2023 Lexus RX vs 2022 Toyota Sequoia

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia, a continuation of its second generation, showcased a mature design that had remained largely unchanged since its last major overhaul in 2008. Despite its age, the Sequoia maintained a classic and tasteful exterior with a modestly sized grille and elegant wheel arches, standing tall and wide with a commanding presence. However, its interior design lagged behind modern trends, featuring a smaller 7-inch touchscreen and a dated dashboard layout. Nevertheless, the Sequoia's interior was built with high-quality materials, ensuring durability and longevity, making it a reliable choice for families.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX presented a more modern and sophisticated appearance, with a shorter height, broader width, and a longer wheelbase. Its exterior design featured a well-integrated spindle-style grille, upswept body sides, and a light-blade taillight design, giving it a fresh yet familiar look. Inside, the RX boasted a thoroughly modern interior with fewer buttons, digital instrumentation, and a choice of 9.8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen displays. The RX's interior quality was high, with options for premium leather and various trims, offering a luxurious experience for its occupants.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a robust 5.7-liter i-Force V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and offered a lockable Torsen limited-slip center differential and a two-speed transfer case in 4WD models. The Sequoia's truck-based construction provided a payload capacity of around 1,300 pounds and a towing capacity of 7,400 pounds. However, its weight contributed to lower fuel economy 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 and a respectable turning circle for its size.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine offered better torque and fuel economy compared to the previous V6, though it lacked the same refinement. The RX 350 AWD accelerated to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, with fuel economy expectations of 24 mpg combined. The RX 350 Luxury trim displayed occasional torque steer and body motion, while the F Sport Handling trim provided a more secure and composed ride, thanks to its adaptive damping suspension and upgraded brakes.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia prioritized passenger comfort, offering spacious seating across all three rows and three-zone climate control. The interior featured ample storage options, including a large center console and glove compartment. The Sequoia's cargo space was versatile, with 18.9 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 66.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 120.1 cubic feet with both rear rows down.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 provided a comfortable and modern interior, with the Luxury trim offering semi-aniline premium leather upholstery, ten-way power-adjustable front seats, and a heated wood-and-leather steering wheel. The F Sport Handling trim featured sportier seats with NuLuxe simulated leather and Dark Graphite trim. The RX's back seat was roomy and supportive, though taller passengers might find headroom tight. The RX offered improved cargo space over its predecessor, with 29.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 46.2 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia's technology was somewhat outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4.5-inch TFT driver information screen. However, it included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, WiFi connectivity, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Limited trim added navigation and a 12-speaker audio system, with an optional premium audio package available. Despite its dated infotainment, the Sequoia featured modern LED exterior lighting and standard safety technology.

The 2023 Lexus RX introduced the new Lexus Interface infotainment system, available with a 9.8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen display. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and various connected services. The system featured an Intelligent Assistant with natural voice recognition, user profiles, and streaming capabilities. The RX also offered a 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system, digital instrumentation, and advanced features like a digital rearview mirror and digital key smartphone technology.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia lacked crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS but was equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense P suite, including pre-collision systems, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and automatic high beams. It also featured a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and Toyota's STAR safety system, providing stability control, traction control, and a full complement of airbags.

The 2023 Lexus RX came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, offering advanced driving assistance systems like motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. New semi-autonomous features included Proactive Driving Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, and Advanced Park Assist. While LSS+ 3.0 was impressive, some features, like curve-speed reduction, were less refined, and the HUD's visibility was limited when wearing polarized sunglasses.