2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Buick Envista

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 more commanding than its predecessor, though opinions on its appeal varied. The Sequoia's traditional grille and front bumper distinguished it from the Tundra's more unconventional look. 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 infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the interior's two-tone color scheme added a touch of elegance. However, 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 2024 Buick Envista, based on the Chevy Trax platform, took a different styling approach with its sloping roofline, giving it a "crossover coupe" appearance reminiscent of more expensive models like the BMW X4 and X6. While this design choice slightly compromised rear visibility, it was acceptable. The Envista's front-end styling, inspired by the Buick Wildcat EV concept, featured a split lighting design with daytime running lights above and real headlights flanking the grille. This sleek arrangement set it apart from competitors like the Hyundai Kona and Jeep Cherokee. The Envista's ST grade boasted black exterior trim and 18-inch wheels, while the top Avenir trim featured bright exterior accents and 19-inch wheels. Inside, the Envista's cabin shared similarities with the Trax but included softer materials and a more streamlined look. Despite some cheap-feeling textures, the Envista offered a step up from the Trax, with a flat-bottom steering wheel and optional leather seats on higher trims.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a robust 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 at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. While it lacked the V8's rumble, the new V6 offered superior towing and payload capabilities, with a maximum tow rating of 9,520 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency improved significantly, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg for 4WD and 22 mpg for RWD. The Sequoia's adaptive rear air suspension and various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowed for a customizable driving experience. However, the suspension could be busy and jittery in Normal mode, and the steering was slow, requiring effort in tight maneuvers. The regenerative braking system, while effective, felt unresponsive at times.

The 2024 Buick Envista featured a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This powertrain produced 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, offering a refined performance despite its modest specs. Unlike its predecessor, the Buick Encore, the Envista did not offer all-wheel drive, distinguishing it from the Encore GX. The Envista's suspension setup included a torsion-beam rear suspension for base models and a Buick-exclusive Watts Link rear suspension for models with 19-inch wheels. This setup improved ride quality, though the rear end could feel unsettled on imperfect roads. The Envista's acceleration was adequate for highway merges, and it provided a quieter, more comfortable ride compared to its Chevy Trax sibling. While it wasn't as agile in corners, it offered a more laid-back driving experience, aligning with Buick's brand image.

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 wide, padded upper door panel shelf provided a convenient resting place for long drives. Power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, though taller passengers might find them cumbersome. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat, positioned above the battery pack, offered limited comfort and legroom. Cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with only 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet. Folding the third-row seats increased capacity to 49 cubic feet, while folding the second-row seats provided 86.9 cubic feet. Despite the hybrid's benefits, the Sequoia's overall utility was reduced compared to its predecessor.

The 2024 Buick Envista, with its longer wheelbase and coupe-like design, offered improved interior space compared to the Buick Encore. Rear-seat legroom increased by three inches, and shoulder room expanded by two inches, creating a more spacious feel. However, headroom decreased slightly, especially in the second row, due to the sloping roofline. The seats were comfortable for the price point, and the car-like driving position provided good visibility. Cargo space was limited, with 20.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 42 cubic feet with the seats folded. While less than the old Encore, the Envista offered more cargo space than the Chevy Trax in some configurations.

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 an Intelligent Assistant for navigation. However, the system had some quirks, such as issues with phone pairing and contact access. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display, though it was not visible with polarized sunglasses. A surround-view camera system and digital rearview mirror were standard on higher trims, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2024 Buick Envista came standard with an 11-inch touchscreen and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The interface was user-friendly, with physical controls for climate and audio. However, the center stack's tilt toward the driver made controls less accessible for passengers. While the Envista lacked some advanced tech features like a head-up display, it offered a competitive set of features for its price range, surpassing some rivals in terms of digital instrumentation.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped 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 beams, and road sign recognition. 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 Tundra platform received high marks from the IIHS.

The 2024 Buick Envista offered standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-change alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. While crash-test ratings were not available, the Envista's safety features were typical for its price range.