2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

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, which distinguished it from the Tundra's more unconventional look. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, offering an industrial yet upscale feel, especially in the Capstone trim. This trim level boasted a luxurious cream white-over-black two-tone color scheme, a massive 14-inch infotainment system, and a mix of leather, wood, and metallic finishes. However, some interior materials reminded drivers 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 Volkswagen Tiguan exuded a premium European aesthetic, making it stand out among its non-European competitors in the compact SUV class. The SEL R-Line trim, which was tested, featured LED headlights and taillights, an illuminated grille light line, and silver roof rails. The rear end showcased the model name in all-caps style, accompanied by the classic Volkswagen badge. The Tiguan's color options varied by trim, with some combinations restricted by interior choices. The base Tiguan S offered heated front seats and cloth upholstery, while higher trims added features like leatherette upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and a panoramic sunroof. The SEL R-Line trim provided real leather, front-seat ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and additional power adjustability for the front passenger seat.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a powerful 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. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, and its payload capacity improved to 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency also saw a boost, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg for 4WD and 22 mpg for RWD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, with a Custom mode for personalized settings. However, the ride quality could be busy and jittery in Normal mode, and the steering was slow, requiring effort in tight maneuvers. The regenerative braking system felt unresponsive and heavy, especially in urban driving.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, while Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive was available for an additional cost. The AWD system slightly impacted fuel economy, with combined ratings dropping from 27 to 25 mpg for the base Tiguan S and 24 mpg for AWD R-Line trims. The Tiguan's power delivery felt inconsistent, with turbo and transmission lag in some scenarios. The gas pedal was touchy, and the brake pedal had excessive travel. Steering was light but rubbery, with good visibility and handling. Road noise was minimal, and the ride was comfortable, though the firm seating surfaces drew some complaints.

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 the driver's arm. 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, mounted 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 previous models and competitors.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a two-row configuration in the AWD SEL R-Line trim, providing 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The FWD Tiguan, with its three-row configuration, had reduced cargo space, offering 12 cubic feet behind the third row and 65.3 cubic feet with only the front seats in position. Passenger space remained largely unaffected, with ample headroom and legroom in the first two rows. The third row, however, was tight, with limited headroom and legroom. Despite its compact size, the Tiguan was one of the few vehicles in its class to offer a third row, providing a practical option for those needing occasional extra seating.

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 glare on the display and occasional issues with phone pairing. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display, though it was difficult to see with polarized sunglasses. A surround-view camera system and digital rearview mirror were standard on higher trims, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan's infotainment system featured haptic touch slider buttons for climate control, which were responsive and easy to use. However, the physical volume knob's integrated on/off button was sensitive and challenging to align. The infotainment system relied on monochromatic graphics, accessed through an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base Tiguan S had a smaller 6.5-inch screen and fewer USB-C ports. Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit System was standard, with the SEL R-Line offering a fully configurable 10.25-inch display. The nine-speaker Fender Premium Audio System was a highlight, providing excellent sound quality.

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 were particularly effective, though the lane-departure warning system's beeping could be irritating. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's Tundra platform had earned high marks from the IIHS.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, and its safety features improved for 2024. The IQ.DRIVE suite became standard, offering adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capabilities, active blind-spot monitoring, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. These features provided semi-autonomous highway driving and enhanced safety. Additional standard features included rain-sensing wipers, rear cross-traffic alert, an automatic post-collision braking system, and forward collision warning with pedestrian detection. Park Distance Control became standard on the SE R-Line Black trim, though its Maneuver Braking feature could be intrusive.