2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, with its bold styling reminiscent of the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The redesigned SUV boasted a more commanding appearance than its predecessor, though opinions on its aesthetics varied. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with upscale touches like leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the Capstone trim. The interior was dominated by a 14-inch infotainment system, and while the Capstone trim exuded luxury, 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 trim or add a TRD Off-Road Package to the SR5 and Limited trims for enhanced capability.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban, a long-standing icon in the automotive world, was known for its massive size and practicality. Despite its imposing dimensions, the Suburban blended into traffic due to its familiarity. At nearly 19 feet long and over six feet tall, it wasn't suited for urban environments, but it excelled in providing ample cargo and passenger space. The Suburban was available in six trims, each offering a range of features, from basic niceties like automatic windshield wipers and LED lights to more luxurious options in higher trims. However, even the top-tier High Country trim required additional payments for features like power running-board steps and a panoramic moonroof. Inside, the Suburban offered a comfortable cabin with leather upholstery in most trims, though the interior felt somewhat pedestrian despite its spaciousness.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a 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 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 powertrain offered improved towing and payload capacities, with a maximum tow rating of 9,520 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,730 pounds. The Sequoia also boasted better fuel efficiency, achieving 20 mpg with 4WD and 22 mpg with RWD. The SUV featured 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 2024 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine options: a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and a Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The 5.3-liter V8 was the most common, providing a towing capacity of up to 8,300 pounds with the Max Trailering Package. The 6.2-liter V8 offered better acceleration, while the diesel engine delivered superior fuel economy and cost savings. The Suburban's 10-speed automatic transmission was well-tuned, and the SUV's steering and brakes were up to the task. The height-adjustable air suspension handled rough roads well, though drivers needed to account for the vehicle's size and weight.

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 power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, though they could be a nuisance for taller individuals. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat was mounted high, reducing comfort, and the cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain. 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 seat forward. The maximum cargo capacity was 86.9 cubic feet, significantly less than its predecessor and competitors.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban was renowned for its cargo space, offering 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 93.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 144.7 cubic feet. This made it a top choice for those needing ample storage capacity. The Suburban's 28-gallon fuel tank, combined with the diesel engine's 26-mpg highway rating, allowed for long-distance travel between fill-ups. The SUV's interior was spacious, with comfortable seating and a focus on practicality, making it ideal for family road trips and towing needs.

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 directions. 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 and a surround-view camera system, though the display was difficult to see with polarized sunglasses.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban came with a 10.2-inch touchscreen on all but the base LS trim, which had an 8-inch screen. The infotainment system featured Google Built-in, allowing access to Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play Store without phone pairing. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were included, and a rear-seat entertainment system was available as an option. The 10-speaker Bose audio system provided good fidelity but lacked the richness of higher speaker count systems.

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 features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While crash test ratings were not available, the Tundra, on which the Sequoia is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban received a four-star overall crash safety rating from the NHTSA, with four stars in frontal crash tests, five in side-crash tests, and three in rollover tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, front and rear park assist, lane-keeping assist, and Chevy's Teen Driver feature. Higher trims offered additional features like rear cross-traffic alert and Super Cruise, a semi-autonomous driving system available as part of the Advanced Technology Package.