2022 Toyota Sequoia

Sequoia trees are known for their ancient, majestic, and enduring nature and the 2022 Toyota Sequoia SUV has at least one of those qualities. It is now 15 years old in its second generation, and while the Japanese automaker has done its best to keep the vehicle up to date, there is no denying that its age is showing. It still relies on a massive 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine, which generates 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque, pairing with a six-speed automatic transmission, old-school truck-based underpinnings, and a choice of 2WD or 4WD to compete against the likes of the Chevrolet Tahoe, Nissan Armada, and Ford Expedition. With an all-new model around the corner for 2023 with a hybrid powertrain and more refinement than ever before, is the 2022 Sequoia still worth shopping for? We spent a week with the old lumbering giant to find out.

The Sequoia SUV is a throwback to the Toyota design ethos of yesteryear or, yester-decade in this case. That said, there are a fair number of modern features that have helped keep Toyota's juggernaut competitive. These include LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED fog lights, and a power tilt-and-side moonroof, across the range. A power liftgate is standard only from the Limited upwards. The base-level SR5 and the TRD Pro ride on 18-inch wheels, while the rest of the range enjoy bolder 20-inch alloys in varying styles.

Each model has its own unique design elements, such as the darker accents on the TRD Sport, or the completely blacked-out style of the Nightshade edition. The off-roading TRD Pro sports a large Toyota heritage badge up front on the grille, while TRD Sport and Nightshade each have Toyota and Sequoia logos emblazoned on the front doors.

There is no denying that the Toyota Sequoia SUV is a hulking brute of a machine, with massive dimensions that enable it to host so many passengers and all their stuff. Length measures 205.1 inches, and the 122-inch wheelbase is to thank for the spacious cabin. The overall width is 79.9 inches, while it stands 77 inches tall.

Ground clearance ranges from 9.6 to 10 inches, depending on model and drivetrain, with curb weight similarly ranging from 5,730 lbs on the lightest 2WD trim to 6,000 lbs on the heaviest 4WD, the Platinum. Regardless of drivetrain, the approach angle is 27 inches, while the departure angle is 20 degrees for the 2WD and 21 degrees for the 4WD options.

A total of six paint colors are available to the Sequoia range, though there are some limitations on certain models. The most common palette is offered on the SR5, Limited, and Platinum trims. This comprises Celestial Silver Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Midnight Black Metallic, and Shoreline Blue Pearl as no-cost choices, as well as Wind Chill Pearl if you are willing to spend $425 more. The TRD Sport, TRD Pro, and Nightshade Special Edition lose access to Celestial Silver and Shoreline Blue, but the Pro gets the extra option of Lunar Rock for free.

The most obvious showing of the Sequoia's age is definitely its powertrain. Naturally aspirated gas engines have fallen out of favor, especially when they displace in excess of five liters. This wasn't a problem ten years ago, and it still suits the heavy body-on-frame Toyota SUV well if you can afford the gas. The setup delivers a decent amount of power, which is what the hefty vehicle needs to get around town without a fuss, though it lacks the turbo-pep that most modern SUVs enjoy. Still, there's no denying the low-down torque offered by the motor, nor the impressive 7,400-pound maximum towing capacity of the 2WD models. The 4WD variants have to settle for 7,100 lbs. This is a negligible sacrifice considering how capable the four-wheel-drive models are at off-roading, especially the TRD Pro.

The only engine option in the entire Sequoia range is a 5.7L V8 that develops 381 hp and 401 lb-ft. Even compared to other old-school nat-asp units, it's not the most powerful, and it pales when going up against modern turbocharged motors - except in proven durability which the Sequoia retains and wears as proudly as it does its Toyota badge. Nevertheless, it supplies a decent amount of passing power on the highway, and the low-down torque means that getting around town is a simple task. Handling the shifting of gears is a 6-speed automatic, which we're not particularly fond of as the shifts feel heavy-handed and very noticeable. You get a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive on every model except the TRD Pro, which is 4WD only.

