2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Jeep Compass

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite receiving exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, retained much of its familiar look since its last redesign in 2017. It resembled a smaller version of the Grand Cherokee, with our High Altitude test vehicle featuring attractive 19-inch multi-spoke wheels that matched the paint, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and infotainment systems. The cabin boasted soft-touch surfaces, luxury-grade leather seats, and enhanced sound deadening, elevating its sophistication. The High Altitude trim, the most expensive in the lineup, offered a range of models from the base Sport to the Trailhawk, with prices starting at $26,020 and reaching $35,085, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. Our test vehicle, equipped with standard all-wheel drive and additional option packages, had an MSRP of $40,470, including destination.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia made a bold statement with its redesigned exterior, combining the rugged look of the Toyota Tundra with a newly creased SUV body. This redesign gave the Sequoia a more commanding presence compared to its predecessor. Inside, the Sequoia shared design elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. The dashboard was dominated by a massive 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, and the interior boasted a luxurious cream white-over-black two-tone color scheme. However, some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins. The Capstone trim topped a lineup that included the SR5, Limited, Platinum, and TRD Pro, with prices ranging from $59,895 to $79,895, including a $1,595 destination charge. Our Capstone test vehicle, equipped with 4WD and additional features, had an MSRP of $81,365, including destination.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 177 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 172 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm. Dubbed the "Tigershark," this engine lacked the punch of a turbocharger, which would have been beneficial for a compact SUV weighing around 3,500 pounds. The engine's noise was noticeable when revving hard, and the nine-speed automatic transmission, while better than a CVT, was reluctant to downshift, resulting in a busy powertrain character. The automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage, leading to hard engagement when accelerating from a stop. The Compass averaged 23.8 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 25 mpg. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance, the Compass AWD handled light off-roading and snowstorms well, while the Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities. The Compass felt nimble with its 19-inch wheels, but its short-wheelbase design led to a bouncy ride on uneven pavement.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a hybrid powertrain with 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 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, and its payload capacity rose to 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency improved, with the Sequoia achieving 20 mpg with 4WD and 22 mpg with RWD, compared to the previous model's 14-15 mpg. Our Capstone 4WD test vehicle averaged 17.8 mpg on a mountainous evaluation loop. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, with an adaptive rear air suspension that adjusted ride and handling traits. However, the suspension communicated road impacts, and the steering was slow, requiring effort in tight spaces. The regenerative braking system felt unresponsive, leading to inconsistent braking behavior.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned among Jeep's similarly sized SUVs, offered enough space for four adults and their luggage. The High Altitude trim enhanced its premium appeal with features like eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and premium leather upholstery. The cabin featured a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a redesigned dashboard with a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen, and improved storage in the center console. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, surpassing the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with 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 sunroof reduced second-row headroom. The second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat, mounted above the battery pack, offered limited comfort and legroom. The Sequoia's cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with only 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet. The adjustable cargo shelf helped maximize space, but the overall cargo capacity was reduced compared to the previous model, making it less spacious than its rivals.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. It offered an 8.4-inch standard touchscreen, with a 10.1-inch upgrade available. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. Over-the-air updates kept the system current, and additional features included a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, and a wireless charging pad. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it struggled with specific requests like finding a hospital.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came with a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen in the base SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system was intuitive, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected services allowed for user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant that responded to voice commands. However, the system had some quirks, such as difficulty making calls via Apple CarPlay. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display, though it was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The Sequoia also featured a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, offering forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert as standard. Highway Assist, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was to be added later. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems worked well, though the lane-keep assist was overly insistent at lower speeds. The forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives. As of the review, the Compass had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it retained a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia included all available driver-assistance features as standard, bundled into Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5). This package offered forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and road sign recognition. Additional features included 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 was irritating. The Sequoia had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but the Tundra, on which it is based, received high ratings.