2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia presented a bold and commanding presence, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Its redesigned exterior featured a traditional grille and front bumper, distinguishing it from the Tundra's "manta ray on wheels" look. Inside, the Sequoia shared an industrial theme with the Tundra, highlighted by leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system dominated the dashboard, while the interior's cream white-over-black two-tone color scheme added a touch of luxury. 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 trim or add a TRD Off-Road Package to the SR5 and Limited trims for enhanced capability.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica maintained its contemporary exterior styling, offering a smooth and modest design that contrasted with its rivals. Unlike the Kia Carnival, Chrysler didn't attempt to make the Pacifica resemble an SUV, and its sliding-door tracks were cleverly hidden for a clean look. The Pacifica was available in Touring, Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims, with a de-contented Voyager version for commercial fleets. Standard features included LED lighting and various wheel options. The S Appearance and Road Tripper Packages added unique exterior and interior trims. Inside, the Pacifica's dashboard featured a minimalist design with well-integrated controls, while the Pinnacle trim boasted luxurious brown Nappa leather upholstery. However, some interior elements felt less upscale, and the rotary shifter could be mistaken for the volume knob.

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 rumble of the previous V8, the new V6 offered improved towing and payload capacities, with a maximum tow rating of 9,520 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency also improved, with EPA ratings of 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 suspension could be busy and jittery in Normal mode, and the steering was slow, requiring effort in tight spaces. The regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times, leading to inconsistent braking behavior.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on higher trims. The Pacifica's V6, known as the Pentastar, provided peppy acceleration and a towing capacity of 3,600 pounds. The minivan's chassis tuning prioritized comfort and stability, effectively damping body motion and road imperfections. However, some weight transfer was noticeable during acceleration and deceleration. The Pacifica offered a quiet and comfortable ride, positioning itself as a refined option compared to its competitors.

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 trips. Power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, though taller individuals 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. The adjustable cargo shelf helped maximize space, but the overall cargo capacity was smaller than its predecessor and rivals.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica featured the innovative Stow 'n Go seating, allowing second-row seats to fold flat into the floor, creating in-floor storage bins. The Pacifica offered seven seats with standard bucket seats and a 60/40 split-folding third-row bench. An eight-seat configuration was available with the Touring L trim but couldn't be combined with Stow 'n Go or AWD. Pinnacle and Limited models included a power-folding third-row seat and a power liftgate. Passenger space was competitive, with ample headroom and legroom in the first two rows. The Pacifica offered 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 140.5 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Stow 'n Vac built-in vacuum cleaner was available on select trims, providing convenient cleaning options.

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 voice commands. However, glare on the display was an issue, especially in the Capstone trim. The system allowed simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two devices, but there were occasional glitches. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. The parking sensors and automatic rear braking system effectively prevented collisions.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The instrument cluster included analog gauges with a 7-inch digital display. The Pacifica offered up to 12 USB-C ports, built-in navigation, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Uconnect 5 system was user-friendly, though a shortcut for the 360-degree camera system would have been appreciated. The Uconnect Theater system provided rear-seat entertainment with touchscreens, wireless headphones, and Amazon Fire TV connectivity. The FamCam allowed parents to monitor rear-seat occupants, though an intercom system was absent.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features, all standard. The Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 package 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. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems enhanced highway driving, though the lane-departure warning system's beeping could be irritating. Crash test ratings were not available at the time of review, but the Tundra's high IIHS rating was promising.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, though it missed the Top Safety Pick+ award due to lower scores in updated crash tests and middling ratings for headlights and front crash prevention tech. The NHTSA awarded the Pacifica a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and rear park assist. Optional features included a 360-degree camera system, front park assist, and a parallel/perpendicular park assist system. The new Emergency Vehicle Alert System provided warnings about nearby emergency vehicles or road hazards.