- Toyota's Sequoia is all-new for 2023, featuring a hybrid-only twin-turbo V6 drivetrain and updated rear-end suspension geometry.
- Interior and cargo space are diminished in the new chassis, a platform the Sequoia shares with the Toyota Tundra and Lexus LX.
- At a starting price of $59,795, Toyota expects its full-size, three-row SUV to be available by the end of summer.
Toyota's full-size SUV has been entirely redesigned for 2023, marking the first new generation of Sequoia in 14 years. A decade and a half is a long time for a chassis to remain largely the same and Toyota has clearly taken this into account with its new iteration of the three-row SUV. Hybrid-assisted twin-turbo V6 power, a new rear-end, and a revised interior make up the bulk of changes for this new model year across five trim levels. As a result of these modern changes, new pricing figures would suggest Toyota aims to elevate the Sequoia into a near-luxury segment.
The interior of the new Sequoia has been modernized, featuring an available 14-inch touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster. Even on the base SR5 model, heated seats, a moonroof, and Toyota's Panoramic View Monitor camera system are standard. SR5 Premium models receive hands-free liftgates, SoFex trimmed seats, and 120-volt power outlets. Moving up to Limited and Capstone trim comes with features like power third-row seating, a 14-speaker JBL audio system, and 20- or 22-inch wheels.
Cargo space does suffer as a result of this modernized interior and new live-axle rear suspension, with a maximum cargo space of 87 cubic feet. That's a loss of 33 cubic feet from the previous generation. The third-row seats do not fold flat in the 2023 model and legroom and shoulder room are down 1.6 inches and 3.0 inches, respectively.
Those looking for off-road adventures will be happy to know Toyota has also kept the TRD Pro trim alive. FOX internal bypass shocks, a quarter-inch aluminum skid plate, and a locking rear differential equip the TRD Pro for serious rock-crawling duty. Wheels are also sized down to 18 inches with an increased offset to allow for knobby rubber. Toyota also offers the TRD Off-Road package for the SR5 and Limited 4X4 models, using the same locking differential and surface-specific drive modes but with Bilstein suspension instead.
With a base price of $59,795, the Sequoia is certainly not cheap and is now anywhere from $4,000 to $9,000 more than the previous generation, depending on the trim. In this case, the added cost comes in the interest of an efficient and effective powerplant as well as a modern interior. Even so, a top-of-the-line Capstone 4X4 is nearly $80,000, earning it competition with the likes of Lincoln's Navigator, Cadillac Escalade, the Range Rover Sport, and a base model Porsche Cayenne. Sequoia's more direct competitors include the Ford Expedition (starting at $53,045), Chevrolet Tahoe ($53,695), Jeep Wagoneer ($58,995), and Nissan Armada ($49,500).
Swapping out the 5.7-liter 3UR V8, the new Sequoia arrives with a hybrid-only powertrain, sharing its i-Force Max V6 with the new Tundra, boasting 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers are up 13% and 32%, respectively, and Toyota has engineered this powerplant for better fuel economy. Not only is there an electric motor-generator sandwiched in the bell housing, but the twin-turbo V6 puts the power down through a 10-speed automatic, offered in two- or four-wheel-drive setups.
A byproduct of the Sequoia's newfound power is increased payload capacity, with a maximum towing weight of 9,520 pounds. Toyota also offers the Tow Tech Package, standard on TRD Pro and Capstone trims and available for all others, which aids drivers in backing up and staying in their lane while towing.
Another big change to the Sequoia nameplate is its suspension. Removing the independent rear suspension from the previous generation, Toyota uses a more rudimentary multilink solid axle on the new San Antonio-assembled model. Toyota claims this rear end allows for height-controlling air suspension and its Adaptive Variable Suspension. The body-on-frame chassis retains independent front suspension and adds a rack-mounted electric power steering system.
Toyota says its newest flagship SUV will be ready for delivery near the end of August.
Emmet White
Associate Editor
A New York transplant hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emmet White has a passion for anything that goes: cars, bicycles, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to ride at 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022. The woes of alternate side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a 2003 Honda Nighthawk 750 street parked in his South Brooklyn community.
