2021 Toyota Sequoia Reviews, Pricing & Specs

If you haven’t picked up already, the second-generation Sequoia is long-in-the tooth. It was introduced in 2007, for the 2008 model year. It received a facelift for the 2018 model, which updated the headlights and grille, and also added some new tech. For 2021, the Sequoia gains a new Nightshade Special Edition, but that’s about it for this model year.

Toyota tried to keep the Sequoia modern with those 2018 tweaks, including the slight lines that connect the grill to the headlights. But on such a large vehicle, such a subtle update could be lost in the imposing silhouette. That age is also readily apparent when you step into the Sequoia. The massive, multi-tiered center dash design is right out of the mid-2000s. The standard 7-inch touchscreenlooks tiny when set against the large swaths of negative dash space.

Despite being such a large vehicle with plenty of cabin space, the front seats are bulky and as a result, tall drivers are still pretty close to the roof. The optional sunroof on our test model makes it even worse. Not so for the second-row seats, which have tons of headroom and legroom. No matter where you sit, the bulky seats are also comfortable and supportive.

Trims for the 2021 Sequoia are SR5, TRD Sport, Limited, Nightshade Edition, TRD Pro, and the range-topping Platinum. The entry-level SR5 includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, three-zone climate control, pushbutton start, remote keyless entry, the aforementioned 7-inch touchscreen, a power moonroof, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. The SR5 is also available with a Premium Package, which adds a power-folding/reclining third row, power-adjustable front passenger seat, leather upholstery, and heated front seats.

The TRD Sport adds unique 20-inch wheels, chrome accents for the lower front valence, Satin-black TRD logos, TRD floor mats, and other interior and exterior styling touches. It also comes with Bilstein shocks and a TRD sport-tuned suspension. Buyers can add many of the same features from the SR5 Premium Package to this trim in the TRD Premium Package.

The Limited features 20-inch machine finish wheels, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and auto-dimming chrome-clad power side mirrors with integrated turn signals. It also adds all the features from the Premium Package, as well as a power liftgate, navigation, and a 12-speaker premium audio system.

We drove the new-for-2021 Sequoia Nightshade special edition. It features black 20-inch wheels, black leather upholstery, second-row captain’s chairs, and LED fog lights with dark chrome surrounds. Our test model featured options such as the larger 9-inch touchscreen and 14-speaker JBL premium stereo system, as well as a rear-seat entertainment system, 120-volt power outlets, and driver’s seat memory settings.

The TRD Pro is designed for off-road use (even if it might be too large for heavily-wooded trails). It features LED fog lights from Rigid Industries, 18-inch BBS forged aluminum TRD wheels, Fox Racing shocks, a TRD-tuned suspension, beefed-up skid plates, and a limited-slip center differential. The range-topping Platinum trim adds heated-and-ventilated front seats, heated second-row captains chairs, a larger 9-inch touchscreen, a power-adjustable steering wheel, and an air suspension.

Regardless of which trim you select, the Sequoia comes standard with a 5.7-liter V8 engine. It produces 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission routes power through standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) or available four-wheel drive (4WD) with low range. This engine makes for stout acceleration, even in an SUV that can weigh as much as 6,000 pounds. In an era with many eight-, nine-, and ten-speed automatic transmissions, the six-speed is something of a throwback. It holds gears longer under hard acceleration, which gives the impression of power, but does hold it back with regards to fuel economy (more on that later).

It should come as little surprise that the Sequoia drives like a truck, which will be jarring for some, but welcome for others. More than a few buyers enjoy that lurch of the V8, the soft suspension, and the overpowered brakes. It instills confidence knowing that their SUV has driving dynamics similar to a highly-capable pickup.

There is some body-roll in cornering, but the Sequoia has a wide stance. It comes in to settle in a corner, despite the soft-feeling suspension. And the Sequoia’s brakes are pickup-truck strong, which also means they can be touchy as well.