Big SUVs are not known for their dexterity, so you won't find a Toyota Sequoia review claiming that it handles anything like the car-based crossovers that are becoming more popular. It's big, it's heavy, and it's clunky. That said, the steering is quite light, meaning that it is easy to make adjustments on the road, and you'll need to - particularly on the freeway if there's even a slight breeze. The downside to this is a lack of feel for what the wheels are doing. On-road comfort is adequate and, counterintuitively, even more so on the more rugged TRD Pro - though the smaller tires on the SR5 and TRD Sport make them better-suited to city living.

The Sequoia is capable of venturing off the beaten path, despite its length compared to the more wieldy Toyota 4Runner. It also has no specific drive modes to improve its off-roading abilities, but we spent hours on dirt tracks and fire roads and the Sequoia ate them up with comfort and confidence. When it comes to on-road enhancements, the only model that stands out is the top-of-the-line Platinum, which gets load-leveling rear air suspension as well as an adaptive variable suspension.

There is a reason automakers are abandoning large-displacement, naturally aspirated engines, and the Toyota Sequoia is a perfect example of why. In rear-wheel-drive guise, it returns abysmal gas mileage of just 13/17/15 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles. The four-wheel-drive models are a bit heavier with more mechanical drag, which equates to even worse figures of 13/17/14 mpg. Going off-road, we got the indicated MPG down to a horrific 7 mpg.

To make up for this, the car comes with a large 26.4-gallon fuel tank, allowing it to travel 396 miles between refuels, and only slightly less in 4WD guise.

While Toyota may keep updating the specs and features of the Sequoia to keep it somewhat competitive, it hasn't done much to improve upon the design and aesthetics of the interior. Long story short, the interior of the Sequoia feels like an old truck garnished in semi-modern tech. There are plenty of cheap plastics on display and clever ergonomics don't play a particularly big role. That said, the cabin is spacious and comfortable. Many buyers still appreciate the old-school rugged aesthetic, but the Sequoia is not as refined as its similarly-styled rivals, such as the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe. It also lacks a lot of the comfort features we take for granted on many modern cars. The biggest selling point for Toyota's largest SUV is the fact the third row is spacious enough for adults, at least over short jaunts.

Seating and interior space is the Sequoia's saving grace since it offers three rows of seats and seating for up to eight adults. This is reduced to seven on models equipped with captain's chairs in the second row. Many automakers offer eight-seater vehicles, but the viability of their seating is questionable, more often than not. Hopefully, this is a strength that will make its way into the next-generation Sequoia. As it currently stands, passengers in the front row enjoy 42.5 inches of legroom and 34.8 inches of headroom. Those in the second row, regardless of whether it hosts a bench or captain's chairs, get 40.9 inches of legroom and 34.9 inches of headroom. The final row maintains almost the same headroom, at 34.5 inches, and only sacrifices a few inches of legroom, leaving 35.3 inches. An eight-way power driver's seat is standard, but it is upgraded with two additional directions on upper trims.

The materials used inside the cabin of the Toyota are nothing to write home about. The build quality is also middling at best. The dash and door panels are awash with hard plastics, even on the top-tier TRD Pro or Platinum trims. This is a failing that the automaker has already addressed on its more modern nameplates, so hopefully, a new Toyota Sequoia will benefit from these broader enhancements.

The lower trim levels make do with cloth upholstery, which is durable and moderately comfortable, but not particularly plush. The leather on the upper trims is much more premium but equally rugged and long-lasting. Color choices reinforce this work-day mentality, with Graphite and Sand Beige cloth being the no-cost options offered on entry-spec models - it's worth noting that Sand Beige is only available to certain exterior colors. Upgrading to leather by means of the Premium Package costs $4,325 on base trims, and color options remain the same.

The TRD Sport is offered with Black cloth only, while the Nightshade and TRD Pro have the same color limitation in leather. The top-of-the-range Platinum gets the broadest choice for its perforated leather upholstery: Graphite, Sand Beige, and Red Rock. Your choices are further limited by exterior paint, since not every interior option can pair with every paint color.

The immense size of the Sequoia benefits it here again by endowing it with an enormous trunk. Many three-row vehicles end up sacrificing all their cargo capacity when the rear-most seats are in place, but the full-size Toyota SUV still supplies an impressive 18.9 cubic feet. Still, this isn't enough room for five people's luggage, let alone eight. For that kind of space, you'll need to fold down the third row, freeing up 66.6 cubic feet. Since many people will be moving only four or five people daily, this makes the Sequoia extremely practical. If you need to move house, folding down all the seats behind the first row opens up 120.1 cubic feet.

