Aaron Turpen: After More Than A Decade, Toyota Finally Redesigned The Sequoia

Toyota finally redesigned the aged Sequoia into a new third generation for the big SUV. The new version has a hybrid powertrain, lots of towing capability and an afterthought third row.

For a long time, I’ve thought of the Toyota Sequoia as the kind of second-thought full-sized SUV. Toyota didn’t seem to market it very much and it sold based largely on its size and the Toyota nameplate.

It stayed the same for over a decade. Now it’s finally seen some love and the redesign is very well done.

The 2024 Sequoia is a truck-based sport utility and Toyota’s largest SUV. There are five trim levels, but most buyers are probably going to be looking at the Limited and Platinum models. These are priced in the $70,000 to $75,000 range.

This third generation Sequoia has a good look to it, emphasizing its kinship with the new Tundra pickup.

Like the Tundra, it comes standard with a V6 engine. The hybrid 3.4-liter puts out 437 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque. A new 10-speed automatic transmission smooths that to the rear wheels with four-wheel drive as an option.

That massive amount of hybrid-electric output means 9,000 pounds of towing and a huge amount of hauling. The only issue with the latter is that there isn’t anywhere to put all the stuff you might want to carry.

About That Third Row

Because for the battery placement for the hybrid system, the third row is … well, like the old Land Cruiser model: a sort of bolted-in afterthought.

It bisects the cargo floor into two levels, making loading and unloading things a chore.

The third row, when deployed, is awkward to sit in and fit mostly just for the kids. Those planning on getting one of these for hauling a lot of stuff and not people should definitely opt for the third-row delete.

Those hoping to use this for a six or seven-passenger hauler should probably shop around first.

Outside of that terrible third row, everything about the 2024 Toyota Sequoia is great.

It drives well, it’s very capable, it handles dirt roads without issue, and it doesn’t feel cheap or overdone in any way. The powertrain is smooth and easy to ignore (a good thing) and comfort levels in the first two rows are great.

Infotainment Forward

The Limited model upgrades to the larger touchscreen with Toyota’s new infotainment interface.

It’s nice, responsive and not nearly as dated as the previous-gen version was. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, a nice bonus, and heated and ventilated front seats are a must in Wyoming’s unpredictable weather.

The government gives the Sequoia 24 mpg on the highway in its two-wheel drive format. I drove the four-wheel drive model, which is more likely to be what someone here would choose.

My highway loop test going from North College to the TA and back netted 21.3 mpg overall. That’s not too bad for a big SUV like this. The day was clear with a light crosswind, so pretty typical of most of southeast Wyoming’s weather for about half the year.

Expect lower numbers in the fall and winter when winds are high and temps are single digits.

The Sequoia has a lot of appeal for a lot of reasons. Shop around, though, if you need a good three-row option. That’s the new Sequoia’s weakest point. It’s otherwise a solid machine.