2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2024 Toyota Sequoia

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, and this connection was evident in its design. Both vehicles featured hexagonal grilles, wheel arches, strong fender creases, and muscular stances. The Sequoia's appearance varied significantly with its exterior color. The Capstone model, which was our tester, came in Celestial Silver, giving it a somewhat dated look reminiscent of a "cop car." However, with a color swap to Solar Octane orange and black accents, it transformed into a "Tonka truck" vibe. Inside, the Sequoia closely resembled the Tundra and other Toyota models, with a blocky, geometric dashboard layout. The interior featured physical dials and buttons for volume and climate control, and the center console offered a spacious cubby beneath padded armrests. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered fabric, SofTex, or leather seating options. The Sequoia also included power-adjustable front seats and a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, with a panoramic version available on higher trims.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 maintained its distinctive appearance, drawing retro comparisons to the Lancia Delta. The mid-cycle refresh retained its unique styling, with minor revisions to the lower front fascia. The Ioniq 5 featured "Parametric Pixel" headlights and taillights, round wheel arches, and a high rear spoiler. The new XRT trim stood out with red tow hooks and black plastic bumper cladding, featuring a "digital camouflage" pattern. Exclusive colors like Ultimate Red and Cosmic Blue Pearl were available for the XRT, while the color palette expanded with Atlas White Matte and Ecotronic Gray Matte. New wheel designs were introduced, with 19-inch wheels standard on SE and SEL trims, 20-inchers on the Limited, and 18-inch rally-style wheels exclusive to the XRT. Inside, the Ioniq 5's cabin remained open and uncluttered, with a minimalistic and modern feel. The center console was revised for functionality, and the XRT trim featured a dark interior with all-weather floor mats and debossed XRT logos on the seats.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively offered 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. This marked an increase of 56 hp and 182 lb-ft over the previous V8-powered version. Fuel economy improved significantly, with a rating of 20 mpg combined for the 4WD model, compared to 14 mpg previously. The Sequoia TRD Pro was available only with 4WD, featuring a part-time system with a selector for 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the on-road handling was adequate for its class. The TRD Off-Road package, available on SR5, Limited, and Platinum trims, added all-terrain tires, a skid plate, and off-road suspension with Bilstein shocks. The Sequoia's maximum towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, with towing-related upgrades available.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT featured etched badging, extra cladding, and a solid front fascia for added protection. It introduced a Terrain Mode button on the steering wheel, offering Snow, Mud, and Sand modes that adjusted throttle mapping, wheel slip, power distribution, and regenerative braking. The XRT handled off-road conditions well, with all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard. The Ioniq 5's battery capacity increased for 2025, resulting in longer ranges. Most trims could travel 318 miles in RWD configuration, while the base trim had a 245-mile range. AWD reduced the range to 290 miles for SE and SEL, 269 miles for Limited, and 259 miles for XRT. Power output varied with the powertrain choice, with RWD models producing 168 to 225 horsepower and AWD models delivering 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque. Despite its weight, the Ioniq 5 offered an enjoyable driving experience with instant electric torque.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone featured automatic power-deploying running boards, making it easier for shorter individuals to enter the vehicle. Inside, the Sequoia offered a maximum of 86.9 cubic feet of cargo space with both second- and third-row seats folded. Behind the second row, there were 49 cubic feet, and behind the third row, it ranged from 11.5 to 22.3 cubic feet, depending on seat position. The third-row seats did not create a flat load floor when folded due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack. Headroom measured 39.2 inches in the front, 37.5-38.4 inches in the middle, and 35.6 inches in the back. Legroom ranged from 28.1 to 33.7 inches in the third row, 39.2 inches in the second row, and 41.2 inches in the front. Second-row captain's chairs were available in higher trims, providing ample width but lacking bolstering.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 addressed previous complaints by adding a rear windshield wiper. The movable center console featured fore-and-aft cupholders, a wireless charging pad, and controls for seat and steering wheel heating. Heated front seats were standard, with a heated steering wheel available on the SEL trim. The Limited trim offered front seat ventilation and driver's seat memory, but heated rear seats were not available. Interior dimensions remained unchanged, with headroom measuring 39.1-39.8 inches in the front and 37.5-38.7 inches in the rear. Legroom was generous, with 41.7 inches in the front and 39.4 inches in the back. Cargo space measured 26.3 cubic feet with rear seats up and 58.5 cubic feet with them folded down, plus an additional .85 cubic feet in the "frunk." The Ioniq 5 transitioned to the North American Charging System (NACS), allowing access to the Tesla Supercharger network, and included a Combined Charging System (CCS) adapter for public and fast charging.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone was equipped with a range of technology features. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, accessible through an 8-inch touchscreen on the SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashy design. The driver-information display was a full-color 12.3-inch screen with attractive graphics. The Panoramic View monitor was standard, aiding in parking and maneuvering. A 10-inch color head-up display was standard on Capstone and available on Platinum. The 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on Limited and standard on higher trims.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained its pair of 12.3-inch screens for infotainment and digital instrument cluster, with improved functionality and faster processing speeds. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the Bose Premium Audio system was available on the XRT and Limited trims. SE and SEL trims featured a six-speaker sound system. All trims included standard navigation, dynamic voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, and five USB-C ports. The Ioniq 5 offered a head-up display on the Limited trim and a wireless charging pad starting at the SEL trim level.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia came with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite of safety and driver-assistance features as standard. This included 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, available on SR5 and Limited trims, added a digital rearview mirror and trailer backup guide. The Sequoia had not been rated by IIHS or NHTSA, but the similar Toyota Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 received high safety ratings, earning a Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS and five stars from NHTSA. New standard safety features included an enhanced driver attention system with haptic steering wheel feedback and hands-on detection, as well as reverse and forward parking-distance warning. The Ioniq 5 XRT and Limited trims featured a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Highway Driving Assist 1 was standard on the base trim, while Highway Driving Assist 2, available on higher trims, added lane-changing capability and machine learning.