2023 Toyota Sequoia
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,935
Likes: 307
From: NY
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,935
Likes: 307
From: NY
Sorry, I don't clasp my hands and thank God Toyota for blessing me with half done efforts to vehicles that "shouldn't exist" anymore according to nobody but them.
If Toyota can't find a way to build a large SUV that is profitable when that is one of the largest segments in the entire industry, thats Toyota's fault and nobody else's. What we have here is a vehicle that has a LOT of great things going on, but a bunch of really questionable compromises that are potential fatal flaws for buyers. Brought to you by the company that scratches its head as to why making their flagship luxury sedan the longest in the segment yet also the smallest inside didn't make it successful. They are just lost in the weeds here lately...
There is NO reason why Toyota can't build a great full sized SUV free from these compromises that would be a huge competitor to the domestics.
If Toyota can't find a way to build a large SUV that is profitable when that is one of the largest segments in the entire industry, thats Toyota's fault and nobody else's. What we have here is a vehicle that has a LOT of great things going on, but a bunch of really questionable compromises that are potential fatal flaws for buyers. Brought to you by the company that scratches its head as to why making their flagship luxury sedan the longest in the segment yet also the smallest inside didn't make it successful. They are just lost in the weeds here lately...
There is NO reason why Toyota can't build a great full sized SUV free from these compromises that would be a huge competitor to the domestics.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,187
Likes: 530
From: Knoxville, TN
Yep, miss after miss. I will say the engine at least sounds decent enough (if it's fake sound, nevermind) and has received lots of praise, so that's good. If you skip to the launch part you can watch him do a pull or two.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,838
Likes: 4,107
From: Maryland
2023 Toyota Sequoia gets fuel economy ratings
When we drove the 2023 Toyota Sequoia last month, Toyota wasn't ready to give us estimated fuel economy ratings. Reps said the numbers should be similar to the hybrid Tundra pickup, the SUV sitting on that pickup platform and powered by the same twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 hybrid making the same 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, mated to the same 10-speed automatic transmission. We figured the Sequoia would get about 20 to 22 mpg combined depending on drivetrain and trim level, and we were right. Toyota put the numbers on its web site, the two-wheel-drive Sequoia returning 21 miles per gallon in the city, 24 on the highway and 22 combined. Buyers who choose four-wheel-drive are predicted to get 19 mpg in the city, 22 on the highway, 20 combined. Those numbers are the same regardless of trim.
Compared to the previous Sequoia and its 5.7-liter V8, the new family bus gets eight more miles to the gallon in the city, seven more on the highway, and seven more combined mpg. The gap narrows slightly on four-wheel-drive trims because the previous Sequoia only gave up one mile per gallon on the combined cycle to the rear-wheel-drive version. The 2023 Sequoia 4WD gets six more mpg in the city than the 2022 model, five more on the highway and six more combined mpg.
We dinged the new Toyota for not matching the polish and features of competitors, but the Toyota does now beat them all for fuel economy. A 2WD Chevrolet Tahoe with the 5.3-liter V8 and stop/start gets 15 city, 20 highway, 17 combined, and somehow makes the same rating when both axles are powered. A 2WD Ford Expedition with the 3.5-liter V6 and stop/start returns 17 city, 23 highway and 19 combined, dropping to 16 city, 22 highway, 18 combined. The relatively sippy nature of the Sequoia also moves its range on a full tank beyond that of the Tahoe and Expedition, at least on paper. We don't think this is enough to put the put the 2023 Sequoia above rivals, but for the Toyota faithful looking to save money in this segment, that will happen on every trip to the pump.
Compared to the previous Sequoia and its 5.7-liter V8, the new family bus gets eight more miles to the gallon in the city, seven more on the highway, and seven more combined mpg. The gap narrows slightly on four-wheel-drive trims because the previous Sequoia only gave up one mile per gallon on the combined cycle to the rear-wheel-drive version. The 2023 Sequoia 4WD gets six more mpg in the city than the 2022 model, five more on the highway and six more combined mpg.
We dinged the new Toyota for not matching the polish and features of competitors, but the Toyota does now beat them all for fuel economy. A 2WD Chevrolet Tahoe with the 5.3-liter V8 and stop/start gets 15 city, 20 highway, 17 combined, and somehow makes the same rating when both axles are powered. A 2WD Ford Expedition with the 3.5-liter V6 and stop/start returns 17 city, 23 highway and 19 combined, dropping to 16 city, 22 highway, 18 combined. The relatively sippy nature of the Sequoia also moves its range on a full tank beyond that of the Tahoe and Expedition, at least on paper. We don't think this is enough to put the put the 2023 Sequoia above rivals, but for the Toyota faithful looking to save money in this segment, that will happen on every trip to the pump.
Speaks French in Russian
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,397
Likes: 100
From: What is G?
Haha, you're saying impressive and I'm over here like "that's it?!" Lol.
IMO, that's a whole lot of complication for a 2 mpg improvement over a regular gas powered Expedition.
This story also implies that the Sequoia is missi g out on many features too compared to the competition. Curious what that is. But, I do think it's one of the better looking in the segment and prefer it over most.
IMO, that's a whole lot of complication for a 2 mpg improvement over a regular gas powered Expedition.
This story also implies that the Sequoia is missi g out on many features too compared to the competition. Curious what that is. But, I do think it's one of the better looking in the segment and prefer it over most.
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,997
Likes: 248
From: California
Haha, you're saying impressive and I'm over here like "that's it?!" Lol.
IMO, that's a whole lot of complication for a 2 mpg improvement over a regular gas powered Expedition.
This story also implies that the Sequoia is missi g out on many features too compared to the competition. Curious what that is. But, I do think it's one of the better looking in the segment and prefer it over most.
IMO, that's a whole lot of complication for a 2 mpg improvement over a regular gas powered Expedition.
This story also implies that the Sequoia is missi g out on many features too compared to the competition. Curious what that is. But, I do think it's one of the better looking in the segment and prefer it over most.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,994
Likes: 1,620
From: San Diego, CA
Better efficiency is never a bad thing, but the real benefits with this new engine compared to the prior V8 are the significant increase in power and the massive increase torque (45%), particularly at lower RPM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,187
Likes: 530
From: Knoxville, TN
What about reliability though? I do like this engine but let's see if they tick to 300k+ on nothing but plugs and oil changes like the 5.7 does.
