Rugged, massive SUVs that share their underpinnings with pickup trucks are disappearing, making way for compact SUVs and crossovers that share frames with regular sedans and hatchbacks. The 2018 Toyota Sequoia is the among the last of this dying breed with its massive interior, rugged styling, and heavy-duty powertrain. And for the new model year, the Sequoia gets its biggest upgrades since its redesign back in 2008.
What's New for 2018
Toyota’s biggest SUV has gone mostly unchanged since 2008, but the 2018 model gets all the hallmarks of a mid-cycle update – a new grille, updated LED headlights, daytime running lights, and a more chiseled bumper. Three new exterior colors are also on hand this year, including Midnight Black Metallic, Toasted Walnut Pearl, and Shoreline Blue Pearl. While the exterior changes are minimal, they bring some life to the aging SUV.
The inside of the Sequoia has received some new touches, as well, which include a new gauge cluster that features a refreshed multi-information display and a new center console.
Another major addition for the 2018 model year is the addition of a TRD Sport model that improves on the regular SUV’s off-roading and towing prowess thanks to Bilstein dampers and TRD anti-roll bars at both ends of the vehicle. In addition to the performance components, the TRD Sport also gets different exterior touches thanks to 20-inch black wheels, a TRD-bespoke grille and front bumper, TRD Sport badges, black mirror caps, and smoked rear taillights.
Lastly, Toyota has fitted its suite of safety features, which is referred to as Toyota Safety Sense-P, to the new Sequoia. Highlights include lane departure warning, automatic high beams, radar-based adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.
Choosing Your Toyota Sequoia
While the 2018 Sequoia sports a new look and some minor interior changes, the guts of the SUV go unchanged.
Power comes from a 5.7-liter V8 engine churning out 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. The powerhouse of an engine is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission with a tow/haul mode. When properly equipped, the Sequoia’s capable of towing up to 7,400 pounds, making the SUV a standout option for consumers that tow large cargo on a regular basis. Four-wheel drive is a $3,225 option on the SR5, Limited, and Platinum.
The Sequoia is also capable of holding an impressive amount of cargo in its expansive cabin. With the second and third row folded, the SUV offers 120.1 cubic feet of cargo space, which goes down to 66.6 cubes behind the second row, and 18.9 with the third row in place. With the right type of seats in place, the Sequoia can seat up to eight passengers, which makes it a viable option for those wanting the interior space and seating capacity of a minivan in a more capable package.
The Sequoia, for the moment, comes in three different trims:
With Toyota Safety Sense-P now fitted to the new Sequoia as part of the vehicle’s list of standard features, starting off with a well-equipped SR5 trim and adding the Premium Package, which adds things like heated leather seats, navigation, and a power-reclining third row, is the best way to go. While opting for the all-wheel-drive model lowers the SUV’s towing capacity by 300 pounds, it’s worth the compromise for consumers that deal with inclement weather.