2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Volvo XC90

The 2022 Volvo XC90 represented a significant evolution from the brand's earlier boxy designs, maintaining its family-friendly and safety-oriented image while stepping into the luxury class. After Volvo's acquisition by Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010, the company developed new platforms, including the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) for the XC90, which debuted as a 2016 model. The 2022 XC90 showcased a sleek, aerodynamic profile with a long roofline and pronounced wheel arches, exuding a sense of athleticism. Its interior was a testament to Scandinavian Modern design, featuring natural wood and metal trims, with options for Nappa leather or a tailored wool blend upholstery, emphasizing luxury and sustainability.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia made a bold statement with its redesigned exterior, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The Sequoia's new look was more assertive, with a traditional grille and front bumper that distinguished it from its pickup counterpart. 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 interior boasted a massive 14-inch infotainment system and a two-tone color scheme, though some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia's lineup included various trims, with prices starting at $59,895 for the base SR5 and reaching $79,895 for the Capstone with 4WD.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains: the T5 with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 250 horsepower, the T6 with a supercharged and turbocharged version delivering 316 hp, and the T8 plug-in hybrid combining a gasoline engine and electric motor for a total of 455 hp. The T5 models were available in FWD and AWD, while the T6 and T8 were AWD only. The XC90's fuel efficiency varied, with the T5 FWD achieving 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway, and the T8 offering 27 mpg combined on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The XC90's driving experience was notable for its minimal body roll and smooth power delivery, especially in the T8 Inscription extended range model.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a hybrid powertrain with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and a 36-kilowatt electric motor, producing 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. This setup allowed the Sequoia to tow up to 9,520 pounds, a significant improvement over the previous model. The new Sequoia also boasted better fuel efficiency, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg with 4WD and 22 mpg with RWD. 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 steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 accommodated six or seven passengers, with easy access to the third row via a one-handed slide and fold of the second row. While the third row was suitable for children, adults found it lacking in legroom and thigh support. The XC90 offered 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 85.7 cubic feet with all seats folded. The interior was spacious and airy, enhanced by a panoramic moonroof, and the air-conditioning system performed admirably during a heat wave.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, with a comfortable cabin featuring leather upholstery, a JBL sound system, and a triple-zone climate control system. However, the panoramic sunroof reduced second-row headroom, and the third-row seat, mounted above the battery pack, lacked thigh support and legroom. The Sequoia's cargo space was limited, with just 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 86.9 cubic feet with all seats folded. The hybrid powertrain's packaging compromised overall utility, making the Sequoia smaller inside than its rivals.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen, offering smartphone-like gestures. However, it was occasionally glitchy and slow, performing better with Apple CarPlay. The XC90 included a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system. The standard Harman Kardon sound system could be upgraded to a Bowers & Wilkins system, and the vehicle offered multiple USB ports and a WiFi hotspot.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came with a new Toyota Audio Multimedia system, with an 8-inch touchscreen in the base SR5 and a 14-inch screen in higher trims. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with connected services offering user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant. The Sequoia included a 10-inch head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and a digital rearview mirror. However, the system had some bugs, and the head-up display was difficult to see with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 was renowned for its safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping aid. The Pilot Assist system combined several features for highway driving, and the XC90 received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia included all available driver-assistance features as standard, bundled into Toyota Safety Sense 2.5. This package offered forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and more. The Sequoia also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking. While crash test ratings were not available, the Tundra's high ratings suggested a strong safety performance for the Sequoia.