Toyota Sequoia Pros and Cons: What To Know When Weighing Your Decision


in Car Comparisons
Toyota Sequoia driving on a road

Source: Flickr

The Toyota Sequoia is a full-size SUV with three rows of seats that’s received several redesigns over the years. It’s a practical car, but it’s critical to avoid jumping headlong into any investment. If you’re interested in making this car your own, you might wonder - what are some of the most vital Toyota Sequoia pros and cons?

The more you know about the benefits and disadvantages of a vehicle, the easier it will be to decide if it’s something worth your money or something you should avoid if at all possible. Like any car, there are some things to love with the Sequoia - but it’s far from perfect. Let’s dive into some of the best and worst features together.

What We Love: Toyota Sequoia Pros

There is much to enjoy in the Toyota Sequoia, from the solid interior to the ample first and second-row room. Let’s cover some of the best Toyota Sequoia pros and cons.

Excellent Interior

One of the best parts about the Toyota Sequoia is the excellent interior experience it provides. The 2023 version of the car saw a massive update, vastly adding to the interior for a better driver and passenger experience. Everything from the trim on the seats to the controls and switches feels more high-class.

According to toyota.com, here are a few more features:

  • Panoramic Moonroof
  • Leather-trimmed seating
  • Heated and ventilated front seats

These are just a few things that make the Toyota Sequoia an incredible choice.

The interior has seen a vast improvement over the last couple of years. It’s easy to feel comfortable stepping foot inside this full-size SUV selection.


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Solid Powertrain

Next, we enjoy the powertrain on the Toyota Sequoia. There is no longer a V-8 inside the car - instead, it’s been replaced with a 3.5-liter V-6 hybrid powertrain capable of handling 437 horsepower.

This swap was a huge move from Toyota and is a massive improvement for the Toyota Sequoia. The powertrain was seriously lacking before.

Exciting Ride and Handling

Although the Toyota Sequoia is a full-size SUV, you’ll find it comes with an excellent riding experience and fully capable handling - even for such a large car. If you happen to go over rough parts in the pavement or significant bumps, it will feel like nothing in the well-controlled interior of the Toyota Sequoia.

The brakes are capable of stopping the Sequoia, and the steering feels light and easy to manage. This ability makes it an excellent choice for road trips or carpooling experiences.

Ample Room in First and Second Rows

Unlike previous designs of the Toyota Sequoia, the newest one provides plenty of room for passengers in the first and second rows. The front seat gets an impressive 41.2 inches of legroom, while the second gets 39.2. The seats are also large and roomy in the front, so it’s easy to stretch out and get comfortable.

The second row comes with optional bench seating or captain’s chairs to make room for eight or lower the capacity to seven for a little more room. The first two sections of the SUV offer plenty of space for riders.

Easy to Use Touchscreen

Finally, we love how easy it is to use the touchscreen of the Toyota Sequoia. Most trims of the car get a 14-inch touchscreen, which makes it easy to see the applications and navigation features.

The display is clear, vivid, and full of life for easy access from drivers and passengers. It’s a vast improvement from the old Toyota Entune system, which used to control the Toyota Sequoia. 


THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE TOYOTA SEQUOIA

It’s the second-largest SUV produced by the company and will fit plenty of people and cargo. If you’re interested in this car, you might wonder - what is the Toyota Sequoia’s most reliable year?


What We Dislike: Toyota Sequoia Cons

Of course, like the flip of a coin, there are also some poor aspects of the Toyota Sequoia pros and cons. Let’s dive into a few of the most apparent. 

Limited Mileage

Unfortunately, it’s very tricky to get good mileage out of a vehicle as large as the Toyota Sequoia. According to toyota.com, you will get an estimated combined mpg of 22 with the Sequoia. While that number might be okay, it’s not great if you do ample commuting.

Some drivers even reported mpg as low as 15 when testing their vehicle on the go. It’s something to watch for and could impact what you pay to keep your car moving.

Frustrating Infotainment

The infotainment system in the Toyota Sequoia is good, but unfortunately, we still found it to be lagging behind others on the market. It’s crisp and clear, but the accessibility isn’t always what it should be.

Everything is situated on one screen without a home section, which can make it tricky to navigate and understand in many cases. Also, it’s based in the cloud, which means you need a data connection for all the possible features available in the Toyota Sequoia. 


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Less Rear Room

The third row of the Toyota Sequoia is where it starts to struggle. There might be space in the first two rows, but there’s only 28.1 inches of legroom in the back. Fully grown adults will find it impossible to get comfortable in the final row.

Of course, the Sequoia does provide the ability to slide the third row a few inches, which can improve the space. However, if the car is loaded with people and cargo, you’re stuck with terrible third-row legroom.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of Toyota Sequoia pros and cons to consider before investing. On one side of the spectrum, the car has a solid powertrain, exciting ride and handling, ample room in the first and second rows, and a practical touchscreen. However, it also has limited mileage, frustrating infotainment, and less functional rear room.

There are some winning features associated with the Toyota Sequoia and some that are best left alone. The choice is yours - some might find the case for the Sequoia to be convincing, while others might find it a little tricky to get over the associated cons. It’s up to you to decide if the Sequoia is meant to be.



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