2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

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 dominated the dashboard, and the interior was available in a cream white-over-black two-tone color scheme. Despite its luxurious appearance, some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50, on the other hand, exuded a subtle seductiveness with its blunt nose, long hood, and rakish windshield. It conveyed a newfound ruggedness with its fender swells, cladding, and skidplates. The CX-50's design elements, including the black grille and mirror caps, along with available 20-inch wheels, created an appealing exterior. The interior featured black leather with caramel-colored stitching, a driver-focused design, and quality materials. The CX-50's cabin was well-appointed, with vertical air vents and a mix of analog and digital gauges. Despite a few design quirks, the CX-50 was a good-looking compact crossover.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and a hybrid powertrain that delivered 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. This setup allowed the Sequoia to tow up to 9,520 pounds and carry a payload of 1,730 pounds. The new Sequoia was more fuel-efficient than its predecessor, 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 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and a turbocharged version producing up to 256 horsepower. The turbo engine provided strong acceleration and increased towing capacity to 3,500 pounds. The CX-50's driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing, worked with G-Vectoring Control to ensure natural vehicle behavior. The CX-50's ride quality was firm, and it handled well on various road surfaces. While it lacked some off-road features, it was capable of tackling moderate terrain. The CX-50's turbo engine delivered smooth acceleration, and its towing capability was reliable.

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 climate control system. The Sequoia's interior featured power-deploying running boards, a panoramic sunroof, and second-row captain's chairs. However, 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 86.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The Sequoia's hybrid powertrain impacted its overall utility, reducing cargo capacity compared to its predecessor.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered a well-equipped interior with heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone climate control. The front seats were comfortable, and the back seat provided ample room for adults. Storage space was adequate, with a long load floor and side bins in the cargo area. The CX-50 offered 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 56.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While it lacked some storage features, the CX-50's interior was practical and comfortable for daily use.

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, along with connected services and an Intelligent Assistant. The Capstone trim offered 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 Bluetooth pairing.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 came with a Mazda Connect infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. The system featured an 8.8-inch display in the base trim and a 10.25-inch display in higher trims. While Mazda Connect historically lacked touchscreen control, the CX-50 allowed touchscreen functionality for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The available Bose 12-speaker sound system provided a satisfying audio experience, and the Active Driving Display offered useful information within the driver's line of sight.

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. The Sequoia also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's safety features were comprehensive.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered a generous standard package of driving assistance systems, with additional features available on the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim. These included Traffic Jam Assist, active blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. While the CX-50's systems generally worked well, there were occasional issues with adaptive cruise control in heavy traffic. Crash test ratings were not available, but Mazda's reputation for safety was strong.