2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Lexus RX

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. Its traditional grille and front bumper gave it a distinct identity, setting it apart from its pickup truck sibling. Inside, the Sequoia shared much with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with luxurious touches of leather, wood, and metallic finishes, especially in the upscale Capstone trim. The interior was dominated by a 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, and while it exuded luxury, 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 equip the SR5 and Limited trims with a TRD Off-Road Package for enhanced capability.

The 2023 Lexus RX presented a more compact and refined appearance, with a shorter height, broader width, and longer wheelbase compared to its predecessor. Its design featured a spindle-style grille, upswept body sides, and a light-blade taillight design, giving it a modern yet familiar Lexus look. Inside, the RX offered a modern interior with fewer buttons, digital instrumentation, and a choice of 9.8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen displays. The cabin was adorned with high-quality materials, including NuLuxe artificial leather and real wood trims. The RX lineup included the RX 350, RX 350h, RX 500h, and the upcoming RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid. Pricing details were not finalized, but it was expected to remain close to the previous model's base price of just over $47,000.

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. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, and its payload capacity rose to 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency improved significantly, 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 steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

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. While it had less horsepower than the previous V6, it offered more torque and better performance at higher altitudes. The RX 350 Luxury trim displayed occasional torque steer and excess body motion, while the F Sport Handling trim felt more secure with its adaptive damping suspension. The RX 350 AWD accelerated to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, and fuel economy was expected to average 24 mpg. The F Sport Handling trim also included upgraded brakes, providing superior pedal feel and modulation compared to the hybrid models.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. The second-row captain's chairs provided comfort but lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row space. The third-row seat was less comfortable than competitors, and cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain. With the third-row seat in its rearmost position, the Sequoia offered just 11.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet. Maximum cargo capacity was 86.9 cubic feet, significantly less than the previous model.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 provided a comfortable and modern interior, with the Luxury trim featuring semi-aniline premium leather upholstery and ten-way power-adjustable front seats. The F Sport Handling trim offered sportier seats with NuLuxe simulated leather. The back seat was roomy and supportive, though taller passengers might find headroom tight. Cargo space improved over the previous generation, with 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and a maximum of 46.2 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the Intelligent Assistant responded to voice commands. However, the display suffered from glare, and the system occasionally had connectivity issues. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2023 Lexus RX introduced the Lexus Interface infotainment system, available with a 9.8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen display. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and various connected services. The Intelligent Assistant responded to voice commands, though it occasionally provided inaccurate results. The system allowed user profiles and streaming through embedded apps. The RX also featured a 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system, digital instrumentation, and a digital rearview mirror. A color head-up display was available, though it was difficult to see with polarized sunglasses.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which 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 a road sign recognition system. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's platform-mate, the Tundra, received high marks from the IIHS.

The 2023 Lexus RX was equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems. New features included motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance, and curve speed-reduction. The RX also introduced Proactive Driving Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, and Advanced Park Assist. While LSS+ 3.0 was impressive, some features, like curve-speed reduction, were less intuitive. The adaptive cruise controls were unmarked in models with a head-up display, making them difficult to use with polarized sunglasses.