2018 Toyota Sequoia

The 2018 Toyota Sequoia SUV is offered in four trim levels: the SR5, the all-new TRD Sport, the Limited, and the top Platinum. Pricing for the trims starts at $48,600 and goes up to $67,535. The Sequoia in any trim comes with a V8 engine mated to a 6-speed automatic and has the rear-wheel-drive as standard. A four-wheel drive can be added for an extra cost of $3,225. The SR5 and Limited trims offer seating for 8 passengers, whereas the TRD Sport and Platinum trim get captain seats which reduces the passenger capacity to 7. Standard features across all trims include a sunroof, tri-zone climate control, power-adjustable driver's seat, 60/40 split reclining and flat-folding third-row seating, second and third-row retractable sunshades, and a rearview camera.

The SR5 gets an optional package that adds a few creature comforts, for a price of $3,810.The Limited trim also gets an optional package that improves infotainment features and adds captain seats for a price of $1,250

We Recommend

In this age and time, the 2018 Toyota Sequoia SR5 4WD is the best bet to pick and consider the Premium Package for a price of $3,810. This makes the SR5 not too blunt in its interior features and technology against the competition while maintaining the Sequoia's ruggedness and its tough styling. This makes it one of the most affordable feature-rich SUVs as well, at a price of just under $56,000.

The 2018 Toyota Sequoia RWD returns 13 mpg in the city, 17 mpg on the highway, and has a combined mileage of 15 mpg. With the 4WD configuration, this mileage remains the same at 13 mpg city and 17 mpg highway, but the combined mileage drops by 1 mpg to 14  mpg. The heavyweight and thirsty V8 eat into the Sequoia's mileage. The Sequoia has a fuel capacity of 26.4 gallons, which gives it a range of 343.2 city miles and 448.8 highway miles with the RWD.

The Expedition is the most fuel-efficient car thanks to the smaller V6 engine with its combined mileage rating of 20 mpg. The Tahoe is just behind, at 19 mpg combined. The Nissan Armada is rated at 16 mpg combined. The Sequoia has the least mileage. In terms of range, the Chevy offers the most city and highway range at 416 miles and 598 miles respectively. The Expedition loses out on the most range due to its smaller tank capacity. The Sequoia has the least range.

"The Sequoia can hold a crowd, but its interior is behind the times." -TheCarConnection

2018 Toyota Sequoia Seating and Comfort

The interiors on the Sequoia have worked a 50/50 impression on us. The interior lacks the finesse and finish seen on its rivals, which are much better and far ahead of the Sequoia. The materials used are of low quality, and the hard plastic surfaces do not justify the Sequoia's price. Knobs, buttons, and handles seem derived from the Tundra pickup truck and less suited for a full-size SUV. The huge panels are an eyesore, but the overall fit in the interior is excellent as expected from a Toyota. Durability in this interior will be higher than most other cars in this competition.

The Sequoia seats 8 passengers as standard, but the optional captain seats in the second row reduce it to seven. The cabin is very roomy, and the ambiance is fresh. The seats offer high levels of comfort in all the rows. The front row is similar to the middle row: wide, loads of cushioning, and decent bolstering but lack lateral support. The captain seats are more comfortable, and if hauling passengers isn't a priority, we do recommend them. The rear row is flat and does not offer much seating comfort. The noise levels are low unless you push the engine. Visibility throughout the Sequoia is not the best. The large glass panels windshield and windows offer a good view, but the bloated hood and the thick front pillars limit the overall frontal visibility. In the rear, the large rear window offers good visibility. Getting in and out in this tall SUV does require a step up, but there are grab handles and running boards to allow easy access. Access to the third row is easy as well.

All cars seat eight passengers. The Chevy Tahoe boasts of a very comfortable front row, with headroom and legroom of 42.8 inches and 45.3 inches respectively. In the second row, the Armada has the most headroom at 40 inches, whereas the Sequoia gets the most legroom at nearly 41 inches. The third row is the most comfortable in the Expedition, with headroom of 38 inches and spacious legroom of 37.7 inches. The Tahoe benefits from better interior space usage, whereas the 122.5 inches wheelbase of the Expedition gives it a spacious rear row. Some interior features on the Sequoia are:

• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• 40/20/40-split second row/second-row captain chairs
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Heated front seats
• Power-adjustable steering wheel
• Power reclining and folding third-row seats

2018 Toyota Sequoia Infotainment

The Sequoia gets the Entune infotainment system as standard across all trims. There is one downside of this system: it relies heavily on smartphone integration for working. However, it is easy to use and operate, with a simple layout. Some controls are not positioned right, which may put them out of reach for some drivers. The 6.1 inches touchscreen is small and dated, and not the easiest to read in bright daylight. Navigation is smooth, with good sound quality through the audio systems. The car also gets voice controls as standard.

Most Toyota cars get better touchscreens and also feature a more simple and modern interface. Also, the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto does not make sense in this segment of cars at this price point. An additional package adds an entertainment unit with a Blu-Ray player in the rear. Some infotainment features are:

• Satellite Radio
• HD Radio
• CD Player
• USB port
• Bluetooth
• 8-speaker audio system
• 14-speaker JBL sound system

2018 Toyota Sequoia Cargo Space

The 2018 Toyota Sequoia offers a standard cargo space of 18.9cu-ft, which increases to 66.6 cu-ft with the third row folded. When all the seats are folded, the maximum cargo capacity stands at 120.1 cu-ft.  This is one of the largest cargo capacities offered in this segment. Loading cargo is not a tough job despite the relatively high loading height.

