Roughly the same size as the competition model and with a bold new design to go with the other updates, the 2023 Sequoia comes ready for battle. Five models range from the basic SR5 to the luxury Capstone, along with the ambitious off-road TRD Pro. We recently tested a limited-edition all-wheel drive design and found a lot to like, but a couple of notable design shortcomings may limit the Sequoia’s appeal to families that are its core audience.
For an in-depth look at the 2023 Toyota Sequoia, click the link above to read Aaron Bragman’s full review. For a quick look at five things we like and four we don’t read.
The things we love
Is the Redesigned 2023 Toyota Sequoia a Good SUV? 5 Pros and 4 Cons
1. Powerful Powertrain
The old V-8 is gone, replaced with a more modern and advanced 437-horsepower, twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 hybrid paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. With an astounding 583 pound-feet of torque on tap, the V-8 engine won’t miss you: acceleration is quick and response is instant. There’s plenty of power to merge and pass highways, but Sequoia feels totally calm and urban throughout the city.
2. Interior improvement
Some of the biggest improvements to the Sequoia are in the cabin, as there has been a huge step forward in material quality, look and feel. Our relatively modest limited design was finished with upscale fabrics and leather, and the controls and switches felt large. Things get a little more luxurious as you go up between the ledges, with real wood trim on the top of the capstone.
3. Roomy first and second row
Not only does the new interior look better than the old Sequoia, but it offers plenty of room for passengers – as long as they’re in the first or second row. The front seats are large and comfortable, and second-row passengers will find plenty of room for the hip and legs. While the small windows and relatively low ceiling give it a vault-like feel, making the space feel less spacious, the real problem is the narrow third row, which we’ll get to momentarily.
Is the Redesigned 2023 Toyota Sequoia a Good SUV? 5 Pros and 4 Cons
4. Wonderful ride and handling
The redesigned Sequoia delivers a comfortable, well-packed, and manageable ride even over rough pavement and bumps. The steering is light and precise, and the brakes are more than a job to pull things to a stop. Overall, Toyota has done a commendable job with this large SUV, making it a comfortable vehicle on the road for munching on miles or just running errands around town.
5. The easiest touch screen
All Sequoias except the base SR5 get a massive 14-inch touchscreen that’s built into the Toyota multimedia audio system. With crisp graphics, vivid displays, and added functionality, it’s a huge improvement over the old Entune platform. The base model comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, but the larger screen is worth an upgrade.
Is the Redesigned 2023 Toyota Sequoia a Good SUV? 5 Pros and 4 Cons
1. Limited room in the back
Because the Sequoia is large on the outside, the interior offers less room for third-row passengers and cargo than you might expect. The third row is too cramped and unsuitable for adults, although that’s partly due to the Sequoia’s solid rear axle and partly to the hybrid’s battery pack, which lives under the rear floor where it eats up passenger space and cargo capacity. It also prohibits the third-row seats from folding completely flat.
2. mpg
Despite its impressive power and acceleration, the new high-tech powertrain delivers disappointing fuel economy. We saw an average of 15 mpg overall during a week of mixed driving, which is well below the 4WD Sequoia EPA’s estimate of 19/22/20 mpg city/highway/combined. It’s also lower than the 2022 Ford Expedition we tested with a non-hybrid, twin-turbo V-6.
3. Disturb information and entertainment
As much as we love the improved infotainment system, it still keeps track of the best from the competition. There is no home screen that provides a starting point for different functions, so you only see one thing at a time on that giant screen. Also, the system is cloud-based, which means that full functionality is not available without a data connection.
4. Full size price
One thing about launching a redesign after a decade and a half without one is that prices are bound to go up. The big Sequoia comes with a significantly larger starting price, nearly $8,000 more than the 2022 model. Our limited test model came in at just under $72,000; This is not an insignificant amount, although it is in line with competitors.
