2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

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 a muscular stance. The exterior color significantly influenced its appearance. The Capstone model, with its chrome accents and Celestial Silver paint, appeared somewhat dated, reminiscent of a "cop car." However, a switch to Solar Octane orange with black accents transformed its look to a playful "Tonka truck." Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dashboard design, featuring 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. The Sequoia provided power-adjustable front seats and a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, enhancing comfort and customization.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, encountered as a rental in Honolulu, presented a stark contrast with its black-on-black color scheme, which absorbed heat in the tropical climate. Despite this, the Wrangler's appeal lay in its open-air experience, with removable overhead panels and windows down. The Wrangler lineup included various trims, from Sport to the powerful Rubicon 392 with a 470-horsepower Hemi V8 engine. The Sport S model featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, priced at $49,175 with options. Inside, the Wrangler emphasized function over form, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a rugged design. Its appeal stemmed from its nostalgic American freedom theme, rooted in its World War II military vehicle heritage and off-road capabilities.

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, delivering 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, surpassing its V8 predecessor. Fuel economy improved significantly, with a rating of 20 mpg combined for the 4WD version. The Sequoia's off-road-oriented TRD Pro trim featured a part-time 4WD system with selectable modes and a skid plate. Other trims offered 4WD as an option for an additional $3,000. 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, available on select trims, added all-terrain tires, a skid plate, and off-road suspension enhancements. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, with towing-related upgrades available.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine produced 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, offering slightly better fuel efficiency at 21 mpg combined. During a week-long evaluation in Hawaii, the Wrangler achieved an average fuel economy of 19.2 mpg. The Wrangler's standard 4WD, high ground clearance, and off-road capabilities made it well-suited for the island's terrain. However, its three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA raised concerns. The Wrangler's ride was rough, with slow steering and handling traits, but its off-road prowess was undeniable, especially in the Rubicon trim with advanced off-road features.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone featured automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding entry for shorter individuals. Inside, it offered a maximum of 86.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third-row seats folded. The third-row seats could be adjusted for additional cargo space, but their position above the hybrid powertrain's battery pack affected headroom and legroom. The Sequoia's second-row seats were easy to move for access to the back row, and the third-row seats folded at the push of a button. However, the lack of a flat load floor and reduced headroom in the rear affected passenger comfort. Second-row captain's chairs were available in higher trims, providing ample width but lacking bolstering.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler posed challenges for entry and exit due to its high ground clearance and narrow door openings. Step rails were available but could complicate access. Inside, the Wrangler's front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and optional heated features. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. Cargo access required opening the tailgate and lifting the rear window, which could be inconvenient in tight spaces. The Wrangler offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone was equipped with a range of technological features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 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 Sequoia featured a 12.3-inch driver-information display and a Panoramic View monitor, enhancing visibility and safety. A 10-inch color head-up display was standard on the Capstone and available on the Platinum trim. The 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on the Limited trim and standard on higher trims.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. The Sport S trim came with an eight-speaker stereo, with an optional nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. Higher trims offered navigation and Jeep Connect services, including a Wi-Fi hotspot and off-road navigation capabilities. The touchscreen remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group package added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, and remote engine starting. Rear parking sensors were part of the Active Safety Group package.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite, including 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 select trims, added a digital rearview mirror and trailer backup guide. The Sequoia had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the similar 2024 Toyota Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler introduced standard side curtain airbags for front and rear seats. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was limited to the Sahara trim. Adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights were available on models with automatic transmissions. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated the Wrangler as Good for side-impact protection and moderate overlap frontal-impact tests but Marginal for small overlap frontal-impact tests.