The 2024 Toyota Sequoia is a truck in SUV packaging with impressive towing and hauling capabilities. It’s also the only full-size SUV that comes standard with a hybrid powertrain. But it handles like the ginormous vehicle it is and interior storage space is limited.
Base Price: $78,710
As Tested: $80,560
Horsepower: 437
Mileage: 19 mpg city/22 mpg highway/20 mpg combined
The Sequoia is an old-school body-on-frame SUV with room for up to eight passengers. It’s the largest SUV ever made by Toyota. It was introduced for the 2001 model year, based on the Tundra pickup. It got redesigned for the 2023 model year with exterior and interior styling tweaks, updated tech including a new infotainment system, and the all-new hybrid V6 powertrain which is more powerful and fuel-efficient than the outgoing V8. For 2024, the Limited Nightshade model is added with blacked-out exterior trim.
Main competitors include the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, Ford Expedition, GMC Yukon, and Jeep Wagoneer.
The 2024 Toyota Sequoia comes in five trims: SR5, Limited, Platinum, the off-road oriented TRD Pro, and Capstone, a trim that basically rivals the Lexus LX. The starting price of the SR5 is $61,275 which is spendy for a large SUV. My tester, the TRD Pro, starts at $79,110.
There’s room for seven or eight passengers in three rows of seating, depending on whether you get the optional captain’s chairs in the second row. Rear-wheel drive is standard on all trims, except TRD Pro which comes standard with four-wheel drive. 4WD is available on all other trims.
The 2024 Sequoia is powered by the i-FORCE MAX twin-turbo V6 hybrid powertrain with a 3.5-liter V6, an electric motor and 1.87-kWh battery pack. Combined output is 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a 10-speed automatic. This beast has plenty of power. The Sequoia is quick off the line and there’s more than enough oomph for merging and passing at freeway speeds. The 10-speed shifts smoothly and quickly. The ride is nice and smooth – you’re basically impervious to bumps and rough roads. Visibility is good to the front but hampered to the rear due to the thick roof pillars.
But there’s no getting away from the fact that you’re driving a behemoth that’s tall and wide and weighs about three tons. It can be challenging to keep the Sequoia in narrow lanes, and its bulk is difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. There’s noticeable body lean when cornering, and the brakes have a squishy feel that you find in some hybrids. Steering is light – it’d be nice to have a more weighted feel. Frankly, the Sequoia drives more like a truck than many pick-ups that I test drive.
Fuel economy is good for a large SUV. EPA estimates for my tester are 19 mpg city and 22 mpg highway with a combined rating of 20. I got 19 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. Rear-wheel drive models do a little better at 21 mpg city/24 mpg highway/22 mpg combined.
The Sequoia has impressive towing and hauling capabilities. When properly equipped, it can tow up to 8,980 to 9,520 pounds, depending on the trim. Payload capacity ranges from 1,375 to 1,730 pounds, depending on the trim.
The cabin is pleasant. Design and materials are okay but not as upscale as what you’ll find in some rivals, especially in the lower trims. The upper trims do have nicer materials. Those up front enjoy supportive and comfortable seats with plenty of leg- and headroom. The second row is spacious but the seats have less padding. The second row seats recline, whether they are bench seats or captain’s chairs. The third row is tight and best suited for kids.
Standard features include proximity keyless entry, push-button start, rearview camera, surround-view camera system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, three-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, infotainment system with eight-inch touchscreen, navigation, eight-speaker audio system, satellite radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, multiple USB ports, Wi-Fi hot spot, universal garage door opener, automatic high-beam headlights, and a moonroof.
Available features include a head-up display, digital rearview mirror, synthetic leather upholstery, real leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated second-row seats, power-folding third-row seats, infotainment system with 14-inch touchscreen, 14-speaker JBL audio system, wireless device charging, rear sunshades, two 120-volt household-style power outlets, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a panoramic moonroof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring, pedestrian and cyclist detection, road-sign recognition, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and rear-seat alert.
The infotainment system looks good, whether you get the standard eight-inch or available 14-inch touchscreen. It’s easy to see and reach, graphics are sharp, menus are logically arranged, and the system has snappy response times. There are plenty of physical controls on the center stack and steering wheel.
Cargo space is below average for a large SUV. There are between 11.5 to 22.3 cubic feet of storage behind the third row, depending on the location of the sliding third row seats; 49 cubes with the third row folded, and 86.9 cubes with the third and second row folded. Unfortunately, when the third row is folded, the cargo area has two heights, making it challenging to load large items. And the lift-over height is high. A hands-free power liftgate is available.
The good:
Can-do powertrain
Smooth, comfortable ride
Decent fuel economy for a large SUV
Impressive towing and hauling capabilities
Many standard and available features and tech
User-friendly, attractive infotainment system
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Relative high starting price
Ungainly handling due to hefty size
Limited cargo space
Folded third row seats create two-level cargo floor
Tight third row
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $78,710. Delivery fee is $1,850 bringing the grand total to $80,560.
Bottom line:
The 2024 Toyota Sequoia remains a tank with lots of family-friendly features. The hybrid powertrain delivers plenty of power as well as decent fuel economy for the class. If you want to tow and haul hefty loads and want room for seven or eight passengers, the Sequoia can deliver. But the Sequoia can be clumsy to drive and has less cargo and passenger space than other large SUVs.
