2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Lincoln Aviator

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. This redesign gave the Sequoia a more commanding presence compared to its predecessor. Inside, the Sequoia shared much 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 in the Capstone's interior, which was available in a cream white-over-black two-tone color scheme. Despite its luxurious appearance, some interior materials reminded drivers of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included the SR5, Limited, Platinum, and TRD Pro trims, with prices starting at $59,895 for the base SR5 and reaching $79,895 for the Capstone with 4WD. The TRD Pro trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities, while the SR5 and Limited trims could be equipped with a TRD Off-Road Package for added ruggedness.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator was a midsize SUV that exuded luxury and sophistication. It offered a choice between a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine and a plug-in hybrid powertrain, with the latter available in the Grand Touring and Black Label Grand Touring trims. Prices ranged from $53,340 to $89,280, excluding a $1,195 destination charge. The Aviator's design was elegant, with a modern Lincoln face that stood out in the automaker's lineup. However, the wheel designs on the Black Label Grand Touring trim were considered plain. The Aviator's interior was a blend of high-end materials, including leather, chrome accents, and a simulated suede headliner. The Black Label Flight theme featured rich caramel-hued leather seats, adding to the cabin's opulence. Despite some chrome detailing appearing cheap, the Aviator's interior was undeniably fancy, with a focus on comfort and luxury.

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. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, and it could carry a payload of 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency improved, with the 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. The adaptive rear air suspension adjusted ride and handling based on the driving mode. However, the Sequoia's steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid, combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor and battery, producing 494 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 630 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm. The Aviator offered 21 miles of electric driving range and averaged 23 mpg in hybrid mode. It featured multiple driving modes, including Pure EV, Preserve EV, Conserve, Normal, and Excite, to optimize efficiency and performance. The Aviator's Dynamic Handling Package with adaptive-damping Active Glide suspension provided a smooth and controlled ride. Despite its impressive power, the Aviator's drivetrain could be unpredictable, and the brake pedal exhibited inconsistent behavior. The Aviator excelled in comfort and isolation, making it ideal for highway cruising, but it lacked the engaging driving experience of a performance-oriented SUV.

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 Sequoia's front seats were particularly comfortable, and the wide, flat, padded upper door panel shelf provided a convenient 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 were comfortable but lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat was mounted high, reducing comfort and leg support. Cargo space was limited, with 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet by sliding the third-row seat forward. The Sequoia's maximum cargo capacity was 86.9 cubic feet, significantly less than its predecessor and segment rivals.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator prioritized comfort with features like a four-zone automatic climate control system, heated and ventilated seats, and massaging 30-way Perfect Position front seats. The second-row captain's chairs were spacious and supportive, with a center console for storage and controls. However, the Aviator's third-row seat was cramped, with limited kneeroom and legroom. Cargo space was modest, with 18.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded. The Aviator's maximum cargo capacity was 77.7 cubic feet, making it less spacious than some competitors.

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 and included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Capstone trim added a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, the system occasionally experienced glitches, such as issues with phone pairing and voice commands. The Sequoia's parking sensors and automatic rear braking system were effective in preventing accidents.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Black Label Grand Touring came equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa integration, and Lincoln Connect services. However, it ran on the older Sync 3 software, which had limitations in voice recognition and navigation accuracy. The Aviator's Revel Ultima 3D audio system with 28 speakers delivered impressive sound quality. The SUV also featured wireless charging, a Phone As A Key system, and a comprehensive head-up display. The Aviator's parking sensors and surround-view camera system were useful for parking, though the Active Parking Assist 2.0 system was not tested.

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 safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. The Sequoia's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems were effective, though the lane-departure warning system's beeping could be irritating. Crash-test ratings were not available, but the Sequoia's platform-mate, the Tundra, received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator offered a range of driver-assistance features through its Co-Pilot360 packages, including automatic high-beam adaptive-pixel headlights, adaptive cruise control, road-sign recognition, pedestrian detection, and forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking. The Aviator also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The driver aids performed well on straight highways but were less reliable in heavy traffic. The Aviator's steering wheel controls were unnecessarily complex. The standard Aviator received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.