Some reviewers have treated the Sequoia as the Camry of this class; roomy, comfortable, high quality, and refined, but bland, the typical Toyota. It's not. When this vehicle was introduced five years ago, the company had yet to achieve the same excellence in its trucks as it had previously in its cars, leaving the company's jumbo-sized SUV as better than the competition at the time, but decidedly truckish in its cumbersome handling and stiff ride. Times have changed, and the Sequoia is no longer best in class, or even close. But it's still not a bad SUV, with a roomy, comfortable interior (at least in the first two rows of seats), quick and refined powertrain. But the flaws mentioned above take it out of the running for best-in-class, the two vehicles that place above it here are markedly superior.

       The Sequoia has a stiff, rather bouncy ride on poor pavement, but it typically absorbs other road imperfections well and remains stable at highway speeds. It also fails to handle capably; with pronounced body roll, and numb, slow steering, the Sequoia doesn't ever seem smaller than its substantial size. The recently-upgraded 4.7-liter V8 seems small compared to the others' here, but it is more than capably quick, and stays very smooth and quiet under acceleration. Road noise is well-suppressed, though wind noise is audible. Fuel economy is typical for this group. 

         Inside, the Sequoia has very well-shaped, supportive, and comfortable front seats, a definite improvement over the large but shapeless blobs found in some competitors. The middle seats are a bit flat, but very comfortable and roomy nonetheless. The third row seat isn't as useless as the Chevrolet Tahoe's, but it is still too low and cramped for adult comfort. Cargo volume is impressive in any seating arrangement, typically behind only the Suburban in this group. The vehicle's towing capacity, at 6,200 lbs, should be fine for most consumers, but is lower than the other vehicles here. Entry/exit is complicated by the high ride height, but it is still adequate by the standards of this class, and the third row is very easy to access. The driver sits very comfortably, and visibility is good by the standards of this class. The dash is drab, but uses generally higher-quality plastics than the others here, and trim pieces fit together very well. The gauges are large and very clear, and most instruments are logically-placed.

     The Sequoia has not been subjected to either the NHTSA frontal crash test or the NHTSA rollover resistance evaluation.

      The Sequoia reviewed here came typically priced by the standards of this group, and nicely-equipped, with an entertainment system, standard stability control, and both torso-protecting and curtain side airbags. However, absent features here include such optional equipment as a sunroof, automatic climate control, and other smaller items.

       Overall, the Sequoia is a competitive vehicle, but no more. It is not without strengths, coming in with impressive interior comfort, space, and refinement, along with competitive power and features for the money. But when you consider its clumsy handling and stiff ride, and the benefits of its competitors, it becomes clear why they are superior. The Sequoia is at least worth a look from large-SUV shoppers, but it isn't the best choice overall.

Pros:

-Seat Comfort

-Refinement

-Interior Quality

-Cargo Space

-Acceleration

-Features for the Money

Cons:

-Agility

-Ride Comfort

-Towing Capacity

Overall:

Good but not great is the best praise the Sequoia has earned.

Version Reviewed:

SR5 4WD

Options Added to Vehicle Reviewed:

 -

Price of Version Reviewed:

$38,046

Powertrain:

4.7-liter V8

Vehicle Overview