There is also a fair amount of small-item storage around the cabin, including a total of 16 cupholders (18 on Platinum trims). There is also a covered armest with a storage compartment and a spacious glove compartment. Each of the four doors houses a large pocket that can easily store a water bottle or more.

Despite having a broad range of trims, the Toyota Sequoia doesn't have the greatest list of features. There is enough for most people shopping in this economy segment. The base model gets tri-zone climate control, an eight-way power driver's seat, a power moonroof, as well as Toyota Safety Sense. This driver-assist suite includes forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, dynamic cruise control, and auto high beams, which bolsters the front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Limited and Platinum trims add a ten-way power driver's seat and a six-way power passenger seat, along with a power liftgate, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Nightshade Special Edition and TRD Pro boast heated front seats, which include ventilation on the Platinum. The second-row seats get heating on the top-tier trim, too.

Toyota has the technology to deliver modern infotainment suites with intuitive interfaces, but the Sequoia doesn't benefit from this expertise yet. For its size, it only gets a seven-inch touchscreen, which is difficult to interact with from the driver's seat. We can't fault it for the list of features though. The standard suite includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, HD Radio, and Bluetooth. eight speakers, while the mid-tier models upgrade to 12 speakers. Only the range-topping TRD Pro and Platinum trims get the 14-speaker JBL setup. The Platinum also gets a rear-seat entertainment system, which comprises a nine-inch display, two wireless headphones, and a Blu-ray player. The next-gen infotainment system will only be available on the new, 2023 Sequoia.

J.D. Power's review of the 2022 Toyota Sequoia shows rather middling scores - an overall 78 out of 100, and 81 for quality and reliability. On the plus side, Toyota has had plenty of time to smooth out any problems in its largest SUV, and there has been only one recall in 2021 for a potential oil leak that may cause a loss of power steering assist.

Each Sequoia is sold with a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Oddly, there is no comprehensive safety review of the Toyota Sequoia. Only the rollover test has been performed by the NHTSA, returning a score of four out of five stars. In a pinch, you could look at the Tundra's scores, since that is what the large SUV is based on. However, even the pickup didn't receive the best scores. Still, there are a fair number of driver assists included in the standard package, so it's not all doom and gloom.

Passive safety systems on all models include eight airbags, traction and stability control, and ABS brakes. The Toyota Safety Sense suite is standard on every Sequoia, comprising a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, and automatic high beams. This works in concert with the front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. There aren't any additional driver assistance features available on the option.

There is a lot to like about the Toyota Sequoia. It is a large and appealing SUV, with three rows of seats and plenty of passenger and cargo space. It even gets a decent consignment of standard safety and infotainment features. Nevertheless, it is a difficult vehicle to recommend to buyers in 2022. This is because too many aspects of the car are hampered by the fact that it is well over a decade old. There are only so many updates an automaker can install before needing to rip out the foundation and put a new one in to support more modern tech and mechanical enhancements.

There are now other SUVs that can boast the same, if not better, interior dimensions, such as the Hyundai Palisade, although that lacks the off-road credibility of the Sequoia. They also have more up-to-date infotainment suites with larger screens that are easier to interact with. As far as advanced driver assists are concerned, today's car owners expect almost all of these to come standard. Even the TRD Pro, which sells itself on off-roading capabilities, cannot best the likes of the Nissan Armada or GMC Yukon, which feel more premium at a similar price to the Toyota Sequoia.

All in all,it is time for this great tree to be cut down and refined into something more appealing for the next generation of shoppers. The only people we can see picking up a 2022 model now are those that want that all-but-guaranteed robustness of a decade-proven platform and Toyota V8.

One of the most attractive things about the Sequoia has been its reasonable pricing, insofar as any eight-seater SUV with such an enormous engine could be deemed reasonable. But, it no longer offers the kind of value that makes its low starting price appealing. The base SR5 will cost you $50,500, while the TRD Sport asks for $53,215. The mid-tier Limited jumps up considerably to $59,520, and the Nightshade Special Edition breaks $60k with its $60,605 price tag. The TRD Pro and Platinum barely differ at $64,625 and $66,550 respectively. However, the TRD Pro already includes the four-wheel drivetrain, which will cost you an additional $3,225 on any other trim. These prices are MSRP and do not include Toyota's $1,495 destination charge.

