2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2025 Subaru Forester

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, and this was evident in its design cues, such as hexagonal grilles, wheel arches, and strong fender creases. The exterior color significantly influenced its appearance, with the Capstone model featuring more chrome brightwork. Our tester, in Celestial Silver, appeared somewhat dated, reminiscent of a "cop car." However, a switch to Solar Octane orange with black accents transformed its look to a playful "Tonka truck." Inside, the Sequoia closely resembled the Tundra and other Toyota vehicles, with a blocky, geometric dashboard layout. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered fabric, SofTex, or leather seating. The Sequoia provided power-adjustable front seats across all trims and a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, with a panoramic version available on higher trims.

The 2025 Subaru Forester, traditionally known for its practicality over aesthetics, received notable styling updates. The exterior featured standard roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels, with a more generic appearance. Steering-responsive LED headlights with welcome lighting were standard, and the Forester Sport showcased bronze trim accents. The Forester's shape maintained its large-greenhouse design, with geometric wheel arches and a more decisive window shape. Black plastic pieces at the corners created a cat-eye effect, possibly hinting at future two-toned paint options. Inside, the Forester Sport introduced StarTex material, offering easy cleaning and a stylish look with brown contrast stitching. Limited and Touring trims featured genuine leather seating. The redesigned interior boasted structural dash elements, enhancing the cabin's intentional and designed appearance.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively available as a hybrid, utilizing Toyota's iForce MAX hybrid powertrain. This system combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, surpassing its V8 predecessor. Fuel economy improved to 20 mpg combined with 4WD, compared to the previous 14 mpg. The Sequoia TRD Pro, designed for off-road enthusiasts, came with 4WD and a part-time system with 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD options. Other trims offered 4WD for an additional $3,000. The 10-speed automatic transmission provided smooth operation, and the TRD Off-Road package added features like all-terrain tires and an off-road suspension. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, with towing-related upgrades available.

The 2025 Subaru Forester retained its 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. The Lineartonic CVT and Symmetrical AWD system were standard. Subaru improved the Forester's noise levels, making it quieter at cruising speeds. The X-Mode system, standard from the Premium trim, enhanced stability and traction on challenging terrain. The Forester Sport and higher trims featured a dual-function X-Mode. The Forester's performance was stable and confident on various surfaces, with X-Mode seamlessly activating and deactivating. Fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 combined, with a slight decrease for Sport and Touring trims. A hybrid Forester was anticipated, but fuel-economy figures were not yet available.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone featured automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding entry for shorter individuals. Cargo space reached a maximum of 86.9 cubic feet with both second- and third-row seats folded. Behind the second row, it offered 49 cubic feet, and behind the third row, it ranged from 11.5 to 22.3 cubic feet. The third-row seats, positioned above the hybrid powertrain's battery pack, did not create a flat load floor when folded. Headroom was reduced, with 39.2 inches up front, 37.5-38.4 inches in the middle, and 35.6 inches in the back. Legroom varied from 28.1 to 33.7 inches in the third row, 39.2 inches in the second row, and 41.2 inches in the first row. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, offering width but lacking bolstering.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced a hands-free power liftgate, powered on the Sport trim and foot-activated on Limited. Cargo space increased slightly, measuring 29.6 cubic feet with rear seats in place and 74.4 cubic feet with them folded. The cargo area featured eight heavy-duty hooks. While the Forester's cargo volume surpassed the Crosstrek and was competitive with the Outback, it fell short compared to some competitors. The Forester's roomy second row contributed to this. The interior featured a dark headliner, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat on the Premium trim, and additional power adjustability and features on higher trims.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone trim was equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, standard across all trims. The SR5 featured an 8-inch touchscreen, while other trims boasted a 14-inch center touchscreen. The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashy design. A full-color 12.3-inch driver-information display was standard, along with a Panoramic View monitor. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch color head-up display, and a 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on higher trims.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced the 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus infotainment system, standard on all but the base trim. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base Forester featured two 7-inch touchscreens with wired smartphone projection. Premium and higher trims offered dual USB-A and USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. A navigation system was standard on the Touring trim, along with an 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. Subaru's Starlink connected services suite gained additional capabilities for 2025.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite of safety and driver-assistance features as standard. This included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Tow Technology Package, available on SR5 and Limited trims, added a digital rearview mirror and trailer backup guide. The Sequoia had not been rated by safety organizations, but the similar 2024 Toyota Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.

The 2025 Subaru Forester offered Emergency Stop Assist, available on vehicles with the driver distraction-mitigation system, primarily the Touring trim. This feature engaged if the driver became unresponsive, slowing the vehicle, notifying emergency services, and unlocking the doors. The Forester came with Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technology, enhanced for 2025 with a wider field of view and an electric brake booster. The 2025 Forester had not been crash-tested, but the 2024 model received a Top Safety Pick award and a five-star rating.