Don’t go thinking that EV’s are it. In the marketplace 3-row full-size SUV’’s are hot. From the Kia Telluride to the Mazda CX-90, there’s something for everyone looking for a big, tough, spacious vehicle.
And one name that’s been around is the Toyota Sequoia, sharing a platform with the Tundra pickup, the big Toy has a well-earned reputation for capability and ruggedness. Now the manufacturer’s adding a heavy ladle full of luxury as well. Is the Sequoia the right SUV for you? Let’s take a look.
Big and Bold
The first thing you notice – the Sequoia has presence. This is a large vehicle, and it makes no bones about being big and bold. We love that!
Up front a massive hexagon grille hints at the power under the hood, while LED headlights and boomerang-shaped LED driving lights enhance the impression of width. Our tester kept things on the menacing side with blacked out trim, including the Toyota logo. Adding to the presence, iforce Max badging on both sides of the hood says it all – powah!!!
Maybe a big surprise to us was the fair amount of aero trim on the vehicle, including a stout lower air dam – today’s big SUV’s still have to serve up efficiency.
The profile is pure 3-row SUV. The Sequoia stands tall – we were glad to have a running board to step up on to get in. Make that muscular, too with massive fender flares with black trim and cut in lower doors for an athletic look. Riding on massive 20-inch dark-gray painted and machine-finished alloy wheels, our tester looked capable for any adventure you’d throw its way.
Ike the front, our tester featured blacked out badging at the rear for added toughness, and we especially loved S E Q U O I A spelled out in big bold letters. Simple LED taillights fill out the back, and another thing we loved about our truck – you can easily flip up the rear window for quick access, or as an easy way to carry oversize items like a surfboard.
Finishing off our tester was the Mesquite exterior color that looks almost black in the shade but when the light hits it a rich cocoa brown with deep metallic really catches the eye. We know it’s rare to see brown in this age of pavement colored everything, and we really liked how the color showed off the Sequoia’s attitude. (Note: it looks like this color was dropped for 2025, so if you want it, better hurry!)
Wide Open Spaces
Inside, you see the full use of the plus-sized exterior. The width is impressive – the passenger’s seat is waaay over there. We mentioned it’s a step up, but with the running board and grab handle it’s an easy entry.
The front seats are large and comfortable, and heated and cooled on our Limited tester. A fat leather-wrapped wheel and chunky shift lever (hurray) put controls in your hand that just plain feel good.
The driver enjoys a handsome 12.3-inch digital gauge display, including turbo boost gauge, and useful things like oil info and battery level for the hybrid powertrain. On of the highlights of the interior is the massive 14-inch multimedia display that originally debuted in the Tundra pickup. Our WAZE maps never looked better. There’s even a dedicated volume knob. (Double yay!)
We also like that Toyota puts the climate controls separate from the screen, with easy to access toggle switches that could even be employed with gloves on. Toyota knows how people use their trucks!
Below that is a wireless charging pad for your smartphone, and a massive center console with room for the shift lever, dual cupholders, and a handy set of selectors for 4WD and driving mode selection. The center storage is smart too, with a handy little slide out tray that gives you access to the storage without having to lift the entire lid. Neat.
You’re also impressed about the abundance of luxuries on board. While this is the 2nd from the bottom as far as trims go, the Limited is loaded with goodness, and high-quality materials. It really feels more Lexus (or at least New Land Cruiser) than the previous truck-ish models.
The 2nd row seating is spacious. Our tester had the bench with room for three, but new for 2024, dual captain’s chairs are available if you want more of a luxury experience. Standard on the Limited is a power-folding third row, which is handy, but that row is really only for kids. Because the Sequoia is built on a truck frame you do notice a little less headroom than on some other car-based SUV’s. This is a relative thing – we never felt short on space.
Well, you are a bit short on cargo space with the third row up, but power-fold those seats and you have plenty of room. The second-row seats not only tilt and tumble forward for easy access, but they also fold flat to create a long floor when you need to haul stuff. We also like the raised floor area in the hatch to not only give you a flat floor as well as some added hidden storage.
Turbo Powaahhhh
Driving the Sequoia really separates it from the previous model. Where a large, chuffing and thirsty V8 used to live, you now have a standard iForce MAX hybrid – which sounds very powerful, and it is. Standard is a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 plus an electric motor that pumps out an impressive 437 horsepower and jaw-dropping 583 lb.-ft of torque. That helps you tow up to 9,250 lbs. – another big number!
Flowing through a 10-speed automatic and 4wd the big Toyota peels off 0-60 in under 6 seconds, and in something this big that really is flying. That hybrid powertrain is pretty cool too, it not only shuts off the engine around town, but even at freeway speeds it can cut off the gas motor if it doesn’t feel the need.
And that system pays off in efficiency, with a thrifty combined EPA rating of 20 mpg. Even with lead-footing it, and mostly around town driving we still averaged 18.5. Friends with an older Sequoia say they never see much above 12 mpg, so the improvement is massive!
Despite its large size we found the Sequoia easy to navigate around with, thanks to that tall seating position, light, responsive steering, and when you hit the mall, the 360-degree parking monitor makes easy work of finding your way into tight parking spaces.
The truck-based chassis may serve up a little more firmness than car-based models, but we found the ride comfortable and actually liked how confident it makes you feel behind the wheel – you feel ready for just about anything!
Part of that comes from traditional 4WD goodness, including optional 4WDemand part-time 4-Wheel Drive with and electronically controlled 2-speed transfer case and Automatic Limited-Slip Differential.
And for those who feel the desire for the most rugged of terrains, a TRD Off-Road package is offered, with unique wheels, off-road suspension with Bilstein shocks, skid plates, an electronically controlled rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl and Downhill Assist Controls and more.
Big SUV Big Price?
We think you get a lot for your dollar, but this is still a large, premium vehicle. You can get into a Sequoia SR5 2WD starting at $62,175. For a nicely equipped 3-row SUV that’s sure to last a long time, it’s a good value.
As we mentioned the Limited is the next step up the ladder. Starting at $70,995, you add $3000 for 4WD, Panoramic roof ($500) and $1,945 for Destination, and we rang the bell at $74,495.
Competitors include the sibling Land Cruiser that’s all new. While the previous 3-row Land Cruiser was cruising in at over $87,000, Toyota decided to make the new “Cruiser” a smaller 5-passenger vehicle, (our tester was just $60,000), If you don’t need the space, it’s worth considering.
In the 3-row sweeps, we’d consider the Kia Telluride at $54,780 it’s an exceptional value. And we’d also shop the Chevrolet Suburban, comparably equipped it would be a bit more expensive at over $78,000.
Big on performance, comfort, tech and efficiency, the all-new Toyota Sequoia is a massive improvement over the previous model, and a great rugged, capable 3-row SUV!
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.