The Toyota Sequoia lineup remains unchanged going into 2022, with six distinct models on offer: the SR5, TRD Sport, Limited, Nightshade Special Edition, TRD Pro, and Platinum. Each one comes equipped with the same 5.7L V8 engine, developing 381 hp and 401 lb-ft. This is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, which sends outputs to the rear-wheel drivetrain as standard, or the optional four-wheel drivetrain, which is standard on the TRD Pro.

Other factory-installed features include the Toyota Safety Sense suite, with pre-collision warning, pedestrian detection, dynamic radar cruise control, auto high beams, and lane departure warning. Also standard is blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, tri-zone climate control, a power tilt-and-slide moonroof, and a multifunction console. The seven-inch touchscreen is programmed with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth.

The SR5 rides on 18-inch alloys and is equipped with LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and LED fog lights. Cloth upholstery and an eight-way power driver's seat help the cabin feel comfortable.

The TRD Sport upgrades to 20-inch alloys and trades out the second-row bench for captain's chairs. Mechanically, it benefits from Bilstein dampers and performance anti-sway bars.

The Limited replaces the cloth with leather and installs an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The driver's seat adds two more directions of adjustment, and the passenger seat gets six directions of power adjustability. It also receives a power liftgate and the 12-speaker premium sound system.

The Nightshade receives no additional tech features, but it gets a large number of dark-accented exterior and interior trimmings.

The TRD Pro gets Fox suspension and rides on 18-inch alloys wrapped in off-road-ready rubber. It also sports unique badging and logos, TRD skid plates, and Rigid Industries LED fog lights. It shares the 14-speaker JBL sound system that comes with the Platinum trim, along with heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row seats.

The Platinum is less off-road focused and geared more towards comfort. The biggest contributor to this is air suspension on the rear axle along with variable suspension components, but it also gets 20-inch machine-finish alloy wheels, loads of chrome styling elements, rear-seat Blu-ray players, 10-way power front seats that are heated and ventilated, heated second-row captain's chairs, and the aforementioned JBL sound system.

There are only a few packages available to the Sequoia. The SR5 and TRD Sport get their own Premium Packages for $4,325, which comprise leather upholstery, a ten-way power driver's seat, the premium audio system, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Limited gets the most options, such as swapping out the second-row bench for captain's chairs ($300), and upgrading to the JBL sound system ($1,065). There is also a package that combines both. There are also four rear-seat entertainment packages, ranging from $1,920 to $3,285, which add the system to the other available options. The Nightshade can only have the upgraded JBL audio setup or the most basic rear-seat entertainment package.

There is only one real standout model in the range, and we recommend it grudgingly since we think the Sequoia as a whole is desperately in need of an upgrade. The TRD Pro includes almost all the premium features available to the Sequoia but also gets off-road-focused mechanical enhancements to the suspension. It is expensive, but if you want to save money, there are SUVs out there with much better value.

The Land Cruiser is slightly smaller than the Sequoia, but it is a far more premium offering, which should be obvious by its mid-$80k starting price. It makes better use of the V8 engine they both share, and can off-road quite well by virtue of its more compact size. Naturally, it loses out on passenger and cargo space, since it isn't as large. The 2021 model year is the last for the Land Cruiser in the USA. An all-new model has been launched globally that will not make it stateside, but the 2021 model holds up here if you don't need space, but do want luxury and off-road capability from a body-on-frame SUV.

The Nissan Armada is proof that a full-size SUV with an enormous, naturally aspirated V8 can be modern and refined in an age of turbocharged units. The motor in the Nissan makes 400 hp and 413 lb-ft, which trumps the 382 hp and 401 lb-ft in the Sequoia. The Armada's cabin boasts better build quality, has more upscale materials, and the infotainment suite is lightyears ahead. Both are equally capable off-road, but the Toyota has a little more room on the inside. Despite its age, the Sequoia is still slightly more expensive than the Armada, which received a substantial facelift in 2021. If you want your money to work for you, the Nissan is the way to go, but if you care more about space than anything else, the Sequoia might still catch your attention.