Toyota Sequoia vs Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe expanded its lineup with the introduction of the 30th Anniversary edition, bringing the total to six trim levels. These included the base trim, 30th Anniversary, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. Prices started at $61,660, with the Summit Reserve reaching $80,320 before options. Our test vehicle, a Trailhawk, featured a panoramic sunroof, Luxury Tech Group II, and Advanced ProTech Group II, raising its MSRP to $72,630. A federal income tax credit of $3,750 could reduce the cost to $68,880. The Trailhawk was distinguished by sky blue exterior detailing, a matte-black hood decal, and unique wheels with all-terrain tires. However, the interior fell short of luxury expectations, with excessive plastic and glossy surfaces that attracted dust and fingerprints. The controls were difficult to read, and some were poorly positioned, though the steering wheel controls were a notable exception.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, featuring hexagonal grilles, strong fender creases, and a muscular stance. The exterior color significantly influenced its appearance, with our Capstone model in Celestial Silver appearing somewhat dated. Inside, the Sequoia closely resembled the Tundra and other Toyota vehicles, with a blocky, geometric dashboard layout and physical dials for climate control. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered various seating materials. The Sequoia provided power-adjustable front seats across the lineup, enhancing customization. A power-tilt and -slide moonroof was standard or optional, depending on the trim. The interior design prioritized functionality, with easy access to the third row and foldable seats, though the hybrid powertrain's battery pack affected the load floor and headroom.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and an 8-speed automatic transmission. This setup delivered 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds. The Trailhawk came with a standard 4WD system, Selec-Terrain technology, and off-road cruise control. It boasted a front-axle sway bar disconnect system and height-adjustable air suspension, providing 10.9 inches of ground clearance. The Grand Cherokee 4xe offered an EPA-estimated 25 miles of all-electric range and 23 mpg in hybrid mode. However, during testing, it achieved only 21.2 miles of electric range and averaged 19.3 mpg in Auto mode. The vehicle excelled off-road but exhibited unrefined engine sounds, uneven power delivery, and noticeable body lean during daily driving.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia exclusively featured a hybrid powertrain, utilizing Toyota's iForce MAX system with a twin-turbo V6 engine and an electric motor. This setup produced 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, significantly improving over its V8 predecessor. The Sequoia achieved 20 mpg combined with 4WD, a notable increase from the previous 14 mpg. The TRD Pro trim offered 4WD with a part-time system, while other trims required an additional $3,000 for 4WD. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the Sequoia's on-road handling was adequate. The TRD Off-Road package added adventure-readiness features, including all-terrain tires and an off-road suspension. The Sequoia's towing capacity reached 9,520 pounds, with towing-related upgrades available.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe struggled with practical storage and cargo space due to its off-roading hardware. The Trailhawk featured eight-way power-adjustable front seats with leather and artificial suede upholstery, but the interior was limited to black. The front seats were firm and flat, while the rear seat cushion was low and lacked support. Rear legroom was tight, and the cargo space measured 37.7 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 70.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, which was small for a midsize SUV.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone came with automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding shorter individuals in entering the vehicle. The Sequoia offered a maximum of 86.9 cubic feet of cargo space with both second- and third-row seats folded. Behind the second row, it provided 49 cubic feet, and behind the third row, it ranged from 11.5 to 22.3 cubic feet. The second-row seats were easy to move for third-row access, but the third-row seats did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack. Headroom was reduced, and legroom varied across rows, with the Sequoia trailing some rivals in space.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe boasted up to six screens, including a head-up display and dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system. The Trailhawk featured a 10.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, a 10.3-inch front passenger infotainment screen, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, navigation, and Jeep Connect services. The Alpine premium sound system was standard. The user interface was simple, but the graphics appeared washed out. The Trailhawk also had a 10.3-inch infotainment screen for the front passenger, though it went unused during testing.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features. The SR5 trim had an 8-inch touchscreen, while other trims featured a 14-inch center touchscreen. The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashiness. The driver-information display was a full-color 12.3-inch screen, and the Panoramic View monitor was standard. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch color head-up display and a 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system, available on Limited and standard on higher trims.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe came equipped with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a reversing camera with rear parking sensors. The Trailhawk added active blind-spot monitoring and an intersection assist system. The Grand Cherokee 4xe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a four-star rating for driver protection in a frontal-impact collision. The IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ rating, though the rating did not specifically apply to the 4xe version.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite, including 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 Trailer Merge Warning were 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 the IIHS or NHTSA, but the similar 2024 Toyota Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.