Big, Powerful 2023 Toyota Sequoia Is Weak on Ride and Refinement
For the price, this hybrid trails other large 3-row SUVs in too many ways
Update: Since this first drive was originally published in August, 2022, we finished testing the Toyota Sequoia. Read the complete Toyota Sequoia road test.
The 2023 Toyota Sequoia is a large SUV based on the Toyota Tundra pickup, which itself was redesigned for the 2022 model year. Like that truck, the Sequoia SUV boasts large towing and payload capacities, Toyota’s newest infotainment system, and a rich roster of standard active safety and driver assistance features. On top of that, Toyota has given the Sequoia a hybrid powertrain that should help it return better fuel economy than its competitors.
After two weeks of living with a Sequoia that we rented from Toyota, we came away feeling let down by the redesigned SUV. Things that made the previous generation unusual or impressive—such as its power-retractable rear window or independent rear suspension—are gone from this new-generation model. And a number of the SUV’s new features and systems detract from the overall experience, rather than enhance it.
The price for the Sequoia starts at $58,300 for the eight-passenger SR5. The $64,700 Limited also seats eight and includes a power third-row seat. Next up is the $70,900 Platinum trim. It comes with two captain’s chairs in the second row, cutting seating to seven.
The $75,300 Capstone version gets power running boards and 22-inch wheels and tires. The top-of-the-range, off-road-focused TRD Pro costs $76,900 and includes 18-inch BBS wheels with all-terrain tires, Fox shock absorbers, and crawl control for going up and down rocky grades. Both of these versions seat seven. All Sequoias have a $1,495 destination charge.
