The 2023 Toyota Sequoia: Power to the MAX

It’s been quite some time since Toyota’s full-size SUV has been given a proper update but for the 2023 model year, the time has come to kick things up a notch.

The Sequoia continues to share a platform with the Tundra pickup and so you don’t forget that, the front-end styling is shared as well. Which means the Sequoia has gone from being the somewhat awkward-looking alternative to the likes of the Chevrolet Tahoe and Nissan Armada and become possibly the most forward-looking vehicle in the segment. The way the headlights follow the line of the squared-off fenders is futuristic and the new grille is broad but given a shape so as not to appear too garish. It’s also available in a variety of finishes depending in your trim choice, which can be one of five: TRD Off-Road, Limited, Limited TRD Pro, Platinum and Capstone. Down the side, you can see the door panels are large, but given some creases for a little stylistic panache. 

Inside, the new Toyota Multimedia system dominates the proceedings; it’s got a larger widescreen measuring up to 14”, an all-new interface with crisper graphics, faster operating system and advanced voice recognition courtesy of the “Hey, Toyota” voice command. You can ask the navigation to take you home or find the nearest sushi restaurant or even let your friends know just when you will arrive for the dinner party. There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well but considering the quality of the native system, you may not be so quick to switch away from it as you may think. Space-wise, the Sequoia comes standard with three rows of seating and room for up to eight people. 

Just as it shares a platform and some body panels with the Tundra, the Sequoia shares its powertrain with it as well. That means the V8 the used to be the only choice is no longer, replaced by a twin-turbo iForce MAX hybrid V6 good 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque, plenty to get yourself and the family to the cabin or the boat to the lake thanks to a tow rating of up to 9,000 pounds. These are figures that eclipse those made by the old V8 and it uses less fuel while it’s at it.

This is only scratching the surface when it comes to the all-new Toyota Sequoia; you have to drive to see just how much this long-awaited transformation has added to the biggest of Toyotas!