2016 Toyota Sequoia

The 2016 Toyota Sequoia is offered in three trim levels- SR5, Limited, and Platinum. A 5.7-liter V8 engine is standard across all the trims and comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. There is a significant price difference between trims but optional packages for the SR5 and Limited help fill the gap. The Platinum trim’s price tag puts the SUV in the premium category and offers some luxurious features such as an adaptive air suspension, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain's chairs among other features.

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The base 2016 Toyota Sequoia SR5 is a good choice to go with. The Premium package would be a nice touch since it adds all the extras, such as leather seats and navigation. 

The 2016 Toyota Sequoia is powered by a standard 5.7-liter 3UR-FE V8 motor and dishes out a maximum of 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. The engine offers a strong surge of power when required and is more than adequate for both city and highway runs. Even under a full load, the motors hardly break any sweat and the 6-speed automatic transmission does a good job of staying at the right gear at all times. With the 4WD layout, the SUV offers superb traction over most of the challenging tarmac conditions. The 0-60mph time of 6.8 seconds is decent for a full-size SUV.

The Ford Expedition makes lesser horsepower than the Sequoia but has significantly more torque output than the latter. Also, it is marginally quicker as well. The GMC Yukon and the Chevrolet Tahoe are mechanical twins hence their power and torque figures are identical as well.

As compared to other V8-powered SUVs in the competition the Sequoia still falls short in terms of fuel efficiency. The 15 combined MPG ranks right at the bottom. The 13mpg of city mileage and 18mpg of highway mileage is outright disappointing and the SUV is in dire need of a mechanical upgrade.

The Ford Expedition and the General Motors duo offer almost similar fuel economy figures and beat the Sequoia big time. The Expedition also gets a bigger 28 gallons gas tank that proves to be handy while out on long trips.

The 2016 Toyota Sequoia interior is huge and can carry 8 passengers comfortably, however, the third row is not easier to get to and may feel cramped. The interior design is elegant but not too modern or flashy yet the comfort levels are quite surprisingly good. The headroom on offer for all the rows is on the lower side but the wide seats and the width of the cabin make up for it. The cargo capacity is quite decent and can fit 66 cubic feet of cargo if the third-row seats are folded.

The Ford Expedition has a plush and spacious cabin but has a lower cargo capacity than the Sequoia. Both the GMC Yukon and the Chevrolet Tahoe have similar cabin space but the Yukon is more luxurious and plush than the Tahoe and the Sequoia as well.

Some interior features are:

• Keyless entry
• Tri-zone automatic climate control,
• Eight-way power driver seat
• Second- and third-row side sunshades
• Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with audio and Bluetooth phone controls

How intuitive is the 2016 Toyota Sequoia’s infotainment unit?

The 2016 Toyota Sequoia comes standard with a 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display incorporating Toyota’s Entune Audio Plus system. The user interface is easy to use and has crisp graphics. It also offers several features such as Siri Eyes Free smartphone voice control mode, Connected Navigation, and HD radio among other features.

Some infotainment features are:

• Toyota's Entune Audio Plus infotainment system with a 6.1-inch touchscreen 
• Connected Navigation 
• Siri Eyes Free smartphone voice control
• A CD player
• Satellite radio and HD radio

Just like the Tundra, Sequoia looks rugged and muscular since the SUV is based on the former. It is the heaviest vehicle in its class and also has the biggest dimensions to justify its weight. The front-end design is nothing spectacular, just like a common Toyota but the headlamp units are bigger than average which adorns the huge grille seamlessly. The SUV also offers a towering ground clearance of 9.9 inches which, when equipped with the 4WD system, allows the SUV to go off the roads quite easily. However, its 122-inch wheelbase limits its off-roading prowess heavily.

The Ford Expedition takes the second spot in terms of exterior dimensions but is still a huge vehicle yet its design cues mask its dimensions quite well. The GMC Yukon and the Chevrolet Tahoe look like proper American SUVs with their chunky and boxy exterior design and both of them have identical exterior dimensions as well.

Some exterior features are:

• Windshield wiper de-icer
• Roof rack
• Running boards
• Rear privacy glass
• 18-inch alloy wheels

The safety aspect of the 2016 Toyota Sequoia is decent and it secured a 4-star rating from the NHTSA as well. It doesn’t get much of the advanced safety techs but offers almost all the basic safety features such as stability and traction control, trailer sway control, and front knee airbags among others.

Some standout safety features are:

• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Trailer sway control
• Traction Control
• Blind Spot Monitor

The Sequoia may feel outdated in 2016 but it still offers the important features that an SUV of the segment should have like off-road capabilities, ample cargo space and towing capacity, and above all a big V-8 engine that will satisfy a majority of the driving needs. The 2016 Toyota Sequoia lacks some modern features though but it was never meant to be a comfortable luxury SUV. Instead, it offers utility and reliability with its bulletproof V-8, high ground clearance, and impressive cargo and towing capacity which makes it capable of going cross-country.