2015 Toyota Sequoia

The 2015 Toyota Sequoia is available in three main trims, namely the SR5, Limited, and Platinum. As you climb up the trim ladder, the creature comforts will increase, and so the price of the trim. You also get optional packages with the SR5 and Limited trim to further load them up with your desired features. Check the table below to see how Toyota has distributed the features across the three trims.

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We recommend the Limited trim as it comes with many creature comforts plus opens the door for optional packages. It comes with many features like leather-trimmed and heated front seats, 20-inch alloy wheels, power liftgate with jam protection, leather-trimmed 40/20/40 split second-row seats, etc, and it costs nearly $9,000 less than the Platinum trim which is definitely a huge difference. 

The 2015 Toyota Sequoia is equipped with a 5.7-Litre V8 engine that produces about 381 HP and 401 lb-ft of torque. The V8 has a throaty growl when woken and offers about 90 percent of its torque from as low as 2,200 rpm. As a result, it has a good towing capacity and can haul about 7,400 pounds in the tow/haul mode. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission that comes with sequential shift mode and uphill/downhill shift logic along with the tow/haul mode. The transmission is smooth and works well under most conditions.

The Toyota Sequoia comes with the largest cubic capacity V-8 engine of the lot and is the most powerful of the lot. However, the real surprise is Ford's smaller 3.5L turbocharged V-6 engine that produces class-leading torque and nearly identical power figures in the segment. It also helps the Expedition to accelerate faster than its rivals, and a 0-60 mph sprint just takes 6.6 seconds, which is commendable. The reason for such acceleration is the power to weight ratio. However, it has a lower top speed in the segment. The other SUVs are not much behind in the race and have nearby 0-60 mph sprint times. 

The Sequoia comes with a bigger engine of the lot, and hence it's a fuel guzzler. The efficiency figures are 13 mpg in the city, 17 mpg on the highway, and 15 mpg in combined driving conditions. The Sequoia can hold up to 26.4 gallons of fuel, and it makes the Sequoia travel 343 miles in the city, 449 miles on the highway, and 396 miles in mixed driving conditions on a full tank.

The competitors like GMC Yukon and Ford Expedition have an edge over the competition. They offer 18 mpg and 17 mpg in combined driving conditions, respectively, and pairing it with a fuel tank capacity of 26-gallon and 28-gallon can make them travel 468 miles and 476 miles, respectively on a full tank of gas. The Nissan Armada also comes with a large fuel tank and can provide a range of 448 miles on a full tank. 

The Toyota Sequoia is a full-size SUV and can seat 8 passengers including the driver. The Platinum trim can seat seven passengers only owing to second-row captain seats. The front seats offer good support and comfort, but the headroom can be an issue for some taller passengers. The second row can slide and recline with just a push of a button in higher trims and offer easy access to the third row. The third row is roomy as well and offers good leg space as well. The quality of materials used in the cabin is just about average. Although, they are built to last a decade but lack the refinement that we expect from a family hauler.

The instrument console is right in the direct view of the driver and is easy to read. However, the infotainment system placement is not very ergonomic, and the driver needs to stretch out a little bit to reach and use it. Some of the noteworthy features include a 10- or 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a four-way power-adjustable passenger seat, rear-window sunshades, power-reclining third row, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, rear-seat entertainment system, etc

The Sequoia offers a cargo capacity of 18.9 cu-ft, which is good considering it has three rows. However, Nissan Armada takes the lead and provides a better cargo capacity than all its rivals. The Yukon offers the least cargo capacity and scores low on practicality. The Ford Expedition offers a similar cargo capacity as that of the Sequoia. It also offers better third-row leg space in the comparison. The Sequoia takes the lead in the second-row legroom. Some of the standout interior features of the 2015 Sequoia are:

• Electrochromatic Inside Rearview Mirror
• Rear View Camera
• Leather upholstery 
• Multi-function remote keyless entry system
• Optitron instrumentation with higher trims
• Second- and third-row retractable window sunshades

How intuitive is the 2015 Sequoias’ infotainment unit?

The Entune infotainment system in Sequoia is very easy and intuitive to use. It comes with a 6.1-inch touchscreen display which is good but not the best. The trims above the SR5 are equipped with a bigger 7.0-inch touchscreen and get a navigation feature. For your music needs, you get a premium JBL audio system with Platinum trim which offers a better output.

The connectivity needs are taken care of by Bluetooth, and the availability of USB ports, AUX jack, iPod compatibility makes your life convenient. You also get access to SiriusXM satellite services on the higher trims. The Entune App Suite available on the Platinum trim includes Bing iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable, Pandora, Yelp, real-time info including traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports, and stocks for added assistance. Some of the standout infotainment features of the 2015 Sequoia are:

• 7.0-inch touchscreen display 
• Integrated navigation 
• Entune multimedia bundle 
• SiriusXM Radio
• Entune App Suite 
• JBL Audio System 

It does not take much time to realize that the Sequoia is based on the Tundra pick-up platform and shares the styling with it. It isn’t a bad thing, and the Sequoia looks bigger than many cars on the road. The rugged truck styling speaks for the Sequoia as a go-anywhere SUV. The front bold grille and halogen headlamps complement its taller, wider, and longer dimensions. 

The sides are a plain affair and devoid of any visual drama. The longer wheelbase gives the Sequoia access to better legroom, cargo capacity, and high-speed stability on highways. The roof rails provide it a distinctive styling and testify to its good off-road capability and versatility as well. Overall the design language is not flamboyant in nature, but it's not bad either. Some American competitors offer more aggressive styling but can’t match the comfort and practicality levels of Sequoia. 

The Sequoia offers a better ground clearance and longer wheelbase which testifies its off-road compatibility. The rivals like GMC Yukon and Ford Expedition can’t match its off-road pedigree. The Nissan Armada comes neck to neck with Sequoia in terms of exterior dimensions. The GMC Yukon is lighter than the competition but has more width than all of them. All the SUVs are similar concerning their height and length. Some of the standout exterior features of the 2015 Sequoia are:

• Multi-reflector halogen headlights with auto on/off
• Integrated fog lights 
• Chrome grille surround
• Power tilt/slide moonroof with sliding sunshade 
• Auto-dimming heated power outside mirrors with memory (Platinum)

The 2015 Sequoia has not undergone a full range of crash tests, but the NHTSA has given it a 4-star rating in the rollover test. The Sequoia is equipped with many advanced and passive safety features to protect the occupants from an unavoidable accident. Like other Toyotas, the Sequoia also gets the Star Safety System to further enhance its safety quotient. Some of the standout safety features of the 2015 Sequoia are:

• Trailer-Sway Control (TSC)
• Energy-dissipating interior trim
• Front energy-absorbing crumple zone
• Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) (Platinum)
• Brake Assist 

The 2015 Toyota Sequoia might feel outdated, but it definitely ticks many right boxes. It comes with many creature comforts and safety features. It’s from the house of Toyota, so you can expect it to be reliable as well. Plus, it comes with optional packages to muscle up your desired trim. It offers a throaty V-8 engine, reliability, off-road capability, and quite impressive towing capacity in its segment which makes it worth buying for somebody looking for practicality over aesthetics and luxury.