2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2026 Toyota Sequoia

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia exhibited a robust and utilitarian design, closely resembling its sibling, the Tundra pickup. Its tall and wide stance, coupled with blocky features, gave it a commanding presence. The front showcased a large black grille, more contained than the Tundra's, with blacked-out elements confined within the grille itself. The sides featured a distinctive shoulder line that descended from the hood to the front doors, while pronounced haunches over the wheels added to its chunky aesthetic. Black wheel flares adorned all models except the top Capstone trim, which opted for body-colored flares. The blacked-out front pillars and forward-tilting rear side window line imparted a slight sense of motion. The rear was marked by a standard spoiler and tailgate Sequoia lettering, with wheel options ranging from 18 to 22 inches. The TRD Pro model, with its all-terrain tires, clearly signaled its off-road capabilities.

Inside, the Sequoia's cabin continued the chunky theme, with large dials designed for ease of use, even with gloved hands. The TRD Pro variant felt purpose-built for work and off-roading, featuring black synthetic leather upholstery with a unique camouflage pattern, TRD Pro embroidery on the headrests, and red contrast stitching. While the quality was acceptable, it leaned more towards utility than luxury, with soft-touch surfaces on door tops, center console, armrests, and parts of the dash, but also a significant amount of hard plastic. Buyers could choose between varying levels of luxury, with the base SR5 trim offering cloth upholstery, while higher trims featured real leather, and the Platinum and Capstone trims added contrast stitching.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, four years into its lifecycle, received a refresh that retained its upright stance, low belt line, and large windows. The new illuminated grille and welcome-lighting sequence, inspired by the all-electric Wagoneer S, gave it a fresh and modern vibe. The new Upland trim added front recovery hooks in the lower fascia, enhancing utility without compromising elegance. Inside, the cabin exuded modernity with clean design and strong horizontal lines. While the 12-inch infotainment screen seemed small for such a large vehicle, it wasn't an all-encompassing screen design, with redundant HVAC and audio controls available. The seats, though plain in appearance, were highly comfortable and adjustable, making them suitable for a wide range of drivers.

The Grand Wagoneer's interior materials were more premium than mainstream, with a solid metal feel to the gearshift dial. Entry-level trims featured lower-grade leather, while upper trims offered Nappa and Palermo leather with perforation and reverse-stitching details, along with an available suede headliner. The overall fit and finish were commendable, with doors that closed with a solid thwap and armrest closures that felt sturdy. The Grand Wagoneer provided a comfortable and luxurious experience, with ample space for passengers and a focus on quality materials.

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia transitioned from a V8 to a hybrid powertrain, known as i-Force Max, featuring a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine producing 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. An electric motor, positioned between the engine and 10-speed automatic transmission, added 48 hp and 184 lb-ft, drawing power from a 1.87-kWh battery pack. Despite the absence of a V8, the engine delivered a V8-like experience, with strong acceleration and a 0–60 mph time of about six seconds. The Sequoia could tow up to 9,520 pounds, aided by a haul mode and an optional Tow Tech package. However, the large towing mirrors, while helpful for towing, obstructed views of pedestrians.

Handling was typical for a body-on-frame SUV, with an 8.7-inch ground clearance and a weight of around three tons. The Sequoia lacked advanced suspension technology, except for the TRD Pro's off-road-tuned suspension with Fox coil-overs and rear shocks. The ride quality was generally good, with controlled jiggle over bumps. The TRD Pro's all-terrain tires enhanced off-road capability, complemented by a part-time 4WD system with low-range gearing and off-road drive modes. The surround-view camera system aided off-roading with various views and pitch and yaw readouts.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a standard 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine, delivering 420 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided smooth and effortless power, even in a vehicle weighing about 6,000 pounds. The Hurricane engine surpassed the power and torque of the previous 5.7-liter Hemi V8, offering a quieter and more luxurious experience. The Grand Wagoneer also introduced a range-extended electric powertrain with a 92-kilowatt-hour battery pack and a 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engine, delivering an estimated 647 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque, with a total range of over 500 miles.

