Tonight Toyota debuted the all-new 2023 Toyota Sequoia with images presented here for your perusal. What do you think? The Sequoia has been maligned for not being updated since 2008. That’s an eternity for vehicles, but it has finally changed for the 2023 model year. 

Will there be a TRD version of the Sequoia?

The new Sequoia will butt heads with the Chevy Suburban and Tahoe, and GMC’s Yukon, among others. That red Sequoia image is of the Capstone trim, which is Sequoia’s top-of-the-line model. An off-road variant is seen in white as the TRD Pro version. 

The TRD Pro Sequoia should see similar upgrades to other TRD models. That means a more rugged, stiffer suspension with Fox internal bypass shocks, Crawl Control, 18-inch or 20-inch wheels, aluminum pedals, skid plate in front, and other typical off-road accouterments. As the Sequoia is an offshoot of the new Tundra, most of what is available on Toyota’s full-size body-on-frame TNGA-F pickup platform will show up on the SUV. 

That also means an independent rear suspension will be a big change from the earlier second-gen version. It will also fare better when compared to Chevy’s Suburban and Tahoe. And the Capstone also comes with larger 22-inch wheels. 

What about the Sequoia interior?

Inside, everything from walnut accents to semi-aniline leather, a digital instrument cluster, and an optional 14-inch touchscreen will be available. No word yet if a Nightshade version will be coming around. 

Toyota’s i-Force twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 will launch the Sequoia. It packs 389 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid system ties into the same V6 engine. This means an increase to 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. 

What are the specs for the hybrid version of the Sequoia?

The hybrid version sticks the parallel electric motor/generator between the V6 and the transmission. Combined with a nickel-metal hydride battery, it is good for 48 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Whichever engine you choose, it is backed by a 10-speed automatic transmission. 

Towing information rates the SUV at being able to carry 9,000 lbs, in spite of the V6. The Tow-Tech package will steer and guide the trailer in reverse. And the four-wheel drive is a given.  

Is this the replacement for the Land Cruiser?

Toyota is hoping that this new Sequoia will satisfy SUV enthusiasts lamenting the Land Cruiser not being sold in the US. We feel your pain. But from the looks of the 2023 SUV, we think that Toyota SUV fans won’t miss the Land Cruiser much. 

The new Sequoia is a tighter, slimmed-down Land Cruiser, which is more like the Land Cruiser of the past than the larger, bloated SUV it has become. It should start rolling into dealerships this summer. Keep coming back to MotorBiscuit’s website for updates and much more coverage of Toyota’s all-new 2023 Sequoia.