Toyota Won’t Build You a 2022 Sequoia Even if You Want One
The Toyota Sequoia is dead, long live the Toyota Sequoia! This automaker has unveiled the all-new 2023 version of its full-size SUV. The third generation borrows suspension from the latest Land Cruiser and a drivetrain from the 2022 Tundra. In addition, every new Sequoia will be a hybrid. But if you want to custom order the final V8 Sequoia, you’re out of luck. Toyota does not appear to be taking orders for the outgoing model anymore.
Toyota is changing up the Sequoia for 2023
The third generation of Toyota’s full-size Sequoia SUV will be all new. Toyota is basing this three row SUV on its 2022 Tundra pickup truck. For this reason, the new Sequoia will ditch its old V8 in favor of a twin-turbocharged V6 with a hybrid drivetrain.
The new Sequoia will also be better equipped to tow heavy loads: the SUV is abandoning its independent rear suspension to return to a solid rear axle. But the 2023 SUV will ride on rear coils instead of leaf springs.
The newest Toyota Sequoia has many components in common with the Tundra. Therefore, the automaker is moving its production of the SUV from Princeton Indiana to the Tundra’s factory in San Antonio Texas.
Toyota production is slowing down
The last two years have been difficult for Toyota manufacturing. In January of 2022, Toyota told Dallas News that it would be cutting production at its San Antonio plant in half. This is due to a confluence of issues.
One problem that has been plaguing Toyota is that it keeps suffering COVID outbreaks in its factories. These problems require Toyota to cut down on production as workers quarantine.
Toyota is not the only company having this issue. In fact, many of its suppliers are struggling as well. This means that even when Toyota factories are running smoothly, supply chain issues mean they often don’t have the components they need to complete vehicles. The international microchip shortage is one way supply chain problems are plaguing the auto industry.
It makes perfect sense that Toyota would move its Sequoia production to San Antonio. Unfortunately, the timing could not have been worse. Now, Toyota does not seem to have the bandwidth to produce many trucks and SUVs.
Toyota is not taking orders for 2022 Sequoias
If you want to buy a 2022 Sequoia, Toyota advertises several brand-new SUVs in stock with dealers around the country. But if you want to configure a 2022 Sequoia on the automaker’s website you may find yourself frustrated: At the time of this writing, Toyota has removed the 2022 Sequoia configurator from its website.
So how many 2022 Sequoias are already built and waiting on dealer lots? Toyota has not released a number, but it is likely very few. How do we know this? Because Toyota is not selling many Sequoias.
GoodCarBadCar.net tracks new car sales data. According to these experts, Toyota only sold 19 Sequoias during the month of June. During the entire year, so far, Toyota has only sold 477 Sequoias. This is an 89% decrease from the 4,338 Sequoias Toyota had sold by this time last year.
So even if you want a 2022 Toyota Sequoia, it seems unlikely the automaker will allow you to configure one or even be able to build you one. Your best shot is to find one of the few 2022 Sequoias currently parked on dealership lots. But waiting for the 2023 model is not as bad as it sounds, the new Toyota Sequoia is shaping up to be better in every measurable way.
Next, check out a review of the 2023 Toyota Sequoia or see it in action in the video below:
