Toyota Land Cruiser vs Toyota Sequoia

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup truck, and their familial resemblance was unmistakable. Both vehicles featured hexagonal grilles, distinctive wheel arches, strong fender creases, and an overall muscular stance. What set the Sequoia apart was how dramatically its appearance changed with different exterior colors. The Sequoia Capstone model, which we tested, sported a Celestial Silver paint job that, combined with chrome brightwork, gave it a somewhat dated look reminiscent of a police car. However, a switch to a more vibrant color like Solar Octane orange with black accents transformed its persona entirely, making it more playful and rugged, akin to a toy truck.

Inside, the Sequoia's design was strongly influenced by the Tundra and the new Tacoma models. This influence was evident in the blocky, geometric layout of the dashboard, equipped with physical dials and buttons for volume control and the standard tri-zone climate control. The similarity extended to the shifter and steering wheel, which were identical to those in its truck siblings. The center console housed a shallow compartment flanked by padded armrests, concealing a spacious storage cubby below. Our Capstone tester boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, exclusive to this trim. Other trims featured varying seat materials, with fabric on the base SR5 trim, SofTex on the SR5 and Limited, and TRD Pro, and standard leather on the Platinum. All trims had power-adjustable front seats, starting at eight-way adjustments, enhancing customization as you ascended the trim ladder. Every 2024 Sequoia also had a moonroof, with the higher trims offering a panoramic version.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser retained its iconic look, essential for maintaining its status. The J250 model was boxy, featuring a flat roof, and each of the three trims had details that paid homage to previous generations. The heritage grille with "TOYOTA" spelled out harkened back to the Land Cruiser 40 series. Round headlights on the base 1958 and top-shelf First Edition trims echoed the 20 series, while the rectangular headlights on the mid-grade trim referred to the FJ62. All lighting was LED, symbolizing the blend of classic design with modern standards. The higher trims also boasted color-selectable fog lights from RIGID Industries, adding a contemporary touch.

Driver comfort was enhanced by a lowered beltline for better visibility. All trims came with 18-inch alloy wheels, while the mid-tier trim offered an upgrade to 20-inch wheels. The First Edition included extra off-road gear like a roof rack, skid plate, and mud flaps. Inside, the base 1958 trim had cloth seats, while the mid-range seats were covered in SofTex, and the First Edition had real leather with specific logos. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel came standard across all trims. The Premium Package added amenities like a moonroof and ventilated front seats. Visually, the cabin bore many traits of Toyota's truck lineup, but with plush seats, a padded center console, and contrast stitching that emphasized both comfort and capability, allowing drivers to focus on the terrain without discomfort.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively offered as a hybrid, utilizing Toyota’s iForce MAX hybrid powertrain, which combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, identical to the one used in the Tundra. Compared to its V8-powered predecessor, this hybrid setup made the Sequoia more powerful and surprisingly pleasant-sounding, producing 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque—an increase of 56 hp and 182 lb-ft over the previous model. Fuel economy saw a marked improvement, with a rating of 20 mpg combined with four-wheel drive (4WD), up from the previous 14 mpg.

The Sequoia TRD Pro model was dedicated to off-road capabilities and came exclusively with a 4WD system that included a selector for 4Hi, 4Lo, and two-wheel drive (2WD), along with a skid plate for protection. For other trims, 4WD was a $3,000 option, replacing the standard rear-wheel drive (RWD). A 10-speed automatic transmission was standard and operated smoothly. On-road handling was adequate, typical for the class. For drivers seeking adventure without heavy off-roading, a TRD Off-Road package was available on SR5, Limited, and Platinum trims with 4WD. This package added all-terrain tires, a skid plate, special TRD badging, and an off-road suspension with Bilstein shocks and an electronic locking rear differential. It also included features like Crawl Control, Multi-Terrain Select, and hill-descent control.

The Sequoia's towing capacity was impressive, with a maximum of 9,520 pounds, up from 7,400 pounds previously. The highest towing capacity came with the SR5 trim in its RWD configuration. Numerous towing-related upgrades were available, including the Tow Technology Package and power-extending trailer tow mirrors.

