2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2023 Lexus GX was a vehicle that commanded attention with its massive spindle grille and 8.1 inches of ground clearance. Standing at an overall height of 74.2 inches, it had a formidable presence on the road. The front end, with its large headlights, gave the GX a distinctive and aggressive look. The Black Line Special Edition, limited to 3,000 units, added exclusivity with its unique paint options, including the new Eminent White Pearl and the exclusive Nori Green Pearl. Despite its luxury badge, the GX's design leaned towards functionality, with short overhangs and a wheelbase of 109.8 inches, making it appear more compact and off-road-ready. The interior, however, was a mix of luxury and practicality, with some plastic materials betraying its premium status. Yet, it offered features like heated and cooled front seats and impressive leather upholstery.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, showcasing a muscular stance with hexagonal grilles and strong fender creases. The exterior color significantly influenced its appearance, with the Capstone model in Celestial Silver giving off a "cop car" vibe, while the Solar Octane orange and Lunar Rock gray added a more playful touch. Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dashboard design, with physical dials and buttons for essential controls. The Capstone trim featured semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered a range of seating materials. The Sequoia's interior was spacious, with power-adjustable front seats and a standard power-tilt and -slide moonroof, enhancing its appeal as a family-friendly SUV.

The 2023 Lexus GX offered practical interior features, with ample cubby space and a deep center console bin. However, it lacked modern USB-C ports, relying on older USB-A ports. The GX's physical controls were a blessing for those who preferred tactile buttons over touchscreens, though the abundance of buttons required some getting used to. The second-row seating was comfortable, with captain's chairs and fold-out cupholders, but the third row was cramped and best suited for occasional use. The GX's cargo space was limited, with only 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 64.7 cubic feet with all seats folded.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sequoia offered more generous cargo space, with a maximum of 86.9 cubic feet when both the second and third rows were folded. The Sequoia's interior was designed for convenience, with power-deploying running boards and easy access to the third row. However, the third-row seats were positioned above the hybrid powertrain's battery pack, reducing headroom and making the seating less comfortable for taller passengers. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs were wide but lacked bolstering, and the legroom measurements placed it behind some rivals in terms of spaciousness.

The 2023 Lexus GX featured a 10.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. While an improvement over the previous system, it felt dated compared to other Lexus models. The GX included a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo and a CD player, but the infotainment system lagged behind competitors in terms of graphics and responsiveness. The GX excelled in off-road technology, with a real 4WD system, downhill assist, and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) for improved on- and off-road performance.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia, particularly in the Capstone trim, boasted a comprehensive suite of technology features. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the SR5 trim and a 14-inch screen on higher trims. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system prioritized functionality over flashy design, and the driver-information display was a full-color 12.3-inch unit. The Sequoia also included a Panoramic View monitor and a 10-inch color head-up display on higher trims. The 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on the Limited trim and standard on Platinum, TRD Pro, and Capstone models.

The 2023 Lexus GX, despite its older design, was equipped with advanced driver assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams. However, it lacked some top-end features like lane-tracing assist and road-sign recognition. The GX had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but its safety features were commendable for a vehicle of its age.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite, offering a comprehensive range of safety and driver-assistance features. This included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. The Sequoia also featured blind-spot monitoring with Trailer Merge Warning, enhancing safety when towing. The Tow Technology Package, available on certain trims, added a digital rearview mirror and trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist. While the Sequoia had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS, its mechanically similar sibling, the Tundra, received a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.