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2023 Toyota Sequoia ・ Photo by Toyota
The 2023 Toyota Sequoia is a three-row SUV that benefits from a full redesign for this model year. It’s available exclusively with a hybrid powertrain in a range of five trims, including the rugged TRD Pro and upscale Capstone.
Seating is comfortable with available second-row captain’s chairs, and there’s good room for cargo. It offers rear-wheel or four-wheel drive and gets good fuel economy despite its size. Here are the 10 best features of the 2023 Toyota Sequoia.
The 2023 Toyota Sequoia is available solely with a hybrid powertrain. It features a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 with 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. This i-Force Max hybrid engine delivers a balance of efficiency and performance that makes it a surprisingly responsive choice.
It gets the Sequoia up to speed easily without any hesitation, even loaded up with seven people. Once up to highway speeds, there’s still enough power to pass slower vehicles and maneuver through heavy traffic. Those who want the efficiency of a hybrid to stay on budget, but who don’t want to sacrifice performance, will find this hybrid engine the perfect choice.
Photo by Toyota
One of the challenges of driving a large SUV is fuel economy. Toyota solves this problem with its efficient i-Force Max powertrain. Equipped with rear-wheel drive, the Sequoia gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 22 mg combined.
Opting for four-wheel drive takes those numbers down, but only slightly. These trims get an EPA-estimated 19 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined. This makes the Sequoia easy on your budget whether running around town or heading out for a road trip, especially as gas prices rise.
Photo by Toyota
Toyota introduced the Capstone trim on the 2022 Tundra as a new top-of-the line luxury trim. This year, the Sequoia gets the luxury treatment with its own Capstone variant with a long list of standard amenities. These include semi-aniline leather seats, a 10-way power driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, second-row captain’s chairs, power tilt and slide panoramic roof, and a heated steering wheel.
There is also Qi wireless charging, 10-inch color head-up display, 14-inch infotainment touchscreen with a 14-speaker JBL premium audio system, and a towing package. The combination of premium materials and upgraded features make this the trim to pick for those who want a more premium SUV experience.
Photo by Toyota
It’s important to have the right seating position whether you’re the driver or simply along for the ride. Not only does this make long drives less wearying, it ensures the driver can clearly see the road ahead. While manually adjustable seats do the job, power-adjustable seats are a far better option, and they’re standard on the Sequoia lineup.
Base trims have 8-way power-adjustable seats for the driver and front passenger along with 2-way power lumbar. Midway through the lineup, those become 10-way power-adjustable with 4-way power lumbar. Especially for those who are exceptionally tall or short, power seats make a big difference.
Photo by Brady Holt
A full-size SUV needs to manage both people and cargo depending on your needs. The Sequoia has good cargo room with up to 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 49.0 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.9 cubic feet behind the third row. Both the second and third row split-fold 60/40 for greater versatility when carrying a combination of people and cargo.
If that’s not enough room, then there’s also a high tow rating. Properly equipped, the Toyota Sequoia can tow up to 9,520 pounds. This makes it easy to take the whole family and everything you need for vacation adventures. It’s a versatile SUV for managing busy family life.
Photo by Toyota
Simply because an SUV has four-wheel drive doesn’t mean that it’s ready to tackle challenging off-road terrain. The Sequoia is an SUV that genuinely does have off-road capability. While you can go off-road in any trim you choose, if it’s a priority, then the TRD Pro trim is the one to pick.
It has up to 9.1 inches of ground clearance, which is the most of any trim along with better approach and departure angles. There’s a front skid plate, an off-road suspension system, all-terrain tires, a front stabilizer bar, and upgraded shock absorbers, too. Wherever you want to go, the Toyota Sequoia has the capability to make the trek.
Photo by Toyota
The 2023 Toyota Sequoia is available in a range of five trims. The TRD Pro has standard four-wheel drive. The rest of the lineup offers a choice of either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive depending on your needs. Adding four-wheel drive increases the price, but for those who want it or truly need it, then it’s worth the additional investment.
Even if you don’t plan to go off-road, four-wheel drive improves handling in challenging conditions, especially winter weather. The base trim of the Sequoia also makes four-wheel drive an option, so you’re not stuck moving higher in the trim range and paying for features you don’t want just to get four-wheel drive.
Photo by Toyota
This model year of the Sequoia sees the addition of Drive Mode Select as a new feature. It offers a range of drive modes, each of which tailors vehicle settings to match current driving conditions. There are four standard modes starting with Eco, which optimizes the vehicle for fuel economy. Sport enhances performance while Normal strikes a balance between the two. Lastly, a Tow/Haul mode makes driving with a trailer easier.
Depending on the options selected, there are additional drive modes of Comfort, Sport S+, and Custom. Comfort offers a well-mannered ride ideal for road trips with Sport S+ for those who enjoy more spirited driving. Custom lets you individually adjust specific vehicle settings to your tastes.
Photo by Brady Holt
There are two infotainment screen sizes on the 2023 Toyota Sequoia. The base SR5 trim has an 8-inch touchscreen with the option for a 14-inch touchscreen that’s standard for the rest of the lineup. That’s a big jump in size, and it’s an option worth considering for how much easier it is to use.
The larger screen is better when following navigation, especially through congested city streets. A quick glance is enough to see exactly where you are and not miss your next turn. It also comes with upgraded audio that includes either 8 speakers or a 14-speaker JBL premium audio system on top trims.
Photo by Toyota
The 2023 Toyota Sequoia comes with standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5), which has a long list of features. There’s pre-collision with pedestrian detection, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, automatic high beams, and road sign assist.
Additional standard safety features include blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and trailer merge warning, front and rear parking assist with automatic braking, and hill start assist. It’s a comprehensive offering that has you covered even on the base trim of the Sequoia.
Photo by Toyota