2020 Toyota Sequoia

Named after earth’s most massive tree, the 2020 Toyota Sequoia exemplifies its name. It weighs around 5700-pounds and is big enough to serve all your needs. Toyota has fitted all the 2020 Sequoia with a robust 5.7-liter V-8 engine that is capable of doing anything while offering seating for eight and impressive towing capacity. Sequoia also offers a more cushioned ride than some of its rivals, especially when equipped with the adaptive suspension on the Platinum trim.

There are four trims to choose between in the new 2020 Toyota Sequoia that includes: SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Pro, Limited, and Platinum.  All the trims come standard with a 5.7-liter V-8 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive can be added to any trim for $3,225. Prices vary significantly between the trims, but optional packages on the SR5 and Limited trim help bridge the gaps. The SR5 and Limited models come with a seating capacity of eight passengers, while the second-row captain’s chair on the Platinum trim reduces the seating capacity to seven.

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Go with the SR5 with the Premium Package ($3,810) that adds features such as leather upholstery, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat along, Entune Premium audio and navigation, auto-dimming rear-view mirror with compass. It also gets Toyota’s Safety Sense-P which adds a substantial amount of advanced techs that are best in class.

The 2020 Toyota Sequoia gets a big 5.7-liter V-8 engine that makes 381-horsepower and 401-pound-feet of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The V-8 feels powerful and there is plenty of torque that helps this bulky SUV to move quickly from a stop. The six-speed automatic transmission feels smooth but it hardly helps the Sequoia in getting better fuel efficiency. 

The Toyota Sequoia manages to produce the best power output figures out of the competition. The next SUV producing similar figures is the Land Cruiser. 

Acceleration

For a big 5,700-pound SUV the Sequoia is no loll. The V8 generates enough power to make this ginormous mass clock 0 to 60 in 7.1 seconds. Sequoia, however, lags behind when it comes to covering a quarter-mile. It takes 15.3 seconds to cover the distance which is slower than both Armada and Tahoe.

The Toyota Sequoia shows the same 0-60mph times as the Audi Q7 in 0 to 60 runs while the Volvo XC90 manages the fastest time even after with the smallest displacement engine. 

Ride and Handling

The Sequoia shares its underpinning with the last generation Tundra pickup truck but it rides and handles better thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension. The carlike design keeps the Sequoia stable on winding roads for most parts. Ride quality is smooth over rough pavements and an adaptive suspension on the Platinum trim further improves the ride quality by soaking up most the bumps on the road.

It corners well for a large full-size SUV and even better than some of its rivals. The Sequoia by no means is a city-friendly maneuverable vehicle although its 38-foot turning radius is laudable. A rear-wheel-drive drivetrain setup comes standard with the 2020 Toyota Sequoia while you can still choose for the four-wheel-drive as an optional feature.

Braking

The 2020 Toyota Sequoia's brake pedal feels soft and easy for modulating around town. To increase traction, the Sequoia comes fitted with  Automatic Limited-Slip Differential (Auto LSD), this system modulates brake pressure and helps in keeping the car in enhancing traction on unpredictable road conditions such as loose sand or snow.

Toyota did manage to make a good SUV but forget the major point in terms of braking equipment as this mammoth SUV takes the longest distance to stop from 60mpg to standstill. With 130ft taken, the Toyota Sequoia stands last while the best stopping distance is shown by the Volvo XC90.

Towing Capacity

The Toyota Sequoia is rated to tow 7,400-pounds which are not the best in the class but it is enough to pull recreational vehicles like small boats and campers. It also comes equipped with Trailer-Sway Control (TSC) which provides great braking control while towing. The Ford Expedition boasts the highest towing capacity and its 9,300-pounds hauling power matches some conventional pickup trucks.

This is one area because of which you would skip buying the ginormous SUV and look at its rivals as it is one of the least fuel-efficient vehicles in the class. The 2020 Toyota Sequoia with rear-wheel drive checks in at 13mpg city, 17 mpg highway and 15 mpg combined. The four-wheel-drive version is rated at 13/14/17 mpg. The Ford Expedition manages 20 mpg combined and the Volvo XC90 manages a good 22mpg combined. 

Getting in and out of the 2020 Toyota Sequoia is made easy by running boards and grab handles. The driving position is tall and upright while the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel adds to the driver’s comfort. Big windshields enable a good view of the road while the large rear window helps in backing up, although a rear-view camera is a must.

The Sequoia seats eight with plenty of head and legroom in all the three rows. The second-row captains bring the seating capacity down to seven but make it more comfortable and roomier. The third-row is also accommodating for adults with ample legroom. standard and optional seating feature includes:

Infotainment Features

The 2020 Sequoia lineup now comes with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Finally, Toyota has introduced Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability for the Sequoia. This is a much-awiated upgrade to keep itself in line with the competition cars while making it smartphone-friendly. Along with these, the Sequoia also offers a Wi-Fi hotspot facility, which can be opted on trial based subscription. Also, the rear-seat entertainment system now gets a much better JBL audio system.

