2021 Toyota Sequoia

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia is offered in a total of six trim levels over the five from the previous model year, the Nightshade trim being the newest entrant. The Sequoia comes in a well-equipped form right from the base trim and surprises with a handsome list of standard safety techs and driver assistance systems. Despite being a full-size SUV, the vehicle is offered in a hardcore off-roading trim, the TRD Pro, and equips it with a standard 4WD layout and extreme off-road specific enhancements such as a pair of Rigid Industries foglamps, skid plates, and Fox shock absorbers.

Which trim should you buy?

We recommend you to go for the 2021 Toyota Sequoia SR5 trim as it proves to be the most value out of all by including many features in the base trim itself. If you seek a serious off-roading experience with the SUV, the TRD Pro would be the best option for you while the Limited would be best suited for the ones seeking luxury.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia mpg ratings are lower than what the rivals in the segment offer owing to its aging and huge powertrain under the hood. The 5.7L V8 with the RWD provides 13 MPG in the city and about 17 MPG on the highway. However, the 4WD trim level is a bit less efficient and gives 12 MPG in the city and 16 MPG on the highways. The SUV also has a smaller than average gas tank of only 22.8 gallons which in turn delivers sub-par driving range figures managing a combined distance of 342 miles.

The Ford Expedition has an edge over others with a better range in the cities as well as in highways. Both the Chevrolet Tahoe and the GMC Yukon share similar fuel economy figures but the latter comes with a slightly bigger gas tank, hence offers better driving range figures.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia interior is the same as that of the 2020 model year. Throughout the interior, there is two-tone leather upholstery apart from the Nightshade edition which has an all-black theme. The dashboard of the SUV looks like a typical Toyota SUV. All the buttons and controls are finished in chrome and are arranged symmetrically. The headroom is on the lower side for tall passengers but the huge and spacious cabin with more than adequate storage cubbies make up for it.

The seats are very comfortable for long rides. The armrest is comfortable and wide enough for both the driver and the passenger. Towards the back, there is sufficient space for three adults. The third-row seats are small and suitable for kids or extra luggage items at the most. The cargo capacity is also on the lower side at 18.9 cu-ft on offer.

The Ford Expedition kills the competition when it comes to interior space. The overall cabin of the Expedition also feels premium and the comfort levels are adequate for all the passengers. Both the GMC Yukon and the Chevrolet Tahoe take the top spot in terms of headroom for the front passengers and the Yukon also has a marginally bigger cargo space as well.

Some of the standout interior features are as follows:

• Powered sunroof
• Electrically adjustable seats
• Heated and ventilated front-row seats
• Three-zone automatic climate control air conditioning
• Heated steering wheel

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Every Toyota Sequoia gets a 7-inch touchscreen HD infotainment display. The display is not sharp and also feels laggy at some times. A 4G LTE WiFi system will maintain a good internet connection inside the car.

It has Bluetooth connectivity that will help you to connect your smartphone with the infotainment system. The display includes HD and SiriusXM satellite radio with USB and auxiliary ports. It also has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in its tech suite. A 14 speaker JBL sound system will take the party to the roads. 

Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows:

• 7-inch Touch-Screen HD Display
• HD Radio
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• USB ports
• Auxiliary ports
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Bluetooth connectivity
• 4G LTE WiFi 
• 14 speaker JBL sound system

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia exterior hasn’t been updated in years and is the same as the 2018 model year. However, it is expected that the 2022 Toyota Sequoia will get a complete redesign. For now, it gets full LED headlamps with integrated LED DRLs that look sharp. 

The massive bumpers with a large grille look very muscular. The road presence of this car is better than any other SUV. The Nightshade trim gets an all-black treatment which adds 20-inch black alloy wheels that provide optimum grip on the road.

The wheelbase of the Ford Expedition is the longest amongst all whereas the ground clearance of the Toyota Sequoia is the highest too as compared to its competitors. The Chevrolet Tahoe gets a proper chunky and boxy American SUV looks from the outside but has a more modern appeal to it than the Sequoia. The GMC Yukon also looks the part while the Ford Expedition is focused on a more executive style exterior appeal rather than being too flashy and aggressive.

Some of the standout exterior features are as follows:

• LED Daytime Running Lights
• Driver blind-spot mirror
• Rear spoiler with LED brake light
• Optional TRD 18" Forged BBS matte black alloy wheels
• Optional TRD Front Skid Plate

Both the NHTSA and the IIHS have not rated the 2021 Toyota Sequoia but that doesn’t make it an unsafe vehicle anyway. It comes with a superb build quality along with a plethora of standard driver assistance systems, making it quite a safe option in the segment.Some of the safety features of the 2021 Sequoia includes anti-lock brakes, stability, traction control, trailer-sway control, hill start assist, front and rear parking sensors, front knee airbags, front second and third-row airbags along with full-length side curtain airbags, and active front head restraints. It also includes nine cameras for better outward vision. 

Some of the standout safety features are as follows:

• High-definition surround vision camera
• Forward collision alert
• Lane change alert with side blind-zone alert
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane-keeping assist 
• Lane departure warning system
• Adaptive cruise control
• Active lane control
• Automatic emergency braking

2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

The Chevrolet Tahoe has better acceleration than the Toyota Sequoia all because of its lighter weight. But, it has even worse ride quality than the Sequoia which is a major downgrade. The price of both cars is almost the same. So, the Toyota Sequoia might be a better option here. 

2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2021 Ford Expedition

The Ford Expedition is a direct competitor to the Toyota Sequoia from Ford Motors. The Ford Expedition is a subtle car and is one of the best if not the best amongst all.

The interior of the Expedition is better than the Sequoia with more passenger and cargo space. Also, it is the most fuel-efficient SUV in the class. So, the Ford Expedition is a better choice than the Toyota Sequoia. 

2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2021 GMC Yukon 

The Toyota Sequoia and the GMC Yukon are both very similar to each other. The only difference between both is that the Yukon is more luxurious than the rugged Sequoia.

The Toyota Sequoia undercuts the Yukon with its pricing. So, if you want a rugged SUV then the Toyota Sequoia is for you.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia hasn’t changed but the styling and interior features make it quite dated as compared to its competitors. The SUV offers everything that you need in a utility vehicle and has all the necessary safety features. It also provides most of the features in the base trim only which makes it a more valuable option in this class. Toyota is expected to fully redesign the Sequoia in 2022 which we all are excited to see. So, the 2021 Toyota Sequoia may be one of the better choices in the top full-size SUVs list.