Compare the2023 Mercedes GLSVS 2023 Toyota Sequoia

The GLS’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Sequoia doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The GLS offers an optional Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sequoia doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Full-time four-wheel drive is standard on the GLS. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Sequoia. Four-wheel drive of any type costs extra on the Sequoia.

The GLS’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Sequoia doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the GLS uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Sequoia uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the GLS and the Sequoia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and available lane departure warning systems.

The GLS comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Sequoia’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The GLS 580’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 46 more horsepower (483 vs. 437) than the Sequoia’s 3.4 turbo V6 hybrid. The Maybach GLS 600’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 113 more horsepower (550 vs. 437) than the Sequoia’s 3.4 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mercedes GLS is faster than the Toyota Sequoia:

Both the GLS and Sequoia have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The GLS has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The GLS has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sequoia (23.8 vs. 22.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the GLS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Sequoia:

The GLS stops much shorter than the Sequoia:

For better traction, the GLS has larger standard tires than the Sequoia (275/50R20 vs. 265/70R18).

The GLS 450’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sequoia’s standard 70 series tires. The GLS’ optional 285/40R23 front and 325/35R23 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Sequoia Capstone’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS 450 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Sequoia. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels on the Sequoia Capstone.

The GLS has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the GLS flat and controlled during cornering. The Sequoia’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The front and rear suspension of the GLS uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Sequoia, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Toyota doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Sequoia.

The GLS’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Sequoia doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLS’ wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Sequoia (123.4 inches vs. 122 inches).

The GLS 450 handles at .92 G’s, while the Sequoia Capstone 4x4 pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the GLS’ turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Sequoia’s (39.4 feet vs. 40.2 feet). The GLS’ turning circle is 5.2 feet tighter than the Sequoia TRD Pro’s (39.4 feet vs. 44.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the GLS has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sequoia (10.1 vs. 8.6 inches), allowing the GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLS Off-Road Package’s minimum ground clearance is 2.2 inches higher than on the Sequoia TRD Pro (11.3 vs. 9.1 inches).

The GLS 450 is 3.2 inches shorter than the Sequoia, making the GLS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the GLS’ center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Sequoia uses body-on-frame design instead.

The GLS has .2 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more rear headroom, 2.7 inches more rear legroom, 3.3 inches more third row headroom and .9 inches more third row legroom than the Sequoia.

The GLS’ cargo area provides more volume than the Sequoia.

The GLS has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Sequoia doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the GLS’ second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Sequoia doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat in the Sequoia Limited/TRD Pro/Platinum/Capstone, the GLS has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLS’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Sequoia’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Sequoia doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GLS has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Sequoia doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GLS also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The GLS has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Toyota doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Sequoia.

The GLS offers an optional center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The Sequoia doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

The GLS offers optional massaging front and second row seats, which keep the driver and middle row passengers. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Sequoia.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLS has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console and one for the rear passengers. Wireless charging costs extra on the Sequoia and isn’t available on the Sequoia SR5.

The GLS’ Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Sequoia doesn’t offer an automated parking system.