Skip to main content

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia SUV tried. But, honestly, it hasn’t been properly updated since it was released in 2008. There aren’t many SUVs that have soldiered on basically unchanged in 14 years. And, 14 years ago every big SUV had a big, thirsty, V8 engine. We’re not too sad to see the old V8 go the way of carburetors, motorized seat belts, and CD changers.

The 2022 Sequoia is great … but, that V8

A 2021 Toyota Sequoia drives down an empty road at night.
2021 Toyota Sequoia | Toyota

V8 engines are great for making big power. Because of how the pistons work, they can make more power. But they are big. They are heavy. And they are thirsty. In Toyota’s case, the 2022 Sequoia V8 made 381 horsepower and 401 lb.-ft of torque from 5.7 liters. That’s a bit less power than the competition’s V8s, and it’s on par with Ford’s current lineup of V6s. Still, the 2022 Sequoia can tow 7,100 pounds.

V8s are also thirsty and the EPA estimates that the 2022 Sequoia only sees 13 mpg in the city, and 17 on the highway, for a combined estimate of 14 mpg. Compare that to Ford’s full-sized Expedition, which gets 17 in the city and 23 on the highway, and you’ll see that the Toyota V8 falls short.

Of course, that V8 is also let down by Toyota’s old-school six-speed shiftable automatic. SUVs from other manufacturers now have seven, eight or even 10-speed automatics (like the Ford).

The 2023 will have a turbocharged V6 and hybrid power

Toyota i-FORCE MAX Hybrid motor
Toyota i-FORCE MAX Hybrid motor in a Sequoia | Toyota

Toyota’s new 2023 Toyota Sequoia will get a significant power boost from the i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain. The new V6 totally trumps the V8 with 437 horsepower and 583 lb.-ft of torque, that’s enough power that the new Sequoia can tow almost a ton more. The new 2024 Toyota Sequoia will tow up to 9,000 pounds.

Toyota doesn’t have fuel economy estimates yet for the new 2023. But the 2023 Tundra, which the Sequoia is based on and that shares the i-FORCE MAX hybrid power train, gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined, 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The Sequoia’s ratings should be similar.

The new Sequoia will also have a 10-speed automatic, which should allow it to quickly get into the right gear when it needs it.

What else is new in the 2023 Sequoia?

Interior of the 2023 Toyota Sequoia
Interior of a 2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone | Toyota

The 2023 Sequoia is so different from the 2022, it’s hard to believe it has the same name. The old Sequoia has an old-style dash that has acres of boring plastic and a seven-inch touchscreen that looks much smaller than that because the rest of the dash is so big. The new Sequoia has a standard 12.-inch screen and an available 14-inch touchscreen located in a better position. It also has a suite of cameras that show you a trailer, or a split view of the trailer and hitch.

The 2023 Sequoia will come in five trim levels that include SR5, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro and top-level Capstone. The hybrid I-FORCE MAX system will be standard on all trims. Sequoias can be ordered in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

Related

7-Passenger Shootout: 2023 Toyota Sequoia vs. the Grand Highlander

Best in Trucks & SUVs
Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.