2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Mazda CX-5

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, with its bold design inspired by the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The SUV's exterior featured a traditional grille and front bumper, which distinguished it from the Tundra's more unconventional look. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, offering an industrial theme with upscale touches like leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the Capstone trim. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the interior was available in a luxurious cream white-over-black color scheme. Despite its upscale appearance, some interior materials reminded drivers 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 trim or add a TRD Off-Road Package to the SR5 and Limited trims for enhanced capability.

The 2024 Mazda CX-5 retained its familiar design from the second-generation model introduced in 2017, yet it continued to look modern and appealing. The new Carbon Turbo trim featured Zircon Sand paint and exclusive Terracotta leather seats, adding a touch of sophistication. Mazda improved the fuel economy of the base engine, eliminated a previous wheel design, and added wireless charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to several trims. The CX-5 lineup included 2.5 S and 2.5 Turbo models, with prices ranging from $29,300 to $40,600, plus destination charges. The Carbon Turbo test vehicle, priced at $39,355, offered a premium feel inside and out, thanks to upgraded interior materials, seating, technology, and drivetrain enhancements. The CX-5 provided an upscale experience at a mainstream price, making it a compelling choice in the compact crossover segment.

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 a boost, 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 suspension could be busy and jittery in Normal mode, and the steering was slow, requiring effort in tight spaces. The regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times, but the Sequoia's overall performance was robust and capable.

The 2024 Mazda CX-5 Carbon Turbo delivered 256 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 320 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm with premium gas, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft with regular gas. The powertrain was more rewarding when driven with a steady throttle, allowing the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine to shine. However, fuel efficiency was not its strong suit, with an EPA rating of 24 mpg in combined driving and an observed 22.9 mpg. The CX-5's driving experience was characterized by excellent outward visibility, a smooth ride, and responsive handling. Mazda's G-Vectoring Control Plus technology enhanced cornering and minimized body motions, resulting in a sophisticated driving experience. The CX-5 was quiet on the highway, lively in the city, and stable on twisty roads. It offered a decent 7.9 inches of ground clearance for light off-roading and could tow up to 2,000 pounds.

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 front seats were particularly comfortable, and the wide, flat upper door panel shelf provided a convenient resting place for the driver's arm. Power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, though taller individuals might find them cumbersome. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs were comfortable but lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat was mounted high, reducing comfort, and the cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain. With the third-row seat in place, cargo capacity was just 11.5 cubic feet, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet by sliding the seat forward. Folding the third-row seats increased capacity to 49 cubic feet, and with the second-row seats down, the Sequoia offered 86.9 cubic feet of cargo space, significantly less than its predecessor.

The 2024 Mazda CX-5 featured comfortable and supportive heated front seats, with the driver's seat offering six-way power adjustment. The interior boasted high-quality materials, with leather upholstery standard on most trims. The rear seat provided good support and a proper sitting position, with rear air conditioning vents and a center armrest enhancing passenger comfort. While the CX-5 was smaller in terms of interior space compared to some competitors, it offered a premium feel that rivaled luxury-branded vehicles. The cargo area provided 30 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, sufficient for a family of four on a week-long vacation. Folding the rear seats expanded cargo capacity to 59.3 cubic feet, which was less than some other compact crossovers but still practical for everyday use.

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 was intuitive and included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected services allowed for user accounts and a guest mode, while the Drive Connect plan offered an Intelligent Assistant for navigation. The Sequoia also included a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror. However, the system had some quirks, such as glare on the display and occasional issues with phone pairing. The Capstone trim added a 10-inch head-up display, though it was difficult to see with polarized sunglasses. The Sequoia's parking sensors and automatic rear braking system effectively prevented accidents.

The 2024 Mazda CX-5 eschewed touchscreens in favor of traditional controls for stereo volume, radio tuning, and climate settings. However, it offered touchscreen operation for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless connectivity available on several trims. The 10.25-inch display was easy to navigate using a large knob and surrounding buttons on the center console. Mazda Connected Services provided remote engine starting, a find my car feature, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Carbon Turbo trim included a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system, enhancing the SUV's premium interior feel.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped 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 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 systems made highway driving easier, though the lane-departure warning system's beeping could be irritating. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's Tundra platform had earned high marks from the IIHS.

The 2024 Mazda CX-5 offered a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, traffic sign recognition, and Traffic Jam Assist. The CX-5 2.5 Turbo Signature included a driver monitoring system, surround-view camera, and parking sensors. The standard ADAS performed well, with the lane departure and lane-keeping systems being particularly effective. The CX-5 had previously earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, and the NHTSA awarded it five-star ratings, except for a four-star rollover resistance rating.