2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2022 Toyota Sequoia

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia, a stalwart in the SUV market, continued its second generation into its 14th year without significant redesigns. Its exterior design, characterized by a modestly sized grille and elegant wheel arches, maintained a classic appeal amidst the evolving SUV landscape. The Sequoia's dimensions, including a height of 77 inches and a length of 205.1 inches, contributed to its imposing presence. Inside, however, the Sequoia's age was evident, with a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4.5-inch TFT driver information screen that seemed outdated compared to modern standards. Despite this, the interior was built with high-quality materials, ensuring durability and comfort for families.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a modernist and reductive design philosophy, offering a clean and simple aesthetic. While it lacked flashy factory options, the Range Rover Sport exuded understated luxury with its Eiger Gray paint and silver 23-inch wheels. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, coupled with aluminum and shiny black trim, created a sophisticated ambiance. The Range Rover Sport was available in various specifications, with the SE Dynamic P400 model featuring heated and ventilated front seats, a Cold Climate Pack, and a Technology Pack. Its design highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and excellent aerodynamics, enhancing both style and performance.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a 5.7-liter i-Force V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, provided a reliable and durable performance. The Sequoia's truck roots contributed to its impressive payload capacity of around 1,300 pounds and a towing capacity of 7,400 pounds. However, its weight, ranging from 5,730 to 6,000 pounds, resulted in less-than-stellar fuel economy, with ratings of 13 mpg city/17 mpg highway/15 mpg combined for RWD models. Despite its heft, the Sequoia offered a smooth and stable ride, with excellent off-road capabilities thanks to its robust construction and four-wheel independent double-wishbone suspension.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and driver-focused engagement. It offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque in the SE Dynamic model. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was also available, providing 434 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque with an estimated 51 miles of electric driving range. The Range Rover Sport's performance was enhanced by an eight-speed automatic transmission and an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, allowing it to tow up to 7,716 pounds. While it offered impressive fuel efficiency for its class, the Range Rover Sport's driving dynamics fell short of sport-tuned competitors, with noticeable body roll and steering that lacked involvement. Off-road, however, it excelled with advanced suspension and technology, providing a smooth and capable experience.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia prioritized passenger comfort, offering spacious seating across all three rows. It featured three-zone climate control, a power moonroof, and available heated and ventilated front seats. The Sequoia's interior provided ample storage, with a generous center console, glove compartment, and door pockets. Its cargo compartment offered 18.9 cubic feet of space behind the third row, expandable to 66.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 120.1 cubic feet with both the second and third rows down.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, providing a tall and airy feel for the driver. Its air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats offered 20-way power adjustments with heating and ventilation. The rear seat, while improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with narrow door openings and hard seatback panels. The cargo area provided 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Range Rover Sport also featured a power liftgate and controls for lowering the air suspension for easier loading.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia's technology was outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4.5-inch TFT driver information screen. However, it offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, WiFi connectivity, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Sequoia Limited added navigation and a 12-speaker audio system, with an optional premium audio package available. Despite its technological shortcomings, the Sequoia featured LED exterior lighting and standard safety features like a rear backup camera and parking sonar.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport boasted a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment platform was often confusing and frustrating to use. The Range Rover Sport featured impressive Meridian audio systems, Active Noise Cancellation, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. Despite its technological advancements, the system's usability issues detracted from the overall experience.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia lacked crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS but offered a comprehensive suite of safety features. The Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) suite included pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and automatic high beams. Standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, stability control, traction control, and a full complement of airbags contributed to its safety credentials.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, and a surround-view camera system. The adaptive cruise control and steering assist, however, were not as smooth or reliable as expected, particularly on freeway curves.