Toyota Sequoia is interesting, but it also has flaws
The smallest full-size three-row SUV, while strong on the inside, isn't perfect.
The last time I was driving at 70 miles per hour on Stephen's Bridge Road (a wide 10-mile dirt road through the woods), I was an arrogant high school student driving an old Ford Crown Victoria. At that time, I was showing off to my friends on the way to our favorite campground, but this time, my heavy steps were completely accidental. This is a testament to how stable and tidy this 2024 Toyota Sequoia Platinum Edition is, whether it's driving on a slippery highway or at full speed on a bumpy country road. It's easy to forget that this is a full-size, body-frame SUV.
This isn't the only time Sequoia has surprised me. I spent nearly two weeks driving this bulky Toyota, shuttling with people and objects for 300 miles, using cruise control most of the time to keep this moonrock gray people car at (or close to) the speed limit. During this time, two things stood out to me: it was actually fun to drive, and with the TRD off-road kit, I think it can go almost anywhere – except for one obvious problem.
| Brief description of the specifications | 2024 Toyota Sequoia Platinum Edition |
| engine | Twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 hybrid |
| output | 437 hp / 583 lb-ft |
| efficiency | 19 cities / 22 highways / 20 combined |
| Base price/tested | $63,125 / $82,082 |
| Release date | Right now |
The hybrid powertrain is certainly about fun. All Sequoia are equipped with an i-Force Max V-6 with two turbochargers and an electric motor for a total of 437 horsepower. You can certainly feel the power – the heights are definitely a fun zone when the turbocharger spins. But the Sequoia is best used at low rpm, when 583 pound-feet of torque allows you to move forward effortlessly.
With the integrated electric motor, you can move quietly through the mall parking lot without the need for an engine. You'll be surprised how easy it is to sneak up on someone else in a large SUV when there is no V-8 engine. I've never done anything like that.
This Sequoia Platinum also comes with a TRD off-road package that adds Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires, Bilstein shocks, skid plates, locking rear differentials, cool TRD trim, and some off-road driving modes that I suspect owners rarely use. This brings me to the obvious problem of a low-hanging front air dam that is only 8 inches above the ground. For a vehicle equipped with features like off-road kits and crawl control, the front clearance is only slightly larger than my Ford Mustang, which simply doesn't make sense. Does Toyota think Sequoia buyers won't risk going off the beaten path? Because it does feel like it wants to.
Pros: Suitable for any surface, powerful, beautiful interior
That's why I found myself driving on dirt roads on the highway instead of hanging out on the nearby side roads, and in fact, I'm glad things would turn out that way. Sequoia's mission is not to conquer potholed roads or rocky cliffs. It's a three-row SUV designed to conquer the parking lot of Dave & Busters for the whole family to go out for dinner and games. The Platinum's heated/cooled captain's chair makes for excellent comfort in the second row, and there's plenty of room for even the most stubborn young siblings to keep them from fighting.
On the front, adults have a row of switches for frequently used items and quick access to a 14.0-inch screen for additional functions. It's an attractive, intuitive setup that's easy to understand – and it has voice control that really works, which is a novel concept. Only once, when I asked for directions to Jet's Pizza, Sequoia tried to call Brett. Toyota's navigation considers all secondary roads in northern Michigan to have a speed limit of 25 mph or 45 mph. But these are minor issues for an otherwise great interface – the perfect blend of analog control and digital technology.
The third-row seats aren't that great. It is adjustable and electrically foldable, which is very convenient when passengers don't need it. But it can't be folded flat, causing the floor to rise and it can be cumbersome to load smaller items. When the seat is raised and in the rearmost position, there is only 11.5 cubic feet of cargo space. That's just enough space for a row of groceries, and competitors like the Ford Expedition and GMC Yukon have about twice as much space. The Jeep Wagoneer has a trunk space of 27.4 cubic feet and can install a solar system in its trunk.
The rear row of seats isn't particularly comfortable for people over 5 feet tall. It sits on top of the Sequoia's sturdy rear axle and hybrid battery with 35.6 inches of headroom and 36.6 inches of legroom. This is the smallest space in its class, but the gap is not huge. The Wagoneer offers a class-leading 39 inches of headroom, while the Expedition leads the way with 40.9 inches of legroom. Sequoia's third row isn't a torture chamber, but competitors do offer more room for large families to stretch out.
Cons: Tight third-row seating space, tight cargo space, and an air dam that hinders off-road adventures
However, none of these competitors offer a standard hybrid powertrain, and none do it better than Toyota. The official fuel economy rating shows that Sequoia burns 19 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles on the highway for a combined 20 miles. However, in the area where I live, on roads with a speed limit of 55 miles, I kept seeing 25 to 30 miles per gallon. The M-18 has a particularly flat stretch of road, about a mile, and Sequoia shuts down the engine if the throttle input is very light. Driving at 35 mph in town is usually more efficient than driving at 75 mph on the highway. My average fuel burn for 10 days, 300 miles was 24.1 mpg.
For a 6,000-pound SUV with 437 horsepower, I think that's pretty good mileage. But you're going to pay for it – my Sequoia Platinum interior comes with a TRD off-road package, head-up display, and built-in dashcam for $82,082. This is equivalent to a well-equipped Tahoe, but slightly less than the GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition, and Jeep Wagoneer with similar features.
If you don't need as much comfort, the base Sequoia SR5 has the same powertrain and three rows of seats, and can be equipped with a TRD off-road package...... All of this is only about $15,000 cheaper.
Let's be honest – I'm not a big fan of SUVs, but I find myself loving the Sequoia a lot. Its main mission is to be a comfortable, functional family car, and I am confident that it will succeed in this mission despite the limited number of seats in the third row. It's not easy to stand out in any SUV segment, but its chunky body grabs attention, and the TRD off-road kit makes it even better.
But there's also a sense that it might be more than that, and that it goes beyond the kind of soft-road character that the low-hanging front air dam imparts. If the zombie apocalypse comes, you don't have to abandon Toyota and choose the neighboring Suburban. Simply fasten your seatbelt, open the seat vents, and press the throttle. The gas dam won't survive, but I'm willing to bet the rest of Sequoia will.
competitor
- Ford Expedition
- GMC Yukon
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- Jeep station wagon
- Nissan fleet