There are a few mainstays in the full-size SUV class. A prime example is the Chevrolet Tahoe, which often springs to mind when people start talking about big vehicles. However, don’t sleep on others, like the Toyota Sequoia, when shopping for a new SUV.
Yes, the Tahoe enjoys a long history in the segment, but the Sequoia has also been around a couple of decades, and just entered an all-new generation last year.
Let’s take a close look at both of these full-size family haulers to see how they compare.
2024 Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe is equal parts people mover and off-roader. It’s been doing both for generations, and Chevy has refined the vehicle’s strengths over the decades. With a simple, masculine exterior, it enjoys a classic look on the outside. It received no major changes for 2024, although that simple exterior remains appealing.
Moving inside, potential buyers will see a cavernous space with three rows of seats, plenty of storage, and a slew of new technology that keeps passengers entertained and safe. The Tahoe is also among the few modern vehicles that can seat up to nine people if you opt for the front bench seat.
Chevy offers Tahoe owners two gas-powered V8 options, which produce 355 and 420 horsepower, respectively, and a well-regarded 6-cylinder turbodiesel developing 277 hp and returning up to 24 mpg combined. All powertrains offer great thrust to move the Tahoe’s mass. Perhaps just as importantly, as large as the Chevrolet Tahoe is, it’s a capable off-roader and an excellent people hauler. Pricing starts at $58,195, including destination fee.
Chevrolet Tahoe Highlights
Super Cruise: Often thought of as only a luxury — read Cadillac — item, General Motors is now offering it on a limited basis to its other brands, including the upper trim levels of the Chevrolet Tahoe. Under certain conditions, it allows for hands-free driving on about 400,000 miles of roads across North America.
More cargo space: The Chevrolet Tahoe and Toyota Sequoia are similar in terms of passenger space, but the Chevy has significantly more cargo space. With the second- and third-row seats folded down, the Tahoe has 41% more cargo room than the Sequoia.
Off-roader: Chevy offers a Z71 off-road package for the Tahoe. The Z71 model provides standard 4-wheel drive, underbody protection, recovery hooks, and more — just what you need to get off the pavement.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Chevrolet Tahoe models near you.
2024 Toyota Sequoia
Based on Toyota’s truck platform, the Sequoia is a versatile vehicle, critical in this segment. The Sequoia enjoyed a complete makeover in 2023, which it sorely needed as it hadn’t changed much in the 15 years prior. The result is a thoroughly modern full-size SUV inside and out.
One particular area in which Toyota improved was under the hood. A 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid powers the new Sequoia. Yup. Hybrid. Sacrilege, some may cry, but the end result is a 437 hp engine that averages up to 22 mpg combined. To ensure it’s off-road capable, Toyota offers 4WD for every trim level — SR5, Limited, Platinum, Capstone, and TRD Pro. However, it’s standard on the TRD Pro, which is Toyota’s off-road-ready beast.
If there is a shortcoming with the Sequoia, it may be the interior. It is a 3-row SUV, but the legroom is the smallest in its class. Our reviewer described the interior as “acceptable.” However, if you move up to the Capstone trim and its luxury appointments, you may feel differently. Pricing starts at $63,125, including destination fee.
Toyota Sequoia Highlights
Look around: Standard across the lineup, Toyota offers a Panoramic View Monitor. It affords the driver a 360-degree view of the SUV, which can be helpful in tight situations.
Big screen: A 14-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard in all but the base SR5, which comes with an 8-inch display. The SR5 model can be upgraded to the larger screen. The graphics are crisp and clear, and the system is user-friendly, incorporating voice control and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto phone integration.
Sliding: The Sequoia offers an optional sliding third row with nearly 6 inches of travel to maximize passenger space or the cargo area.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Toyota Sequoia models near you.
Similarities
The Chevrolet Tahoe and Toyota Sequoia easily accommodate families thanks to their standard 3-row setup, both offer the latest infotainment and safety technology, and each enjoys attractive exterior styling that lures buyers to showrooms.
Conclusion
What did Toyota learn when redesigning the Sequoia? Well, it found that a hybrid powertrain is more than acceptable for a full-size SUV, giving buyers impressive fuel economy and a little extra boost off the line as well. However, the new Sequoia is $5,000 more and smaller inside than the Chevrolet Tahoe. That extra room gives the Tahoe better credentials as a family vehicle, but the Toyota wins at both performance and efficiency over V8 rivals. Drive both vehicles and try out their features, and that’ll tell you if the Sequoia is worth the extra cash.
| 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe | 2024 Toyota Sequoia | |
| Starting Price | $58,195 | $63,125 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 5.3-liter V8 | 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid |
| Horsepower | 355 hp @ 5,600 rpm | 437 hp @ 5,200 rpm |
| Torque | 383 lb-ft @ 4,100 rpm | 583 lb-ft @ 2,400 rpm |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic/2WD | 10-speed automatic/2WD |
| Fuel Economy | 18 city/22 highway/20 combined mpg | 21 city/24 highway/22 combined mpg |
| Also Available | 6.2-liter V8; 3.0-liter I-6 turbo diesel; 4WD | 4WD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 4 stars | N/R |
| Max Seating Capacity | 9 | 8 |
| Wheelbase | 120.9 inches | 122.0 inches |
| Overall Length | 210.7 inches | 208.1 inches |
| Width | 81.0 inches | 79.8 inches |
| Height | 75.8 inches | 74.5 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.1 feet | 41.3 feet |
| Headroom, Front Row | 42.3 inches | 40.9 inches |
| Headroom, Second Row | 38.9 inches | 40.0 inches |
| Headroom, Third Row | 38.2 inches | 36.4 inches |
| Legroom, Front Row | 44.5 inches | 41.2 inches |
| Legroom, Second Row | 42.0 inches | 39.0 inches |
| Legroom, Third Row | 34.9 inches | 28.1 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front Row | 66.0 inches | 65.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Second Row | 64.7 inches | 61.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Third Row | 62.7 inches | 62.6 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 25.5/72.6/122.9 cubic feet | 22.3/49.0/86.9 cubic feet |