When properly equipped, the 2021 Toyota Sequoia can tow up to 7,400 pounds. For reference, the class leader among full-size SUVs is the Ford Expedition, which can tow up to 9,300 pounds. The Nissan Armada can tow up to 8,500 pounds, and the Chevrolet Tahoe can tow up to 8,400 pounds. So the Sequoia falls behind the rest of the segment, but is more capable than most other SUVs.

Aside from the standard V8 power, the Sequoia’s big selling point is its big cabin. It has almost 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and more than 66 cubic feet with the third row folded. With all rear seats folded, the Sequoia offers an impressive 120 cubic feet of cargo space. For reference, the Chevrolet Tahoe offers 122 cubic feet and the Ford Expedition has 104 cubic feet. The expanded Expedition Max offers 121 cubic feet, while the Chevy Suburban leads the class with 144 cubic feet of cargo space.

The Sequoia’s party trick is its power-retractable rear window. This is a feature that Toyota still provides on vehicles like the 4Runner as well. It’s super-helpful if you want to access an item or are loading up gear without fully opening the hatch or having all of your stuff come falling out.

As previously mentioned, the Sequoia could make better use of its front-row space, but that’s only with the context of time. Since its last redesign, automakers have gotten much better about packaging and utilizing the space provided. Still, the Sequoia has deep in-door pockets and a massive center console. Toyota also provides three cupholders front-and-center, as well as a clever removable panel providing access to more space. There are plenty of places for all of your stuff, it’s just that newer SUVs are even better at maximizing space.

The Sequoia comes standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot. Our test model featured the larger 9-inch screen and even that felt small on the large dash. This is Toyota’s previous generation of infotainment technology, but we appreciate that it has modern smartphone connectivity. The upside of the older system is that it could not be easier to use. Moving through the menus is simple enough, and there are hefty hard buttons on either side of the screen.

Our test model’s digital trip computer was small, especially compared to modern fully-digital instrument panels. But once again, it was easy enough to make our way through the various menu functions. We can deride the Sequoia for being dated, but there is something to be said for its refreshing simplicity.

Despite its age, the Toyota Sequoia comes fully equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite of driver-assistance features. This includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. It also comes standard with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors.

In fact, there are no optional safety features on the Sequoia, and the list of features provided is generous. That said, you don’t get the more advanced tech, such as lane-keeping assist or lane-tracing assist, but you still get much of the safety features drivers have come to expect in 2021. One remaining concern: the 2021 Sequoia still rolls on a very old platform, it scored only four out of five stars in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) rollover test, and it has not been rated in further NHTSA crash tests.

As one might expect, the RWD variant of the Sequoia is the more efficient one, but only in one area. It returns EPA-estimated fuel economy of 13 mpg city, 17 mpg highway, and 15 mpg combined. The 4WD has the same city and highway fuel-economy ratings, but returns 14 mpg combined. So no matter which version you choose, expect full-size truck fuel economy.

Base MSRP for the 2021 Toyota Sequoia is $50,500. A TRD Sport trim starts at $53,215 and the Limited starts at $59,520. The TRD Pro starts at $64,625. The range-topping Platinum trim starts at $66,550. Our Nightshade Special Edition test model started at $60,605. With options such as the rear-seat entertainment system ($1,920), Premium Audio and Convenience Package ($1,065), and other odds-and-ends, our test model clocked in at $68,309.

Nearly $70,000 for such an archaic vehicle sounds absurd. But you are paying for standard V8 power and lots of space. Additionally, the Sequoia’s age means it has good reliability. That's a benefit of not having to retool for 15 years. Furthermore, there may be older buyers who can afford such a vehicle that would prefer not to have all the latest technology (they may call them “gizmos”). Every automaker is moving at a break-neck pace to make their vehicles more advanced. It’s possible not everyone is ready for it. It should be noted that the Sequoia shares a platform with the Toyota Tundra pickup. A redesign for the truck was announced earlier this year, but no word on a next-gen Sequoia.

And while automakers have gone to great lengths to differentiate truck-based SUVs from their pickup stablemates, many large SUV buyers actually enjoy that truck-like ride. The Sequoia’s size, age, and power instill confidence. Few vehicles can take as much gear and people as many places as a Toyota Sequoia.