2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave represented a significant shift in Buick's design philosophy, moving away from its traditionally conservative styling to embrace a more modern and upscale appearance. This transformation was evident in the Enclave's exterior, which featured a refreshed grille, updated front and rear fascias, and new headlamp and taillamp designs. The Avenir trim level, in particular, stood out with its unique grille and 20-inch wheel design. Inside, the Enclave offered a refined cabin with upgraded materials, a restyled center console, and luxurious features like heated, cooled, and massaging front seats. The Avenir trim further elevated the interior with climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and distinctive trim and seat stitching.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia made a bold statement with its striking design, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The Sequoia's exterior featured a traditional grille and front bumper, giving it a more SUV-like appearance compared to the Tundra's unique styling. Inside, the Sequoia shared design elements with the Tundra, offering an industrial yet upscale interior in the Capstone trim. The cabin boasted a massive 14-inch infotainment system, a luxurious cream white-over-black color scheme, and a mix of leather, wood, and metallic finishes. However, some interior materials reminded occupants of the Sequoia's pickup truck origins. The Sequoia's lineup included various trims, each offering distinct features and capabilities, catering to a wide range of preferences and needs.

The 2022 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain provided a smooth and responsive driving experience, with the Enclave's AWD system enhancing its capability on various terrains. The Enclave's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, making it suitable for light towing needs. Buick's reputation for a quiet and comfortable ride was upheld in the Enclave, thanks to features like QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. The Avenir Technology package further enhanced the ride quality with a premium suspension and real-time chassis damping, ensuring a serene and enjoyable driving experience.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia, on the other hand, featured a hybrid powertrain consisting of 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 produced an impressive 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, significantly improving the Sequoia's towing and payload capacities. The new Sequoia could tow up to 9,520 pounds and carry a payload of 1,730 pounds. Additionally, the hybrid powertrain offered better fuel efficiency, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg for 4WD and 22 mpg for RWD. The Sequoia's adaptive rear air suspension and various driving modes allowed for a customizable driving experience, although the ride quality could be busy and jittery in certain settings.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with easy ingress and egress and excellent visibility. The cabin featured standard eight-way power driver and six-way power front passenger seats, both heated and with power lumbar control. Premium and Avenir trims added four-way power lumbar with massage and second-row heated seats. The Enclave's three-row seating configuration provided ample room for passengers, with the third row accommodating six-footers comfortably. The second-row captain's chairs facilitated easy access to the third row and offered versatility with flip-and-fold functionality. The Enclave's cargo space was generous, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with features like soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. The Sequoia's power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, while the panoramic glass sunroof added a touch of luxury. However, the second-row captain's chairs did not slide, limiting flexibility for third-row passengers. The third-row seat, mounted above the battery pack, offered limited comfort and legroom. Cargo space was a compromise, with only 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 86.9 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Sequoia's hybrid powertrain impacted its overall utility, reducing cargo capacity compared to its predecessor.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a user-friendly infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's infotainment system supported pairing up to 10 devices, with a built-in WiFi hotspot for up to four devices. The system's interface was intuitive, though some graphics appeared dated. The Enclave also offered a range of advanced features, including adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and HD surround vision, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia boasted a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in most trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and supported multiple user accounts. The Intelligent Assistant responded to voice commands, though it occasionally misinterpreted requests. The Sequoia's Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display, though visibility was affected by polarized sunglasses. The Sequoia also featured a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came equipped with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and more. Premium trims added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera. The Enclave received a four-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia included Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 as standard, featuring forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and more. The Sequoia also offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems were effective, though the lane-departure warning system's beeping could be irritating. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's Tundra platform received high marks from the IIHS.