2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2023 Toyota Sequoia

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 traditional grille and front bumper distinguished it from the Tundra's more unconventional design. 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 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 Sequoia lineup included the SR5, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, and Capstone trims, with prices starting at $59,895 for the base SR5 and reaching $79,895 for the Capstone with 4WD. The TRD Pro trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities, while the TRD Off-Road Package added features like 18-inch TRD wheels and off-road suspension to the SR5 and Limited trims. Our test vehicle, a Sequoia Capstone with 4WD, Wind Chill Pearl paint, and rear air suspension, had an MSRP of $81,365.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, known as the J250, retained its iconic boxy design with a flat roof, reminiscent of its predecessors. Each of the three trims featured heritage-inspired details, such as the "TOYOTA" grille and round headlights on the base 1958 and First Edition trims. LED lighting was standard, with color-selectable fog lights on the higher trims. The beltline was lowered for improved visibility, and all models came with 18-inch alloy wheels, with 20-inch wheels available for the middle trim. The First Edition included off-road gear like a roof rack and skid plate. Inside, the base trim had cloth seats, while the middle trim featured SofTex upholstery, and the First Edition boasted real leather with unique logos. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard across trims, with the Premium Package adding a moonroof and ventilated front seats. The cabin emphasized comfort with cushy seats, a padded center console, and contrast stitching, allowing drivers to focus on the terrain ahead.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with 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 hybrid powertrain 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 5.7-liter 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. Our 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 ride quality could be busy and jittery in Normal mode. The steering was slow, requiring effort in tight maneuvers, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota's i-Force MAX hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 1.87-kWh battery pack and a 48-hp electric motor. This setup produced 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time 4WD. The Land Cruiser's Multi-Terrain Select system operated in both 4Hi and 4Lo, enhancing off-road capability. Standard features included an automatic limited-slip differential and rear- and center-locking differentials. The middle and top trims offered a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar, improving articulation off-road. The updated CRAWL control function provided low-speed cruise control with five speed settings, operating silently. The transmission was unobtrusive, allowing for smooth off-road navigation.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a quiet cabin with comfortable front seats, 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 Platinum trim and above featured a panoramic sunroof, impacting second-row headroom. Second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding capability, limiting third-row space. The third-row seat, positioned above the battery pack, offered limited comfort and legroom. Cargo space was compromised, 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 lack of a lip risked items falling out. Folding the third-row seats increased capacity to 49 cubic feet, while folding the second row provided 86.9 cubic feet, significantly less than the previous model.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado, featured two rows of seating, with headroom measuring 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the rear. Legroom was 33.0 inches in the front and 26.7 inches in the rear. The center console housed controls for off-road features, including the stabilizer-bar disconnect and differential lockers. Hard controls for climate and media were easily accessible, and the wireless charging pad was conveniently located. The rear liftgate opened to a cargo area with a raised load floor, equipped with a rubber mat for easy cleaning. The cargo volume measured 37.5 cubic feet, with a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports available in higher trims.

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 Drive Connect plan included an Intelligent Assistant for directions, though it occasionally provided incomplete results. The system supported simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two devices, but a bug in our pre-production model affected phone calls. 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 during parking maneuvers.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser's Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM) system, standard on higher trims, utilized a 12.3-inch center touchscreen display for off-road navigation. The infotainment system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with USB-C ports for front and rear passengers. The base trim featured an 8-inch display and a six-speaker sound system, while the middle trim offered a 10-speaker system with an optional upgrade to the First Edition's 14-speaker JBL premium sound system. The Premium Package added a head-up display and a digital rear-view mirror.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 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 features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking were also standard. While crash tests were not available, the Tundra, on which the Sequoia is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but its platform-mates, like the 2024 Tundra, earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS. The Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. The Premium Package added lane-keep assist, front cross-traffic alert, and traffic jam assist, standard on the First Edition.