2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Jeep Compass

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, combining the bold aesthetics of the Toyota Tundra with a newly designed SUV body. This redesign gave the Sequoia a more commanding presence than its predecessor, though its appeal was subjective. The Sequoia's traditional grille and front bumper distinguished it from the Tundra's more unconventional look. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with luxurious touches in the Capstone trim, such as leather, wood, and metallic finishes. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the Capstone's interior was available in a two-tone cream white-over-black color scheme. Despite its luxurious appearance, some interior materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Compass embraced a refined design ethos, moving away from ruggedness to a more upscale look. The Compass shared its design language with larger Jeep models like the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee. The 2023 model introduced new wheel designs for the Sport and Latitude trims, while the Trailhawk's wheels were painted gloss black. The Compass lineup included various trims, from the base Sport to the off-road-ready Trailhawk. The Limited trim, with its Granite Crystal paint and 19-inch wheels, resembled a smaller Grand Cherokee. Inside, the Compass Limited featured a two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents, offering a sophisticated feel. However, the high price of the test vehicle raised questions about its value compared to small luxury SUVs.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a powerful hybrid powertrain, featuring a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This setup delivered an impressive 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, and its payload capacity improved to 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency also saw significant gains, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg for 4WD and 22 mpg for RWD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience. However, the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive, and the steering was slow, requiring effort in tight maneuvers.

The 2023 Jeep Compass received a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard Jeep Active Drive AWD system. The Compass offered Selec-Terrain with Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud driving modes, while the Trailhawk trim added a Rock mode and a low-range AWD system. The new engine transformed the Compass's performance, providing a more enjoyable driving experience. However, the engine's power was somewhat limited, prioritizing fuel economy. The Compass achieved an EPA rating of 27 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing yielded 23.8 mpg. The Compass's handling was improved, but its tall and narrow design contributed to noticeable body motions on uneven surfaces.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on highways, offering a comfortable cabin with features like soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The Sequoia's power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, though they could be cumbersome for taller individuals. The second-row captain's chairs provided comfort but lacked adjustability, impacting third-row space. The third-row seat was less comfortable due to its high floor and low roof. Cargo space was limited, with only 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet. The Sequoia's hybrid powertrain compromised cargo capacity, making it smaller inside than its competitors.

The 2023 Jeep Compass offered a spacious interior for a small SUV, accommodating adults in both rows. Standard features included an air filtration system and dual-zone climate control. Higher trims added leather seats, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated options. The Compass Limited provided a comfortable driving position, though the center console's hard plastic edge was uncomfortable. Rear-seat space was adequate, with generous foot room. Cargo capacity was competitive, with 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Compass also offered a fold-flat front passenger seat for carrying long items.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen in the base SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected services included user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant for navigation. However, the system had some quirks, such as issues with phone pairing. The Capstone trim added a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. The Sequoia's tech successfully prevented accidents with its parking sensors and automatic rear braking.

The 2023 Jeep Compass came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Uconnect 5 technology. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM services. The system received OTA updates and offered an optional 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel. The Compass Limited included an embedded navigation system, a nine-speaker Alpine sound system, and Alexa Built-in technology. The parking assist system and surround-view camera were useful features, though the Compass's small size made parking assistance less necessary.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included features like forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's platform shared with the Tundra, which received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a drowsy driver detection system and rear-seat reminder. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Available upgrades included adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and parking sensors. The Compass offered Highway Assist on higher trims, providing semi-autonomous driving assistance. Crash test ratings were incomplete, but the previous model received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.