Most manufacturers will redesign their vehicles every five years or so, using more modern platforms, features, and technologies. Not Toyota. The full-size Sequoia was last updated when Obama was elected President–the first time. To say a redesign of this model was overdue is an understatement, but Toyota has finally gotten around to modernizing its truck lineup, and the all-new 2023 Toyota Sequoia should put this once popular model back on the map. With a new look, new platform, and new technologies, all shared with the recently redesigned 2022 Toyota Tundra, Toyota’s full-size SUV is a breath of fresh air in a segment that is seeing renewed competition.
Fifteen Years of Updates
The term “all-new” gets thrown around a lot for redesigned models, even when the update brings only minor changes. With the 2023 Sequoia, “all-new” is no exaggeration. It’s not clear if the new SUV shares a single part with the fifteen-year-old design that it replaces. The 2023 model is built on a brand-new TNGA body-on-frame platform that debuted last year on the Toyota Tundra, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Lexus LX. This bodes well for American SUV lovers since the America-only Sequoia and Tundra formerly rode on a separate platform from Toyota’s global flagship. Now, the Sequoia is effectively the American-spec Land Cruiser, and Toyota has done its best to make it a hit.
The old 5.7 V8 engine has also been replaced by a cutting-edge 3.5L i-FORCE MAX turbocharged V6 hybrid. Similar to the new Ford F-150 Power Boost hybrid, this new Toyota powertrain prioritizes power over efficiency, delivering an impressive 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque (the old V8 topped out at 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque). This new level of power even enables the new design to tow up to 9,000 pounds. However, even if efficiency was not the primary goal of electrification, we expect the 2023 Sequoia will also get a much better fuel economy than the dismal 15 MPG of the old Sequoia.
Inside the cabin, the 2023 Sequoia has seen a similarly drastic transformation. The early-2000s feel of the old model is entirely gone, replaced with materials, technologies, and features that can match any other model in the segment. This is particularly true of the new Capstone trim, which includes dual-tone perforated leather seats, open-pore American Walnut trim, LED mood lighting, and more. The Capstone even includes acoustic glass side windows for a truly tranquil driving experience.
When it comes to technology, the 2023 Sequoia has a standard 8-inch touchscreen running the latest Toyota infotainment software as well as a standard 12.3-inch digital driver display. A larger 14-inch touchscreen is available on every trim, which is twice the size of the 7-inch screen found in the 2022 Sequoia. Of course, Toyota also includes the full Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite of driver-assist technologies, making the 2023 Sequoia among the safest full-size SUVs on the road. High-tech additions like Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Steering Assist and the trailering-compatible Panoramic View Monitor also make driving such a large vehicle surprisingly convenient.
A New Face for an Old SUV
While fifteen years of neglect have removed the Sequoia from many drivers’ lists of vehicles to consider, the 2023 redesign has changed the game. The full-size SUV segment is heating up again, and Toyota is making a splash with the new Sequoia. With an all-new design, up-to-date features, and some sharp new looks, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia is shaping up to be a great option for large families and adventurous individuals alike. The revolutionary hybrid powertrain with its unprecedented power and efficiency is simply icing on the cake. We just wish that it hadn’t taken so long for Toyota to give its largest SUV the attention that it deserves.
