Toyota has a great reputation, and it has many popular models that show exactly why Toyota has that great reputation. That said, Toyota does have an ugly duckling or two, and not all of its cars are well-regarded. One of those cars is the 2021 Toyota Sequoia, however, it very recently earned praised that it rarely gets. 

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia gets rare praise

Unlike the small cars or the pickup trucks that Toyota is famous for, the Sequoia is a full-size SUV that’s meant to compete with other big cars on the market. However, despite over 20 years on the market, the Sequoia hasn’t made a big impact on things.

It’s no surprise then that, according to Consumer Reports, the Sequoia has only been recommended by Consumer Reports twice, first for the 2004 model year, and again for 2021. 

In comparison, the more popular Toyota models such as the Camry or the Tacoma have been recommended by Consumer Reports for almost every single model year. The Sequoia, meanwhile, just wasn’t as good as it could’ve been for most of its lifespan.

But of course, Toyota stepped up its game for the 2021 model year and made some changes to the Sequoia. And now, not only is Consumer Reports recommending it, but it’s also one of the best in its segments.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia is one of the best full-size SUVs

Like Consumer Reports wrote in its full review of the 2021 Sequoia, the Sequoia, like many of its competitors, is a truck-based SUV. As a result, many of its flaws are also flaws that are found in other truck-based SUVs.

However, what the Sequoia brings to the table ultimately gives it an edge over its peers. That’s why Consumer Reports ultimately said that it was the second-best full-size SUV on the market. 

For example, the Sequoia comes with a standard 5.7-liter V8 that gets 381-hp. This is practically the same V8 engine that the Tundra, which is the truck that Toyota based the Sequoia on, uses.

As such, while it’s a very powerful and reliable engine, it’s not a very fuel-efficient one. The Sequoia gets an estimated 15 MPG combined, but that’s about the same as what its competitors get, too.

However, thanks to that powerful V8, it can tow quite a bit of stuff. Additionally, it can tow things pretty quickly, too. Consumer Reports wrote that, not only can the Sequoia hit 60 MPH faster than its peers can, but it can hit 60 MPH while towing 5,000-pounds rather quickly too. Overall, thanks to that Tundra V8, the Sequoia can tow well-over 7,000-pounds.

A spacious and equipped interior

Capabilities aside, the Sequoia’s $50,200 starting price tag gives it a nice and practical interior, too. The Sequoia has three rows of seats, and that allows owners to comfortably fit eight people into the Sequoia’s roomy seats. While the Sequoia has a pretty generic touch screen as standard, like many other Toyotas, the Sequoia comes with plenty of standard smart safety features. 

Many of those standard smart safety features are optional on other cars. Some standard smart safety features that the Sequoia gets include the likes of forward collision warning with automatic braking, a blind spot warning system, and a lane departure warning system, just to name a few. 

And of course, like U.S. News wrote, when its three rows of seats are folded down, the Sequoia gets just over 120 cu. ft. of cargo space. This isn’t the most cargo space in its class, but it’s more than enough for even a big family.