2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC

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 its predecessor, 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 elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with luxurious touches like leather, wood, and metallic finishes, especially in the upscale Capstone trim. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia 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 trim or add a TRD Off-Road Package to the SR5 and Limited trims for enhanced capability.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC, a compact crossover, was a best-seller in the US, and its redesign aimed to maintain its loyal fanbase. The GLC's exterior changes were subtle, with new taillights and a revised rear design, but it retained a familiar look. The Coupe version featured a steeply sloping profile, giving it a distinctive fastback appearance. The GLC's interior was luxurious, with a focus on gadgetry and technology. The AMG GLC 43 test car boasted two-tone leather upholstery, an optional wood-and-metal dash treatment, and an array of screens, buttons, and ambient lighting. The GLC's interior was class-leading in terms of technology and luxury, appealing to those who appreciated a tech-heavy environment.

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. The Sequoia was also more fuel-efficient, achieving 20 mpg with 4WD and 22 mpg with RWD. The Capstone 4WD test vehicle averaged 17.8 mpg on a mountainous evaluation loop. 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 traits, but the Sequoia's ride quality could be busy and jittery in certain modes. The steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC 43 featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from AMG, producing 416 horsepower, surpassing the previous generation's V6. The GLC 43 was equipped with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, enhancing performance. The base GLC 300 offered 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The GLC 300 was available in RWD, with an optional 4Matic AWD for an additional cost. Both powertrains used a nine-speed automatic transmission, with the GLC 43 featuring the AMG Speedshift MCT 9-speed for faster shifts. The GLC 43's performance suspension provided improved handling but resulted in a firmer ride. Enthusiasts appreciated the sporty nature of the AMG GLC, especially with its standard four-wheel steering.

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 wide, flat 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 space. 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. Folding the third-row seats increased capacity to 49 cubic feet, and folding the second-row seats provided 86.9 cubic feet. However, the Sequoia's cargo space was smaller than its rivals, and the hybrid powertrain impacted overall utility.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a driver-focused cabin layout, with controls and displays angled toward the driver. The front seats offered heat and memory functions as standard, with optional ventilation and heated rear seats. The GLC SUV provided 21.9 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 59.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The GLC Coupe offered 17.6 cubic feet of cargo volume, expanding to 52.6 cubic feet. The GLC's interior was well-appointed, with power-folding rear seats and a flat load floor for added convenience.

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 a guest mode. The available Drive Connect plan included an Intelligent Assistant for voice commands, though it occasionally provided inaccurate results. The Sequoia's infotainment system allowed simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two devices, but there were occasional connectivity issues. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display, though it was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The Sequoia also featured a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC's cockpit was centered around an 11.9-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen, running the third-generation MBUX infotainment system. The system offered responsive voice commands with the "Hey Mercedes" feature and included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Exclusive trim added navigation, a 15-speaker Burmester 3D surround sound system, and an off-road dash display with a "Transparent Hood" feature. The Pinnacle trim included a head-up display and augmented reality navigation. Standalone tech options included an Advanced USB package, increasing the number of USB-C ports.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features, bundled into Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5). This 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 a road sign recognition system. 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 made highway driving easier, though the lane-departure warning system's beeping could be irritating. As of the review, the Sequoia had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but the Tundra, on which it is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, with an "Acceptable" rating for the standard front crash-prevention system. The optional upgraded version received a "Good" rating. The GLC's standard safety features included active brake assist, attention assist, blind-spot and exit warning assist, adaptive braking technology, and active parking assist. The Pre-Safe system prepared the vehicle for an imminent crash by tightening seatbelts, closing windows, and emitting a "pink noise" to protect passengers' hearing. Optional safety features, such as adaptive cruise control and active lane-keeping assist, were available in the Driver Assistance Package.