2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, blending the bold aesthetics of the Toyota Tundra with a newly sculpted SUV body. This redesign gave the Sequoia a more commanding presence compared to its predecessor, though its appeal was subjective. The SUV'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 was a focal point in the Capstone's interior, which was available in a two-tone cream white-over-black color scheme. Despite its upscale appearance, some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, with prices starting at $59,895 for the base SR5 and reaching $79,895 for the Capstone with 4WD. Off-road enthusiasts could opt for the TRD Pro or add a TRD Off-Road Package to the SR5 and Limited trims for enhanced capability.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance models, offered a refined and understated design. The RX 350h Luxury test vehicle, with its Iridium silver finish and 21-inch wheels, maintained a low profile without overt hybrid branding. In contrast, the RX 500h F Sport Performance stood out with its Copper paint, blacked-out grille, and aggressive styling. The RX's design was not traditionally beautiful, with a front-heavy appearance and a signature rear roof pillar that visually shortened the SUV. Inside, the RX adopted a minimalistic approach, with fewer controls and a modern infotainment system. The RX 350h Luxury featured Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance had a sportier black interior with artificial suede and dark gray aluminum accents. Lexus had not announced pricing for the 2023 RX models, but estimates suggested the RX 350h Luxury would be just over $60,000, and the RX 500h F Sport Performance would approach $70,000.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a robust 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. While it lacked the V8's rumble, the new V6 offered superior towing and payload capabilities, with a maximum tow rating of 9,520 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,730 pounds. The Sequoia's fuel efficiency improved significantly, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg for 4WD and 22 mpg for RWD. During testing, the Capstone 4WD averaged 17.8 mpg. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, with a Custom mode for personalized settings. The adaptive rear air suspension adjusted ride and handling based on the mode, but the ride quality could be busy and jittery in Normal mode. The steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered two distinct hybrid models: the RX 350h and the RX 500h F Sport Performance. The RX 350h featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a hybrid powertrain, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque. It was expected to achieve 36 mpg in combined driving, though testing showed an average of 32 mpg. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, with its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. However, its fuel economy was lower, averaging 20.9 mpg. The RX 500h featured an adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering, providing a dynamic driving experience. The RX 350h felt secure in curves and offered a quiet cabin with good fuel efficiency. The RX 500h's infotainment system required navigating menus to access driving modes, and the estimated fuel economy was not achieved during testing.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on highways, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The wide, padded door panel shelf provided a convenient armrest for long trips. Power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, though taller individuals might find them cumbersome. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row space. The third-row seat, positioned above the battery pack, offered limited comfort and legroom. Cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with only 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet. The adjustable cargo shelf helped maximize space, but the overall cargo capacity was reduced compared to the previous model.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid provided a comfortable and luxurious interior, especially in the RX 350h Luxury trim with its ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and effective climate control. The RX 500h F Sport Performance offered sportier seats with eight-way power adjustment and standard-grade leather. The hybrids' battery placement under the rear seat elevated the cushion, providing good leg support but limited headroom. The RX offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the seat folded, an improvement over the previous model. The hybrid drivetrain did not encroach on cargo volume, but the RX still fell short compared to some rivals.

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 directions. The system allowed simultaneous Bluetooth pairing, though there were occasional glitches. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display, but it was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The Sequoia also had a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, requiring a subscription for full functionality. The Lexus Interface offered cloud-based navigation and an Intelligent Assistant, though it occasionally provided inaccurate results. The touchscreen displayed one menu at a time, requiring frequent navigation. The screen suffered from reflections, and there was no tuning knob. The head-up display, available with dual-function touch-sensing control pads, was difficult to use with polarized sunglasses. Despite these issues, the system represented a significant upgrade for the RX.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features. This included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and road sign recognition. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. The Sequoia's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist made highway driving easier, though the lane-departure warning system's beeping could be irritating. While crash test ratings were not available, the Tundra's high IIHS rating suggested good safety performance for the Sequoia.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included a motorcycle detection system, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist maintained safe distances and recharged the battery through regenerative braking. The front cross-traffic alert system provided visual and audio warnings, though polarized sunglasses hindered visibility. The curve-speed reduction feature was reactive, and the driver monitoring system could be triggered by certain driving positions. The RX also offered Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park, though these features were not tested.