The 2023 Toyota Sequoia looks stuck in the past

fifteen years. Three presidential elections. global pandemic. All this and more happened between the launch of the second generation Toyota Sequoia and its last production year in 2008 2022. By the time the sun goes down, Sequoia is quite old by industry standards. But now that the alternative is here, was it worth the wait?

Full disclosure: I dropped off a Toyota Sequoia with a full tank of gas at my house and said, “See you in a week.” It took half of my way and took my family and our crap.

newfound E.Efficiency – kind of

We knew a new Sequoia was coming when Toyota Introduced the new Tundra pickup. Since they share a platform, the Sequoia is Exclusively available with the tundra twin turbo hybrid V6 as the only engine.

Dubbed the i-Force Max, this 3.5-liter V6 engine makes 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and Toyota says this powertrain should get 21 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. Considering the old V8-powered Sequoia returned 14 mpg, that’s quite an improvement.

But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. While the hybrid powertrain can really hustle a full-size Sequoia, it actually sounds a bit much Like a V8 in operation, it really does sound like a hybrid in name only. I’ve never come close to hitting the EPA’s fuel economy ratings, averaging just 16.3 mpg over a week’s worth of driving. The hybrid system only has an electric setting, but it only really works below 10-15 mph.

In general, despite its novelty, the Sequoia still drives like an old car. There is so much body roll in the corners that it makes me uncomfortable. sHoles and other bumps in the road are met with a pickup truck-like shudder throughout the entire SUV. Braking is also not confidentwith super-Soft pedal. All of this combines to make for an unsettling journey.

The price is in your face

While the 2023 Sequoia starts at $59,960 including $1,595 destination, the model I’m testing is a fully loaded Capstone. It sits at the top of the Sequoia lineup, starting at $76,960, including $1,595. With a few option packages, mine stickers for $80,481 the same as a Lexus.

The Sequoia’s redesign won’t be for everyone, and the front end is particularly polarizing. But I honestly can’t find it hurtful It’s not pretty, but it does enhance the durability the Tundra is trying to sell. Large headlights with LED DRLs flank an equally large grille.

What’s interesting is that although it looks huge, this Sequoia isn’t much larger than the SUV it replaces. The wheelbase is the same, at 122 inches long. The 2023 Sequoia sits 2.8 inches lower, 74.2 inches wide, and is just 3 inches longer than the outgoing model. This majestic stature is really just an illusion created by the design.

Interior design needs improvement

Climbing inside the Sequoia, you’ll find a nice, modern interior that, visually, is a huge improvement over the previous generation. There’s a comprehensive 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver and a 14-inch laptop-like multimedia display with impressive resolution.

Unfortunately, upon closer inspection, you’ll find cheap, sometimes flimsy or ill-fitting materials. While the white parts of the dashboard are soft to the touch, anything black is made of Cheap feeling plastic. The glove box feels like it might come loose with a very strong closing; Feel the gear selector flimsy The lower door panels appear recessed. That’s not an $80,000 insider, not even close.

Things are getting a little better in the back. Under the second row of seats is the 15.1 kWh hybrid battery. Because of this, the floor is higher than you might expect and it makes you feel as if your knees are very close to your chest. aAbove you, headroom was compromised by Capstone testers’ panoramic sunroof—specifically, the retractable shade, which stows in a roof roll directly above the heads of second-row passengers. All of this makes for a strange place to sit. The capstone comes with heated and cooled rear seats. Plus individual climate controls, air vents and chargers for rear seat passengers.

The third row is decent, with 33.7 inches of legroom. It’s easy to get in and out, too, thanks to the second-row seats that easily flip out of the way.

Think twice about hauling seven passengers and all their cargo. Depending on how the power-folding seats are positioned, Toyota says cargo volume behind the third row is 11.5 to 22.3 cubic feet, which increases to 49.0 cubic feet with the third row folded and 86.9 cubic feet with both rows down. Also, somewhat annoyingly, Toyota still doesn’t seem to know how to make seats that fold completely into the floor.

Not quite there

The Toyota Sequoia needs…something. Yes, it’s an improvement over the previous generation, but only if you don’t look too close. The interior feels cheapHowever, the hybrid isn’t that efficient and overall, the Sequoia doesn’t feel like a modern, competitive product. But, if you liked what Toyota had to offer in the old Sequoia, the 2023 model might be the car for you.