With Toyota’s Land Cruiser no longer available in the US, it has another model line to replace it that has been around forever but forgotten. The Sequoia, with its three-row seating, may not have the heritage of the Land Cruiser, but it’s a three-row Toyota SUV. And finally, after years of making no changes, Toyota is finally going to give us a new Sequoia.

How old is the current Toyota Sequoia?

The current Sequoia was first introduced in 2007 as a 2008 model. That’s, like 46 years ago. Well, maybe not 46 years, but 16 anyway. It’s a very long time as vehicle timelines go. 

But the Sequoia has never been a big seller for Toyota. Over the last decade, it has hovered around 10,000-12,000 sold in the US each year. Still, it may have finally come into its own as three-row SUVs are hot right now.

And far from being a crossover, the new Sequoia will ride on the rugged TNGA-F platform. Toyota has already harnessed that platform for the new Tundra pickup, J300 Land Cruiser, and Lexus LX 600 SUV. And it will be sharing some of the features of these new models as well.

The next Sequoia gets a lot of Tundra pickup features

According to Gear Patrol, a leaked dealer presentation spells out the drivetrain. Both of the 3.5-liter V6 engines from the Tundra will be stabbed into the new Sequoia. The twin-turbo engines will see either 389 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, or with the i-Force Max hybrid system, 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. 

At least two trims will be borrowed from the Tundra as well. A high-performance TRD Pro version will be available, and the premium Capstone trim tops the segment. So with body-on-frame construction and a high-performance package, will this new Sequoia be the US Land Cruiser in all but name?

What about the Grand Highlander?

Before we go there, Toyota also plans on debuting a large three-row crossover it is calling the Grand Highlander. It should satisfy those looking for a three-row SUV without the characteristics of a truck-frame SUV. It will be larger than the current Highlander, which first hit our shores in 2020. 

Over the years the Land Cruiser has gotten heavier, larger, and farther away from its original Jeep-like persona. Sales have proven US buyers don’t want their Land Cruiser to be so bloated and expensive. While that direction works for other countries, we know Toyota has been listening. 

So we’d say that this upcoming Sequoia should be more of what US buyers want like that of earlier Land Cruiser offerings. We expect that Toyota will reveal the 2023 Sequoia soon, for sale later this year or early in 2023.