For the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, our review was based on an off-road course provided during a Toyota-hosted launch program. The Land Cruiser shifted from its previous V8 engine to a hybrid setup, utilizing Toyota’s i-Force MAX hybrid powertrain. This system combined a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a 1.87-kWh battery pack and a 48-hp electric motor, producing a total of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time 4WD, featuring an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case for high and low ranges. The Multi-Terrain Select system on mid-tier and First Edition models operated in either 4Hi or 4Lo.

The 2024 Land Cruiser came with standard automatic limited-slip differentials and rear- and center-locking differentials. During testing, locking the rear differential simplified navigating challenging obstacles. Middle- and top-tier trims had a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar, enhancing off-road articulation without adding on-road body roll—an option typically reserved for premium off-road vehicles.

Updates included the latest version of Toyota’s CRAWL control function, essentially a low-speed cruise control for difficult terrains. The system offered five speed settings and operated quietly, managing braking and acceleration over various challenging surfaces efficiently.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone model featured automatic power-deploying running boards, also available on the Platinum trim, assisting shorter occupants in climbing into the vehicle. However, there was a learning curve to avoid shin bumps. The Sequoia offered a maximum of 86.9 cubic feet of cargo space with both the second and third rows folded down. With the second row in place, cargo space was 49 cubic feet, and behind the third row, it ranged from 11.5 to 22.3 cubic feet, depending on the slider position of the third row.

The second-row seats were stationary but moved easily to allow access to the third row. The 60/40 split third-row bench folded with a button's push but didn’t create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain’s battery underneath. This affected headroom, providing 39.2 inches upfront, 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. Although it lagged behind competitors like the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon in legroom, it still bested the Jeep Wagoneer in the front row. Higher trims offered second-row captain’s chairs instead of a bench, providing comfort but lacking bolstering to keep passengers anchored.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, being the Prado variant, featured only two rows of seating. Headroom measured 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the back, with legroom at 33.0 inches in the front and 26.7 inches in the rear. The center console offered easy access to key off-road controls, including buttons for the stabilizer-bar disconnect and the center and rear lockers, conveniently located behind the gear shifter. Hard controls for climate and media were centrally placed, just below the infotainment screen. A wireless charging pad was available in equipped vehicles, and the center console cool box, part of the Premium Package, quickly chilled items like cell phones.

The rear liftgate opened to a cargo area with a raised floor, featuring a rubber mat for durability and ease of cleaning in the mid-tier trim. The cargo space totaled 37.5 cubic feet, equipped with a 120-volt AC outlet, powered by a 2400-watt inverter. Higher trims included illumination and USB-C ports.

The Toyota Sequoia Capstone trim was filled with advanced technology. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across all trims, accessed via an 8-inch touchscreen on the SR5 and a 14-inch center touchscreen on higher trims. Although the Toyota Audio Multimedia system might appear sparse due to extensive white space, it was user-friendly and functional. The driver-information display was consistently a full-color 12.3-inch screen with clear graphics.

Standard features also included the Panoramic View Monitor, crucial for a vehicle of this size, and a 10-inch color head-up display on the Capstone and available on Platinum. The 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was standard on Platinum, TRD Pro, and Capstone trims, and available on Limited.

For the Land Cruiser, the Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM) system was standard on the higher trims, enhancing the 12.3-inch center touchscreen's utility during off-road driving. MTM activated automatically at speeds below 10 miles per hour. The infotainment system was minimalist and functional, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard, and USB-C ports for all passengers.

The base 1958 trim featured an 8-inch center display and a six-speaker sound system. The mid-tier trim included a 10-speaker sound system, with an optional upgrade to the First Edition’s 14-speaker JBL system through the Premium Package, which also added a head-up display and a digital rear-view mirror.

Toyota ensured the 2024 Sequoia came with a robust set of safety features. Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 was standard across all trims, bundling features like a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Standard front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking, along with blind-spot monitoring featuring Trailer Merge Warning, enhanced safety while towing.

The Tow Technology Package, optional on SR5 and Limited, and standard on higher trims, added a digital rearview mirror and trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist, aiding in towing maneuvers. The 2024 Sequoia’s safety ratings were still pending, but the similar 2024 Toyota Tundra received a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.

The 2024 Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the latest version of the brand’s safety suite. It included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. The Premium Package added lane-keep assist, front cross-traffic alert, and traffic jam assist to the mid-tier trim, with these features being standard on the First Edition. The safety ratings for the Land Cruiser remained pending, but the related Tundra’s Top Safety Pick award provided some confidence.