Is the Toyota Sequoia Actually a Better Deal Than the Tundra?
At $58,300, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia has a very high starting price–even for a third-row SUV. But it also comes loaded with advanced features. If you optioned a Toyota Tundra pickup truck with the same technology, it would run you over $60k. So is the Toyota Sequoia actually a good deal?
The 2023 Toyota Sequoia does not come cheap
The Ford Expedition comes in at $51,080 and you can buy a Suburban for $52,400. The 2022 Nissan Armada begins at just $48,900. The 2022 Toyota Sequoia was priced at a competitive $50,500.
Coming in far above all these SUVs, the all-new 2023 Toyota Sequoia will begin at $58,300. This price is before the vehicle’s $1,495 destination charge. Cars.com puts the new Sequoia’s out-the-door price at $59,795.
Toyota is positioning the 2023 Sequoia as its new premium SUV
Toyota’s 2023 SUV lineup is in flux. While the global automotive manufacturer engineered an all-new Land Cruiser SUV, it is not offering this vehicle (the Land Cruiser 300) in the United States. Buyers in the U.S. can get this chassis in the Lexus LX600, the third-generation Toyota Tundra, or the all-new Toyota Sequoia.
The automaker is positioning the Sequoia at the top of its market segment. One way the brand is doing this is building every 2023 Sequoia with the Tundra’s premium engine: the i-FORCE MAX hybrid.
The i-FORCE MAX hybrid V6 is an all-new drivetrain
When Toyota engineered the new Land Cruiser/Tundra chassis, it knew it needed a drivetrain that could remain competitive for years. The automaker deleted the old, naturally-aspirated 5.7-liter V8. In its place, Toyota introduced a 3.44-liter twin-turbocharged V6.
The automaker has been running this powerplant in its Lexus sports cars for several years. But with the release of the 2022 Tundra, it unveiled a 437 horsepower, 583 lb-ft of torque electric hybrid version. This premium hybrid engine is called the i-FORCE MAX.
The 2023 Sequoia leads its segment with a standard hybrid engine
Toyota shocked the world when it announced that every 2023 Sequoia would feature a hybrid engine. This is not an option on the truck-based SUV, but a standard feature on every trim level. The Tundra, on the other hand, only offers the i-FORCE MAX hybrid on certain trim levels–as a $2,975 option.
If you want a hybrid Tundra you must first upgrade to the Platinum trim level. Then you have to upgrade from the standard powerplant to the hybrid version. See how the Sequoia and Tundra stack up in the table below:
2022 Toyota Tundra SR | 2022 Toyota Tundra Platinum with i-FORCE MAX | 2023 Toyota Sequoia | |
MSRP | $35,950 | $61,090 | $58,300 |
Engine Output | 278 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque | 437 horsepower and 582 lb-of torque | 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque |