Compare the2024 Mercedes GLSVS 2024 Toyota Sequoia

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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.

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.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLS has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Sequoia doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

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, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Warranty

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.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS second among large premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Sequoia isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The GLS 580’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 73 more horsepower (510 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 Consumer Reports the GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Toyota Sequoia:

	GLS	Sequoia
Zero to 30 MPH	2.4 sec	2.9 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	6.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	96 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the GLS 450 gets better fuel mileage than the Sequoia 4x4 (19 city/24 hwy vs. 19 city/22 hwy).

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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	GLS	Sequoia
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	13.9 inches

The GLS stops much shorter than the Sequoia:

	GLS	Sequoia
70 to 0 MPH	154 feet	194 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	133 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	143 feet	160 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLS has larger standard tires than the Sequoia (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. 265/70R18).

The GLS’ standard 275/45R21 front and 315/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear 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 has standard 21-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.

Suspension and Handling

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 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).

Chassis

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 doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

Cargo Capacity

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

	GLS	Sequoia
Behind Third Seat	17.4 cubic feet	11.5 cubic feet

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.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system 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.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLS has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Sequoia doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

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.

Recommendations

The Mercedes GLS outsold the Toyota Sequoia by 8% during 2023.