2024 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro Review

In the past, the Toyota Sequoia was known for its bulletproof V8 engines built to last the punishment of high miles. These V8s weren’t the most powerful or exciting engines but they worked and this dependability made the second-generation Sequoia one of the longest last vehicles on the road. After a production run over 15 years, Toyota finally updated the Sequoia building on the all-new modern Tundra platform. With this change, Toyota said goodbye to its V8s and introduced a new lineup of turbocharged hybrid engines.

The new third generation Sequoia is hybrid only using a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V35A-FTS engine coupled with a 36 kW AC Permanent Magnet Synchronous motor to deliver a combined output of 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. The electric motor is sandwiched between the V6 engine and the new 10-speed automatic transmission to deliver seamless power for getting the Sequoia off the line and filling in any turbo lag.

Hybrid for Power and Efficiency

In practice, this complicated drivetrain is incredibly smooth. You have to really look to notice any sort of power handoffs between the gasoline and engine and electric motor. Our test Sequoia had the optional TRD Pro exhaust which sounded better than it had any right to, and its exhaust note was the only indicator that the V6 was turned off. 

From a dead stop, the TRD Pro has so much low-end torque from both the V6 and electric motor that the Sequoia’s acceleration is surprising. Toyota quotes a 0 to 60mph time of only 5.6 seconds and it feels even quicker than that. Considering this beast weighs 6179 lbs. that’s some incredible performance. 

If you drive more conservatively, the Sequoia will start off with the electric motor before the gas-powered V6 kicks in to continue your acceleration request. Once at speed, there’s a constant secret ballet of V6 power and the electric motor to keep the Sequoia moving forward at the requested velocity. Although it sounds complicated on paper, you’d never know behind the driver's seat. Turns out the Prius was good for something as Toyota is a master of hybrid drivetrains and nobody does it better. Toyota uses a 288V sealed Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery with a 1.87 kWh capacity rather than a more complex lithium-ion setup. This makes the battery easier to service in the future as Toyota has employed this battery type in its other hybrids for decades. 

The Sequoia TRD Pro is rated at 19 miles per gallon in the city and 22 on the highway for a combined score of 20 MPG. For a hybrid, you may be expecting more, but when you consider the Sequoia TRD Pro comes standard with 33-inch off-road tires and a 2-inch lift this achievement starts to come into focus.

Impressive Off-Road Tech

As a base truck, the Sequoia is impressive, but with the TRD Pro package, it transforms into a halo product for 3-row SUV enthusiasts. Toyota is no stranger to building impressive off-roaders from the factory, and the new Sequoia is a new exception. Thanks to a revised suspension, added armor, and unique TRD trim touches the Sequoia TRD Pro is the family-focused off-roader’s dream. 

The Sequoia TRD Pro uses a unique suspension setup focused on off-road performance. Thanks to a robust setup including TRD Pro off-road suspension with 2.5-in. FOX® Internal Bypass coil-overs rear remote-reservoir shocks, and TRD Pro front stabilizer bar the Sequoia is ready for anything. The front upper control arms are also beefed up to handle the abuse of off-roading. The TRD Pro also adds a locking rear differential to help put the power down on extremely rough terrain.

There’s no mistaking the Sequoia TRD Pro for a base model. The TRD Pro package introduces a completely revised exterior that stands up from the crowd. Starting from the front end, there’s a new TRD Pro Grille with an integrated LED light bar that can be set to turn on when using your high beams. The fenders are trimmed with plastic fender flares and finished with a unique urban camo texture. A set of beautiful 18-inch forged Black BBS wheels that are wrapped in 33-inch off-road focused tires.

Together the comprehensive TRD Pro package gives the Sequoia a genuine road presence that stands out from the crowd of boring SUVs. It adds excitement and drama to an otherwise ordinary SUV and is the truck to have for those looking to have fun.

Unique and Comfortable Interior

The Sequoia’s TRD Pro treatment isn’t reserved for just the exterior and you can find many unique touches in the well-appointed interior space. The red leather seats feature the same camo pattern found in the exterior fender flares to tie the look together. These unique seats are both heated and cooled up front and feature the TRD Pro logo. The rugged interior Is built to last and features buttons and knobs for most critical controls while a massive center screen soaks up the remaining useability. 

Everything is very easy to use and intuitive which is high praise for a modern SUV interior where many competitors have sacrificed ease of use for screen integrations. The digital gauge cluster is easy to read but the graphics are no match for competitors who use OLED displays instead of the more affordable LCD screens in the Sequoia. 

Third Row Nightmare

The Sequoia’s interior is a fantastic place to be but with one major flaw. Somehow Toyota managed to incorporate a new feature I have never seen in an SUV before. In most SUVs, you can fold down the third row to gain valuable cargo space adding massive practicality to your SUV. For some reason, nobody told Toyota about this much-loved feature. In the Sequoia when you fold down the third row, the entire width of the back cushion is raised above the trunk’s load floor resulting in a packaging nightmare. This oversight from Toyota will surely disappoint many customers but no vehicle can be perfect and the Sequoia is no exception. 

The Sequoia TRD Pro is one of the most exciting family SUVs on the market today. This combination of Toyota’s industry-leading hybrid tech with a comprehensive off-road package represents the best of Toyota SUVs. The Sequoia TRD Pro brings a special almost halo car feeling to the practical Sequoia SUV delivering a product you’ll be proud to drive every day. If they could figure out how to pack the third-row seats better, the Sequoia TRD Pro would be a near-perfect SUV.