Toyota Sequoia vs Toyota 4Runner

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia bore a striking resemblance to its Tundra pickup sibling, sharing several design elements such as hexagonal grilles, wheel arches, robust fender creases, and an overall muscular stance. The exterior color notably altered the Sequoia’s appearance. The Capstone model in Celestial Silver, adorned with extensive chrome brightwork, conveyed a somewhat dated, “cop car” aesthetic. In contrast, switching to Solar Octane orange with black accents transformed its aura to a more playful, “Tonka truck” look. Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the design of other contemporary Toyota vehicles such as the Tundra and Tacoma, featuring a blocky, geometric dashboard layout with physical dials and buttons for volume and tri-zone climate control. The shifter and steering wheel also matched those of its truck siblings. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, a unique feature to that trim. Other trims offered different seating materials: fabric on the base SR5, SofTex on SR5 and Limited, and leather on the Platinum. All trims included at least eight-way power-adjustable front seats, enhancing the customization of seating positions. Every Sequoia model came with a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, with an upgraded panoramic version available on higher trims. The 2024 Toyota 4Runner, last redesigned in 2010, retained a rugged, boxy shape that many found appropriately timeless for an all-terrain vehicle. Its flared fenders provided a brawny stance, enhancing stability. The 4Runner's rugged exterior was underscored by chunky and beveled shapes in the grille and liftgate. The TRD Pro variant, with underbody skid plates and all-terrain tires, added to its serious off-road demeanor. A beefy tubular roof rack evoked readiness for tough terrains. Inside, the 4Runner's outdated styling was evident. The analog instrument panel and small eight-inch infotainment touchscreen reflected a bygone era. Where modern vehicles showcased digital interfaces, the 4Runner stuck to traditional gear selector and transfer case levers, with a classic LED clock and temperature display. Despite the old-school interior, it had plenty of space up front, although the steering wheel lacked sufficient telescoping range for taller drivers. The elevated rear bench offered abundant legroom and a better view for passengers, though headroom was slightly constrained for six-footers.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured an exclusive hybrid powertrain combining a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, yielding 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain marked a significant improvement from its V8-powered predecessor, both in power and fuel economy, achieving 20 mpg combined in 4WD compared to the previous 14 mpg. The TRD Pro trim came standard with 4WD and included off-road essentials like a skid plate and selector options for 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD. Other trims offered 4WD as a $3,000 option. The 10-speed automatic transmission delivered smooth performance, and the on-road handling was adequate for the class. For off-road enthusiasts not in need of heavy-duty capabilities, the TRD Off-Road package, available on SR5, Limited, and Platinum trims with 4WD, added features like all-terrain tires, Bilstein shocks, and an electronic locking rear differential. The package also included Crawl Control, Multi-Terrain Select, and hill-descent control. The Sequoia's maximum towing capacity reached 9,520 pounds, significantly upgraded from 7,400 pounds, thanks to the SR5 trim in RWD form. Conversely, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner was equipped with a 4.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. While these specs were competitive, the 4Runner's five-speed automatic transmission lagged behind competitors with more responsive ten-speed or eight-speed transmissions. The TRD Pro trim featured standard 4WD with a two-speed transfer case, whereas other trims had RWD with optional 4WD. The 4Runner felt sluggish on highways, with noticeable rear-end squat during acceleration and loud engine noises due to its sportier exhaust. The soft suspension, great for off-road articulation, contributed to an unsettling nosedive under hard braking and significant body roll when cornering. Handling bumps and undulations on the highway could result in residual bounces, which settled when carrying heavy cargo. The 4Runner's off-road capabilities, however, remained robust, effectively navigating rugged terrains and rocky paths.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia showcased automatic power-deploying running boards in its Capstone trim, also available on Platinum. These features made entry easier but required timing adjustments to avoid shin bumps. The Sequoia's maximum cargo space was 86.9 cubic feet with second and third-row seats folded. With second-row seats up, cargo capacity was 49 cubic feet, and behind the third row, it ranged from 11.5 to 22.3 cubic feet depending on row positions. The third-row seats, though easily folded at the push of a button, did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid battery placement, impacting headroom and legroom for rear passengers. In comparison, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner's interior showed its age but remained functional, providing easy-to-use climate control dials and sturdy handles for off-road adventures. The second-row seating offered ample legroom but limited headroom for taller passengers. Select trims provided a third row of seats. Notably, the 4Runner excelled in cargo space with a maximum of 89.7 cubic feet when the rear seats were stowed. Behind the rear seats, it held 47.2 cubic feet of cargo. The optional sliding deck slightly reduced capacity but added convenience. Despite lacking remote seat releases and powered liftgates, the 4Runner's almost flat load floor was more user-friendly than some competitors. Additionally, it featured a sliding rear window and party speakers, enhancing its practicality. The towing capacity stood at 5,000 pounds, suitable for small campers.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone trim came equipped with high-end features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, delivered through an eight-inch touchscreen on the SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on other trims. The infotainment system, though simple in appearance, was user-friendly. Regardless of trim, a full-color 12.3-inch driver-information display was standard, as was the Panoramic View monitor. Capstone trims included a 10-inch head-up display and a 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system as standard. The 4Runner had basic infotainment features with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the eight-inch touchscreen was smaller and harder to use while driving. The TRD Pro's 15-speaker JBL premium audio system provided quality sound, but it was often overshadowed by engine and road noise. Additional off-road controls were located in the headliner console, including dials for Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select, along with buttons for braking differential or locking rear differential activation.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia included a comprehensive suite of safety features as standard across all trims through the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 package. This suite featured pre-collision warnings, lane-departure alerts with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Parking sensors with automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and Trailer Merge Warning were also standard. Higher trims added the Tow Technology Package with a digital rearview mirror and trailer backup guide. Although not yet rated by IIHS or NHTSA, the Sequoia's mechanical similarity to the Tundra, which earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation, was a positive indicator of safety. On the 2024 Toyota 4Runner, NHTSA awarded four out of five stars for overall and frontal crash protection, five stars for side impacts, and three stars in rollover evaluations. The IIHS provided mixed results with a "Good" rating in moderate frontal overlap and side protection tests but marginal and poor ratings in small overlap frontal tests. The 4Runner came standard with a suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added a surround-view camera system, with the Limited trim also including front and rear proximity sensors.