2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its iconic design, with a boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood that paid homage to its predecessors. Despite these retro elements, the Defender was a thoroughly modern vehicle, featuring rounded corners for improved aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave it a unique personality. The larger size of the modern Defender translated into more interior space and better ergonomics, offering a comfortable driving position with ample headroom and legroom. The interior design emphasized ruggedness, with bare metal and exposed screws complementing the mix of leather and suede upholstery, making it both stylish and practical for off-road adventures.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia boasted a bold new design that combined the look of the Toyota Tundra with a creased and kinked SUV body, giving it a more commanding presence than its predecessor. The interior shared similarities with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. A massive 14-inch infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the Capstone's interior was available in a luxurious cream white-over-black two-tone color scheme. Despite its luxurious appearance, some interior materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia offered a range of trims, from the base SR5 to the off-road-capable TRD Pro, catering to various preferences and budgets.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. A mid-level 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain delivered 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The highlight was the new-for-2022 V8 engine, generating 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, propelling the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. All models featured a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like an electronic active rear differential, Dynamic drive mode, and Terrain Response 2 system. It also offered a maximum towing capacity of 8,201 pounds, making it a versatile choice for adventure seekers.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This hybrid powertrain produced 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, offering improved towing and payload capacities compared to the previous model. The Sequoia's maximum tow rating was 9,520 pounds, and it achieved better fuel efficiency, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg with 4WD and 22 mpg with RWD. The Sequoia featured multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience. However, the ride quality varied depending on the mode, with Sport and Sport+ providing better control but potentially impacting fuel economy.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered versatile interior configurations, with the two-door Defender 90 featuring 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats. While accessing the rear seats was challenging, they provided surprising comfort. The four-door Defender 110 offered more space, with two-row and three-row configurations. Three-row models provided 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 70.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a large center-console storage bin and optional refrigeration. The Defender also offered optional roof racks and cargo boxes for additional storage.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, with a comfortable cabin featuring soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs provided comfort but lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row space. The third-row seat was less comfortable due to its high floor and low roof. Cargo space was limited, with 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 86.9 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Sequoia's hybrid powertrain impacted overall utility, reducing cargo capacity compared to the previous model.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on most trims, with an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen available. The system's graphics and menu layouts were user-friendly, though the touchscreen required a firm touch. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, enhancing the off-road experience.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with the new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on the base SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system was intuitive, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected services allowed for user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant for voice commands. However, the system experienced occasional glitches, such as issues with phone pairing. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system, providing multiple viewing angles for added convenience.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered standard driver-assist features, including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. However, safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the Defender, which was common for luxury vehicles.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came with a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assistance features, bundled into Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5). This included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. The Sequoia also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While safety ratings were not available, the Tundra, on which the Sequoia is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.