2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2025 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, and this was evident in its design cues, such as hexagonal grilles, wheel arches, and strong fender creases. The exterior color significantly influenced its appearance, with the Capstone model featuring more chrome and a Celestial Silver finish, giving it a somewhat dated look. However, a switch to Solar Octane orange and black accents transformed its vibe to a more rugged, "Tonka truck" aesthetic. Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dashboard design, with physical dials and buttons for climate control and volume. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered fabric, SofTex, or leather seating options. The Sequoia provided power-adjustable front seats across all trims and a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, enhancing its interior comfort and customization.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox underwent a modern redesign, aligning its look with larger Chevrolet models like the Traverse and Suburban. Each trim had distinct styling elements, with the base LT offering chrome or a Midnight Edition High Gloss Black treatment. The RS trim featured sporty black mirrors and badges, while the new ACTIV trim showcased dark chrome and all-terrain tires. The Equinox's interior also saw significant updates, with a new round vent design and a relocated shifter to the steering column, creating more space in the center console. The RS trim offered a storage area and a wireless charging pad, while the ACTIV trim introduced a "Maple Sugar and Black" interior theme. The Equinox's cabin avoided a cheap feel, with textures that felt like a deliberate choice rather than a compromise, and the RS trim added sporty red highlights and contrast stitching.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively available in a hybrid format, utilizing Toyota's iForce MAX hybrid powertrain. This system combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, a significant increase over its predecessor. The Sequoia's fuel economy improved to 20 mpg combined with 4WD. The TRD Pro trim was available only with 4WD, while other trims offered a choice between RWD and 4WD for an additional cost. The 10-speed automatic transmission provided smooth operation, and the Sequoia's on-road handling was adequate for its class. The TRD Off-Road package added adventure-ready features like all-terrain tires and an off-road suspension. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, with several towing-related upgrades available.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox retained its 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower. Torque varied with powertrain, offering 184 lb-ft in FWD models and 203 lb-ft in AWD versions. The Equinox introduced a CVT for FWD models and an eight-speed automatic for AWD, improving acceleration and reducing noise. The Equinox's accelerator was responsive at low speeds, but highway merging highlighted the engine's limitations. The ride remained quiet and comfortable outside of these situations. The Equinox's towing capacity reached 1,500 pounds with AWD, and selectable drive modes allowed drivers to switch between Normal, Snow, and Off-Road modes.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone featured automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding entry for shorter individuals. The Sequoia offered a maximum of 86.9 cubic feet of cargo space with both second- and third-row seats folded. The third-row seats were positioned above the hybrid powertrain's battery pack, affecting headroom and creating a non-flat load floor. Legroom varied across rows, with the Sequoia trailing competitors like the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Second-row captain's chairs were available in higher trims, providing width but lacking bolstering.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox RS and ACTIV trims came with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard. Ventilated front seats and heated rear seats were available as part of a package. The Equinox's flat roof provided consistent headroom, with the moonroof extending light to rear-seat passengers. The cabin featured a well-placed "dead pedal" for driver comfort. Cargo space was slightly reduced, offering 29.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.5 cubic feet with them folded. A hidden storage compartment added versatility, though the cargo volume was small for the class.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone was equipped with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, accessible through an 8-inch touchscreen on the SR5 trim and a 14-inch screen on higher trims. The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashiness. The Sequoia featured a full-color 12.3-inch driver-information display and a Panoramic View monitor as standard. A 10-inch color head-up display was available on higher trims, and the JBL Premium Audio system was standard on select trims.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with Google Built-In, offering wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The native Google Maps integration projected onto the driver information display, allowing for multitasking without interrupting navigation. The Equinox's voice control system had volume issues in some test models. The new infotainment system featured an 11.3-inch touchscreen, wi-fi hotspot capability, and a six-speaker audio system. Wireless charging was standard on RS and ACTIV trims, with no option for an upgraded sound system.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia included the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite as standard across all trims. This suite featured a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Tow Technology Package added optional driver aids like a digital rearview mirror and trailer backup guide.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox offered a Safety & Technology package for additional features like rear pedestrian alert and HD surround vision. The Chevy Safety Assist suite included standard features such as rear park assist, lane-change alert, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Teen Driver Technology allowed parents to set speed and volume limitations and provided a "report card" of driving behavior.