The Toyota Sequoia has become a bit of a bloated machine with old tech and only okay underpinnings. Luckily for us, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia changes all that, with a fresh new design that addresses most of our gripes about the outgoing machine. Think better looks, tech, fuel economy, power, towing capacity, ruggedized frame, etc…
Let’s dive in…
“Our primary design goal for Sequoia was to create a sophisticated, yet tough and active lifestyle SUV that looks capable of handling a diversity of big adventure needs,” Says U.S. Calty Toyota Design Studio President Kevin Hunter. ” That holds true whether it’s a night out on the town with friends, towing a boat to the lake with family, or taking a more extreme off-road adventure.”
Quality Standard Components
The all-new 2023 Sequoia will share the same underpinnings as the new 2022 Tundra, 2022 Land Crusier, and 2022 Lexus LX 600. That means it will get a fully-boxed frame and body-on-frame construction. It also means independent front suspension (IFS) and the return to a solid rear axle. This should offer durability and lots of aftermarket parts support across these vehicles.
The one and only powertrain option in the 2022 Sequoia is the twin-turbo V6 hybrid i-Force Max, which was just introduced on the 2022 Toyota Tundra. In the Sequoia this new engine produces 437 hp and 583 lb.-ft. of torque. We don’t know fuel economy numbers just yet, but Toyota expects to be a leader in the full-size SUV category and be substantially better than the outgoing Sequoia, which offered a dismal 13 MPG city and 17 MPG highway.
Towing is also important for full-size SUV buyers, and the 2023 Sequoia will offer an impressive 9,000-pounds of towing capacity. An available Load Leveling Rear Height Control Air Suspension, power-folding/extending/retracting tow mirrors, and a Tow Tech Package with all the cameras and backup assist features will make towing easier than ever.
Five trim levels of the 2023 Sequoia will be on offer; SR5, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, and the new top-of-the-line Capstone. All trims, besides TRD Pro, will come standard with 2WD and have an optional selectable 4WD system. TRD Pro will of course come with 4WD standard. An almost 33-inch tire comes on a variety of wheel sizes, from 18- to 22-inch.
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 is standard across all Sequoia, offering active safety systems like a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection and impressive tech like Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
Most Sequoia will come with a massive 14-inch touchscreen, while the base models have an 8-inch screen. The screen is the gateway to the new Toyota multimedia system, with “Hey Toyota” Intelligent Assistant.
All 2023 Sequoia are three-row. The second row can be configured with a 3-seat bench or 2 captain’s chairs. The 3rd row has a new fancy optional sliding system with a cargo shelf system for the ultimate in gear-hauling configuration options.
TRD Sequoia Options
The TRD options on the new Sequoia are the most interesting to me. You can get the TRD Pro model, or option up one of the lower models with a TRD Sport or TRD Off-Road package.
The Sequoia TRD Pro model gets you all the off-road goodies and a lot of luxury items on offer. In terms of off-road capability, you get; TRD tuned Fox internal bypass shocks, TRD springs, a 1/4 inch aluminum front skid plate, a selectable rear locker, TRD Pro BBS forged 18-inch black wheels wrapped in Falcon Wildpeak tires, Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, and Downhill Assist Control. The TRD Pro also gets you a blacked-out “TOYOTA” grille with an embedded lightbar and marker lights, a TRD roof rack, a TRD Pro exhaust, a TRD heated steering wheel, TRD accents on the seats and shift knob, and standard second-row captains chairs.
The TRD Sport package is available on the Sequoia SR5. It gets you 20-inch matte-black TRD wheels, TRD Bilstein monotube shocks, TRD springs, and interior accents like aluminum pedals and a red push-to-start button. The TRD Sport package is mostly an on-road package designed to look rugged.
The TRD Off-Road package offers the off-pavement capability, although not as much as the TRD Pro model. This package is available on SR5 and Limited 4×4 models. It gets you a selectable locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select, Downhill Assist Control, Crawl Control, TRD Bilstein monotube shocks, and TRD springs. For added bling, you also get a red front axle driveshaft, aluminum pedals, and TRD push-button start. Unique 18-inch TRD wheels are also part of the TRD Off-Road package.
2023 Sequoia Capstone
If you want the ultimate luxury and on-road version of the 2023 Toyota Sequoia then the new Capstone is the model for you. The Sequoia Capstone offers a lot of chrome accents, 22-inch chrome wheels, power running boards, semi-aniline leather-trimmed seats, a unique black/white color combo on the perforated seats, American Walnut interior accents, and acoustic glass in the front doors.
2023 Toyota Sequoia
Forget what you know about the Toyota Sequoia because the 2023 model year full-size SUV is an all-new animal. The 2023 Sequoia is a strong, durable, powerful, efficient, and feature-packed family hauler. Think of it as an enclosed 2022 Tundra, as from the B-pillar forward it is essentially the same vehicle.
Toyota expects to start delivering the 2023 Sequoia this summer but is yet to announce pricing. The current Sequoia starts just north of $50,000. We expect the 2023 model to start closer to $55,000, with the top-of-the-line Capstone coming in around $80,000.
To give you an idea of how much Toyota thinks you’re going to love this vehicle, it currently sells about 10,000 Sequoia a year and plans to sell around 40,000 of the new ones a year, according to a company engineer that we sat down with after the reveal.