Cargo Space

2020 Toyota Sequoia offers more cargo space than most of its rivals except the Ford Expedition. With 18.9-inch cubic feet of space behind third-row, 66.6 cubic feet with third-row folded and 120.1 cubic feet overall. These numbers are impressive for a large SUV, although it is a no match to the Ford Expedition as it offers best in class cargo capacity.

Interior Features

• Multi-Information Display (MID) with outside temperature, instant/average fuel economy and distance to empty
• Easy-clean fabric-trimmed front seats; 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat; 4-way adjustable front passenger seat
• Leather-trimmed 40/20/40 split, sliding, reclining
• 19 fold-flat second-row seat with one-touch access to the third-row seat
• Multi-function remote keyless entry system with remote illuminated entry
• Power windows with driver and front passenger one-touch auto up/down and jam protection
• Power rear window with auto up/down, jam protection and defogger
• Second- and third-row retractable window sunshades
• Power door locks with shift-linked automatic lock/ unlock feature
• Cargo area 12V auxiliary power outlet and grocery bag hooks
• Dual extendable sun visors with vanity mirrors

The 2020 Sequoia is the longest, tallest and widest full-size SUV Toyota makes. Its long wheelbase adds to the roomy interior, improve driving dynamics and gives extra clearance while approaching steep slopes. In terms of appearance, the Sequoia is not a crowd puller but with its new front grilles and bumper, it certainly does not look dowdy.

Exterior Features

• LED low- and high-beam headlights with auto on/off feature
• Lower bumper opening with dark-silver surround
• Color-keyed heated power outside mirrors
• Power tilt/slide moonroof with sliding sunshade
• 18-in. 5-spoke alloy wheels with P275/65R18 114T tires
• Washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wipers and intermittent rear wiper
• One-touch 3-blink turn signal indicators
• Windshield wiper de-icer
• Privacy glass on rear side, quarter and liftgate windows
• Power liftgate with jam protection
• Darkened rear taillight bezel

There is no safety data available for the 2020 Toyota as both the NHTSA and IIHS have not crash-tested it. In terms of reliability, Toyota has covered the 2020 Sequoia with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/ 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Safety features

Toyota has made standard on all models its suite of advanced safety features which makes it one of the safest SUVs in the market. There is also a plethora of airbags all around the SUV while a rearview camera also comes standard-a must for such a large SUV.

• Driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag
• Driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags and all-row side curtain airbags
• Roll-sensing Side Curtain Airbags
• Driver and front passenger seatbelt warning sensor
• 3-point seatbelts for all seating positions; driver-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) and Automatic/ Emergency Locking Retractor on all passenger belts
• Driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters
• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) includes lower anchors on all second-row seats and tether anchors on all second-row seats and center third-row seat
• Child-protector rear door locks and power window lockout
• The front energy-absorbing crumple zone
• Side-impact door beams
• Energy-dissipating interior trim
• Blind Spot Monitor
• Lane change assist
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Two-position power memory driver’s seat and memory outside mirrors
• Front and rear parking assist sonar
• Trailer-Sway Control

Toyota Sequoia vs. Ford Expedition

The Ford Expedition is one of the best full SUV available in the market. It boats higher towing capacity, roomy interior, better cargo space, and fuel economy. A high-quality cabin also adds to its reputation. There is also not much difference in the price as the Sequoia base is priced just $3,390 below the Expedition. With so many good things about the Expedition, it is a clear winner as it offers better value for its price.

Toyota Sequoia vs. Chevrolet Tahoe

The Chevy Tahoe offers one of the most upscale interiors in the class while offering more advanced techs and features than the 2020 Toyota Sequoia. The Chevy also has better fuel efficiency and towing capacity. The Sequoia, however, benefits from lower base price, cargo capacity and more room in all the three rows. You will not regret buying the Sequoia but the Tahoe any day is a better SUV.

Toyota Sequoia Vs Nissan Armada

The Nissan Armada has the lowest price tag and is one of the lowest ranking SUV in its class. Still, the Armada is a very capable SUV. It offers a powerful V-engine, is easy to maneuver and has more towing capacity than the 2020 Toyota Sequoia. However, if interior space is your demand then you would be happy with the Toyota as it offers more space in all the three rows. Armada has a cramped third row but its interior looks upscale and cabin material is top-notch.

The 2020 Toyota Sequoia fulfills most of the buyers need, a powerful v-8 engine, lots of interior space for passenger and cargo along with excellent towing capacity. The main downside with the last generation was the infotainment system, however, this has been upgraded now. Ride quality is also smooth over most rough pavements. These qualities make Sequoia a good pick among large SUVs but there are more refined options like the Chevy Tahoe. 

The 2020 Sequoia although is competitively priced and offers more standard features than most of the rivals. It lacks the modernity but it is an excellent SUV considering the price tag at which it is offered.