 The Ford Expedition makes use of its longer wheelbase and offers a huge 36 cu-ft of standard cargo space. The Armada and the Tahoe offer significantly less, at 16.5 cu-ft and 15.3 cu-ft.  The maximum cargo capacity is offered on the Ford Expedition at 121.4 cu-ft, which is only 1.3 cu-ft more than that on the Sequoia. The Armada and the Tahoe offer a substantially less maximum cargo capacity of 95.4 cu-ft and 64.7 cu-ft respectively.

"A slight once-over for the Toyota Sequoia has helped the exterior." -TheCarConnection

2018 Toyota Sequoia Dimension and Weight

The 2018 Toyota Sequoia's exterior sees no changes from last year when it got a slight refresh. The SUV portrays a very rugged look overall. The Sequoia's overall design is not like the other full-size SUVs in this segment which get a more rectangular boxy design. The Sequoia has more rounded-off corners, and combined with some sharp styling elements gives it an attractive overall design. Upfront, the Sequoia is quite beefy, with a high beltline and a tall hood. The small but powerful LED headlamps integrate well with the four-bar blacked-out grille. The front bumper is broad and gives the car a menacing look. Along the sides, the roof is quite flat and merges seamlessly into the rear. Curved wheel arches with thick 18-inch wheels convey the Sequoia's ability to off-road.

At the rear, the design is pretty simple, with huge taillights which get rounded accents on the inside and a roof-mounted spoiler. Like the front bumper, the rear bumper is broad and thick as well. The new TRD Sport trim gets 20-inch wheels, chrome accents around the front grille and badges, and blacked-out exterior trim pieces. Dimensionally, the Sequoia is the biggest SUV Toyota makes, close to the Highlander. The Sequoia is 205 inches long, has a width of 79.9 inches, with a height of 77 inches, and comes with a tall ground clearance of 9.9 inches. It has a curb weight of 5730 lbs and a wheelbase of 122 inches.

All four cars have similar proportions. The Armada is the longest at 208.3 inches. The Tahoe sits wide, with a width of 80.5 inches. The Expedition shines with its height of 77.2 inches, the tallest among the four. The Sequoia has the most ground clearance. The Tahoe however is the most compact car in these. It has the tightest wheelbase of 116 inches, whereas the Expedition has a wheelbase of 122.5 inches, the most among these four. The Tahoe is the lightest car at 5466 lbs,  whereas the Sequoia is the heaviest at 5730 lbs.

Some exterior features on the Sequoia are:

• 18-inch/ 20-inch wheels
• LED headlights
• Sunroof
• Power rear window
• Power-folding and auto-dimming exterior mirrors
• Power liftgate

The 2018 Toyota Sequoia boasts a ton of standard features on all trims. The Sequoia comes well-equipped in terms of safety with a lot of advanced driver assistance features, and also gets a lot of airbags: advanced dual-stage front airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, front passenger, and driver knee airbags, and roll-sensing side curtain airbags for all rows. This big 5730 lbs brute has not been tested by the NHTSA nor the IIHS, but we believe the Sequoia's body construction and the rigid frame will be safe enough in most crashes. All Sequoia trim levels also get traction control, stability control, a rearview camera, and tire pressure monitoring system as standard. Some other safety features are:

• Toyota's Safety P-Sense
• Lane departure warning with sway warning
• Automatic high beams
• Adaptive Cruise control
• Blind-spot warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert

2018 Toyota Sequoia vs 2018 Nissan Armada

The 2018 Nissan Armada was reintroduced in 2017 after a year break, and this full-size SUV from Nissan offers a strong and potent engine, with one of the best performances in this segment. Unlike the Sequoia, the Armada has better driving dynamics, with sharper handling. The Armada also has a slightly better braking performance compared to the Sequoia. In terms of fuel economy, the Armada is nearly as inefficient as the Sequoia but has just a tad bit better, and also offers a longer range. The interior inside the Armada is richer and better in quality than the Sequoia's.

The seating on the Armada is more comfortable with better cushioning and support. However, the Sequoia's interior is roomier, and there's more cargo space on offer. The infotainment unit on the Armada is disappointing, and both the cars do not support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In terms of safety, both cars have not been crash-tested but offer a long list of safety equipment. Reliability ratings are similar on both cars. The Armada, however, is more affordable compared to the Sequoia. The Armada has a higher towing capacity than the Sequoia.

2018 Toyota Sequoia vs 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2018 Chevy Tahoe was redesigned in 2015, which makes it a much modern car compared to the Sequoia. The Tahoe gets a less powerful V8 engine, but it can keep up with the Sequoia in the performance tests. The Tahoe's engine is one of the most refined and smooth engines in this segment. The Tahoe has better braking performance, and the fuel economy on offer is miles ahead of the Sequoia. The towing capacity on the Tahoe is around 1200 lbs more than that on the Sequoia.

The Tahoe's interiors are not only more plush, but also more modern and use premium materials. The Tahoe has less cargo space, but the infotainment system is more advanced, polished, and smooth. It also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Tahoe, like the Sequoia, has not been crash-tested at all. However, the Sequoia offers more safety features than the Tahoe and has a tad bit better reliability as well. However, with very similar pricing, the Tahoe is the better SUV of the two.

The 2018 Toyota Sequoia earns a strong spot with its reliable engine, roomy interior, spacious cargo, good towing capacity, and a long list of safety features. However, the year 2018 marks a decade of no changes to the Sequoia which has now started to reveal its age in the form of a bad fuel economy and cheap interiors. Also, it lacks some standard infotainment functions as well. For people looking at buying an affordable powerful full-size SUV, the Sequoia makes sense. However, some cars offer similar specs at a similar price and we recommend having a look at those first before fixing on the Sequoia, as these rivals are more value for money than the Sequoia is now.