The Sequoia: The Only Full-Size Hybrid SUV Available in 2023
- Trim Tested: Sequoia Platinum
- Price as Tested: $78,880 (including destination charge)
- What We Like: Powerful; hybrid gets class-leading city fuel economy, 9,520 lb towing capacity; great touchscreen
- What We Don’t: Above-average price; smaller interior than rivals
The Sequoia, a full-size 3-row SUV based on the Tundra pickup truck, is completely redesigned for 2023. We drove one for a week, and these are our impressions.
How It Drives
The Sequoia is a hybrid – the only hybrid full-size SUV available in 2023. It’s actually a story of redemption for the Sequoia. The 2022 model had the worst fuel economy and towing capacity in its class. And it was old, with a design dating back to 2008.
This new Sequoia is completely different. The old, thirsty V8 has been swapped for a twin-turbo V6 hybrid, which Toyota calls the i-Force Max (i-Force meaning turbocharged, and Max meaning hybrid). The name may be silly, but the result is not: The Sequoia has the highest mpg in the class and the second-highest horsepower and towing ratings. Only the Jeep Wagoneer is stronger. The Sequoia also has a nice ride, especially with our optional rear air suspension, and while parking can be a challenge, the power-folding mirrors and 360 camera help.
At $60,000, the Sequoia is also more expensive than every other full-size SUV it competes with – the Ford Expedition, Chevy Tahoe, and Nissan Armada – all of them. And this Platinum test model is $78,000. The Platinum has nice features, but $78K is very pricey. You could get a Mercedes GLS for that kind of money, and that’s the biggest SUV Mercedes makes.
A fully loaded Highlander Hybrid (Toyota’s second-largest SUV) is $10,000 cheaper than the cheapest Sequoia. This is a great SUV, but only buy it if you need to tow something large. That’s what it’s made for. If not, the Highlander is a better bet.
Interior Comfort & Quality
The interior design is not luxurious, despite the Sequoia Platinum’s price. The truck underpinnings mean a lot of chunky plastic pieces and ride, flat surfaces.
The Sequoia is massive on the outside: It’s about 25% heavier than the next-largest Toyota SUV, the Highlander Hybrid. However, it only holds 6% more cargo inside. How? In the third row, the seats don’t fold into the floor as in most SUVs. Toyota gives you a shelf to make it flat, but it feels flimsy, and it puts the cargo floor about 3.5 feet off the ground – that’s a long way to lift a heavy bag.
Seating in the first two rows is wide and comfortable. Power running boards make getting in easy, and there are tons of power outlets and cupholders. The second row is not the most comfortable, but the seats are heated and cooled, which makes them more accommodating. The third row isn’t uncomfortable, but it has built-in sunshades, power outlets, manual sliding adjustment, and power reclining adjustment. At 6 feet tall, I fit, but my head scraped the roof liner.
Technology & Usability
The simple design of the interior does pay dividends in usability. Toyota does a nice job keeping the infotainment screen from having to handle too much. For example, all of the air conditioner controls get their own separate buttons. While many companies are swapping out volume knobs for buttons, Toyota keeps a big dial front and center.
Toyota swapped out the old Sequoia’s 7-inch touchscreen for a beautiful 14-inch screen driven by the Toyota Audio Multimedia System. It’s one of the most straightforward systems I’ve used, and when it’s hooked up to Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, they fill the screen with crisp, helpful information.
The only exception to this infotainment excellence comes when you have to change a setting that’s outside of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Changing the radio station, for example, requires a bunch of steps.
Towing tech is abundant – part of Sequoia’s Tundra pickup truck roots. Features on our tester included power extending mirrors, a built-in Class-IV towing hitch receiver and wiring harness, trailer sway control, an integrated trailer brake controller, and a trailer backup system Straight Path Assist helps the vehicle back up straight.
Read our full 2023 Toyota Sequoia review for more specs and information about the entire Sequoia lineup.
Carfax vehicle reviews let shoppers compare a vehicle’s specs against its competitors. However, some aspects of a vehicle – performance, comfort, usability – can only be evaluated through actual driving. That’s why we evaluate as many vehicles as we can, so you’ll know what to expect.
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