Every 2023 Toyota Sequoia SUV Will Be a Hybrid
Toyota finally revealed the 2023 Toyota Sequoia. For its third generation, the three-row SUV is going hybrid. The all-new i-FORCE MAX hybrid drivetrain will power every 2023 Toyota Sequoia. This new engine makes a ton more torque and power than the Sequoia’s outgoing V8. In addition, the clever drivetrain will likely use a lot less fuel.
Every 2023 Toyota Sequoia will feature the i-FORCE MAX hybrid drivetrain
On Tuesday night, Toyota revealed the third-generation of its full-size SUV, the 2023 Sequoia. One of the launch’s biggest shocks was the fact that every new Sequoia will feature a hybrid Toyota engine.
Toyota engineered its all-new i-FORCE MAX drivetrain for its next-generation of full-size trucks and SUVs. This system includes a twin-turbocharged V6 engine and ten-speed automatic transmission. In addition, Toyota sandwiched an electric motor/generator between the gasoline engine and transmission. This motor/generator is connected to a nickel battery.
The new Sequoia’s electric motor is powerful enough to launch the SUV from a standstill. It can even accelerate the entire vehicle up to 18 mph. As the vehicle gains speed, its V6 fires up. But the electric motor continues to assist until the turbochargers kick in.
When you hit the brakes, the electric motor/generator also helps slow the vehicle down. As the motor slows the vehicle, it also charges up its battery.
MotorTrend tested this hybrid drivetrain in the 2022 Tundra TRD Pro. The publication reports the i-FORCE MAX’s performance is incredibly smooth. At the low end, its electric motor pulls as hard as a diesel engine. At the top end, it transitions to turbocharged gasoline power so seamlessly, the reviewers never noticed the switch.
The 2023 Sequoia will make 583 lb-ft of torque
Toyota has lots of experience building hybrid vehicles. But for the i-FORCE MAX, the automaker focused on performance as much as efficiency.
The i-FORCE MAX does not match the outgoing V8’s power–it exceeds it. This drivetrain is responsible for the new Tundra’s 12,000 pound towing capacity. While the 2023 Sequoia’s tow rating will max out at 9,000 pounds, the SUV will make plenty of power.
In the 2023 Sequoia, the i-FORCE MAX engine will offer 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. What’s more, selectable driving modes will allow drivers precise control over this power. For example, in Tow/Haul mode or Sport mode, the V6 and electric motor will work in tandem to launch the Sequoia, offering maximum torque at low speeds.
The efficient hybrid will live up to the Sequoia name
The 2022 Toyota Sequoia’s 5.7-liter V8 is long outdated. In both the 2022 Sequoia and 2021 Tundra, this engine could only manage 13 city/17 highway mpg (15 combined). And that’s for the 2WD models. The 4WD Tundra and Sequoia suffered from even worse mileage.
Toyota has already begun outfitting the 2022 Tundra with the new twin-turbocharged V6. The company is not yet assembling Tundra’s with the hybrid version of this engine, the i-FORCE MAX. That said, the non-hybrid V6 fuel efficiency numbers look promising.
The 2022 Toyota Tundra 2WD earned an EPA efficiency rating of 18 city/24 highway mpg (20 combined). TFL truck bought the first 2022 Tundra for a roadtrip/mileage test. The reviewers found the truck’s combined efficiency to be closer to 18 mpg. That said, they expect it to improve as the brand-new engine “breaks in” over time.
That’s much better than the old V8, even without the electric motor/generator offering regenerative braking. We expect the i-FORCE MAX’s city mpg numbers to be much higher than the V6 Tundra while its highway numbers may be similar.
