headlights giving it a distinctive appearance. The Santa Fe was available in five trims, with FWD standard and AWD optional. Our test vehicle, the Calligraphy AWD, featured a Stormy Sea paint and a black-on-black interior. The Santa Fe's cabin was high-quality but dark, with Nappa leather seats providing comfort. The Calligraphy trim included heated and cooled front seats, and the second row also had seat heaters. The Santa Fe's performance was commendable, with the turbocharged engine delivering brisk acceleration without undue noise.

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 produced 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 its payload capacity improved to 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency also saw an improvement, with the new Sequoia achieving 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 Sequoia's steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged version delivering 281 hp and 311 pound-feet. The turbocharged engine provided immediate acceleration and passing power, especially in Sport mode. The Santa Fe's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering. The turbocharged version could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the non-turbo version had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds. The Santa Fe's drive-mode selector offered Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes, enhancing its versatility.

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. However, the Sequoia's interior space was compromised by its hybrid powertrain, resulting in reduced cargo capacity. With the third-row seat in its rearmost position, the Sequoia offered just 11.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet by sliding the third-row seat forward. Folding the third-row seats provided 49 cubic feet of cargo space, while folding the second-row seats expanded it to 86.9 cubic feet. Despite these limitations, the Sequoia's towing and hauling capacity improved.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered ample rear-seat legroom of 41.7 inches and a competitive cargo space of 36.4 cubic feet behind the second row. Folding the second row provided 72.1 cubic feet of storage space, with an underfloor storage compartment for added convenience. The Santa Fe's seat comfort was a highlight, with SEL and higher trims featuring an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats. The Calligraphy trim included a head-up display, premium door and seat accent trim, and ambient lighting. However, the wide center console limited driver leg and hip space.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen in the base SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but glare on the display was an issue. The Intelligent Assistant responded to voice commands, though it occasionally provided incomplete results. The Sequoia also included a 10-inch head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and a digital rearview mirror. The parking sensors and automatic rear braking system effectively prevented collisions.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. The infotainment system included an 8-inch display in the base trim and a 10.25-inch touchscreen in higher trims, offering wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, and voice recognition. The Santa Fe's voice-recognition capabilities were mixed, with some commands requiring specific terminology. The Limited and Calligraphy trims featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

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 a road sign recognition system. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's platform shared with the Tundra, which received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, driver monitoring, a safe-exit system, and a rear-seat reminder system. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, with high ratings in crashworthiness tests.