Despite its large proportions, the Grand Wagoneer was surprisingly agile and easy to drive. Its large windows and squared-off corners provided excellent visibility, while its size absorbed road imperfections. The cabin remained quiet, with minimal tire and wind noise. The seats were comfortable for long drives, accommodating a wide range of passenger sizes.

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia, a full-size SUV, accommodated seven or eight passengers. The first row featured eight-way power seat adjustments and two-way power lumbar adjustments, with ample headroom and legroom. Heated front seats were standard, with ventilation available on most trims. The Platinum and Capstone trims also offered ventilated second-row seats. The second row provided good comfort, especially with available captain's chairs, and could fit three across. The third row, accessible via center access or tilting second-row seats, offered enough space for short trips but lacked thigh support for longer journeys. Cargo space was limited, with 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 22.5 cubic feet with seats moved forward. Folding the third row provided 49 cubic feet, and folding both rows offered 86.9 cubic feet. The cargo floor was not flush, but a cargo shelf helped even it out.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer excelled as a people mover, with three rows offering ample leg and hip room. The optional second-row bench seat allowed for seating up to eight passengers. The third row comfortably accommodated three people of small to average stature. While using the third row reduced cargo space, it still offered 27.9 cubic feet, sufficient for strollers or athletic gear. The long-wheelbase version increased cargo capacity to 42.6 cubic feet. The Grand Wagoneer could tow up to 10,000 pounds when properly equipped. It featured three-zone automatic climate controls, heated-and-ventilated front seats, and power-operated driver and front passenger seats. The Upland trim included Quadra-Lift air suspension, front recovery hooks, skid plates, and all-terrain tires for light off-roading.

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, with an optional 14-inch touchscreen available on higher trims. The instrument cluster displayed trip information, fuel economy, trailer gain, audio, and a compass. The 14-inch touchscreen offered shortcuts to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, music, and vehicle settings. Standard tech features included a three-month satellite radio trial, an eight-speaker audio system, Wi-Fi Connect, Remote Connect, and Safety Connect. Optional features included a head-up display, a 120-volt outlet, a wireless phone charger, and a 14-speaker JBL audio system. The climate controls and drive mode selector were conveniently located on the center console.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer boasted a comprehensive suite of tech features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-inch touchscreen display, a 10.25-inch digital cluster, a wireless phone charger, a hands-free power liftgate, three-zone automatic climate controls, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and USB ports. Higher trims offered a front console cooler, digital rearview mirror, a 23-speaker McIntosh premium sound system, a front passenger interactive display, and four-zone climate controls. While the tech generally performed well, the wireless phone charger overheated an iPhone 16 during testing. The 12-inch infotainment screen felt small for the vehicle's size, and a larger screen would be preferable. Adjustable pedals were no longer available for the 2026 model year.

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5 suite, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, high-beam assist, and traffic-sign recognition. Additional standard features included blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The Sequoia had not been tested by the NHTSA, and received mixed crash-test results from the IIHS, with a top Good score in small overlap and updated side crash tests, but a Marginal score in the updated moderate front overlap test. The available headlights received varying scores, and the front crash prevention system was rated Good for pedestrian detection but Marginal for vehicle-to-vehicle scenarios. The safety systems performed as expected during testing, but the wide tow mirrors posed challenges in parking and pedestrian visibility.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a comprehensive array of safety features, including lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, intersection-collision assist, front and rear parking sensors, tire pressure monitoring, rear-seat reminders, and a driver-attention monitor. Available features included automated parallel and perpendicular park assist, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system. The Upland trim included blind-spot monitors with trailer detection, a trailer-brake control, and a trailer-hitch zoom. The surround-view camera system was highly recommended for navigating tight spaces. The Grand Wagoneer received fair ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, with a mix of Good and Marginal scores in crash tests. The NHTSA awarded it a four-star safety rating.