What's New
The 2021 Toyota Sequoia may be one of the oldest SUVs on the market, but that hasn’t affected its overall appeal. For the new model year, it's now available with a Nightshade model. It adds black exterior trim pieces, black 20-inch wheels, black leather upholstery, and is available in three unique colors.
The changes don’t help the Sequoia be as comfortable, fuel-efficient, or high-tech as its competitors, but no update will. What this model needs is a full redesign. Unfortunately, we’re not sure of when that’s happening. And there's little reason for Toyota to update the vehicle. Consumers are more than happy to purchase the SUV as it sits – old age and all.
Choosing Your Toyota Sequoia
Toyota offers the Sequoia in six trim levels: SR5, TRD Sport, Limited, Nightshade Special Edition, TRD Pro, and Platinum. Pricing starts at $51,465 including destination for the base model and goes up to $67,515 for the Platinum.
Engine Choices
The Sequoia is available with one powertrain, which consists of a 5.7-liter V8 engine that’s paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine is rated at 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. Towing capacity is rated at a maximum of 7,400 pounds for rear-wheel-drive models.
RWD is standard on the Sequoia on all models except for the TRD Pro, which comes with four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is a hefty $3,225 extra elsewhere in the lineup.
The Sequoia earns an EPA-estimated 13 miles per gallon city, 17 mpg highway, and 15 combined with RWD, while 4WD knocks the combined figure down to 14 mpg.
Passenger and Cargo Capacity
In the SR5 and Limited trims, the Sequoia can seat up to eight people. With the available second-row captain’s chairs that cost $300 in the Limited trim, seating capacity goes down seven. The Nightshade Edition, TRD Sport, TRD Pro, and Platinum trims have seating for up to seven as standard.
The Sequoia offers some of the best cargo space in the class with 18.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats, 66.6 behind the second row, and 120.1 in total. The third row offers some impressive leg room, too, with 34.5 inches in the rear seats.
Safety Features
Every Sequoia comes with Toyota Safety Sense P as standard. The suite includes pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. Other standard safety features include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, as well as front and rear parking sensors.
Connectivity
A 7-inch touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa compatibility is standard on the Sequoia. Wi-fi hot spot, an eight-speaker audio system, three USB ports, Bluetooth, HD radio, and satellite radio are also standard.
Higher trim levels can be fitted with a rear-seat entertainment system with a 9-inch display, navigation, and a 14-speaker JBL audio system.
The base SR5 comes with LED headlights, heated exterior mirrors, a moonroof, a roof rack, three-zone climate control, cloth upholstery, an eight-way power driver’s seat, remote keyless entry, and 18-inch wheels.
The available $4,325 Premium Package adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power fold-flat third row, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and more tech features.
The TRD Sport trim comes with 20-inch TRD black alloy wheels, gloss black trim pieces, and TRD-tuned suspension.
An available TRD Sport Premium Package is offered on the TRD Sport and brings a lot of the same features as on the SR5. It’s priced at $4,325.
On top of the SR5, the Limited adds 20-inch wheels, chrome trim pieces, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery, and heated front seats.
The Limited trim is offered with a variety of packages, though they’re three main ones that are available in multiple configurations. A 14-speaker JBL audio system and memory settings for the driver’s seat and exterior mirrors are bundled for $1,065.
Nightshade Edition - From $61,485
The Nightshade Edition is mostly an appearance package, bringing black exterior accents, black 20-inch wheels, black leather upholstery, and three unique exterior colors.
The TRD Pro builds upon the TRD Sport with Rigid Industries LED fog lights, a unique grille, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, TRD logos, a TRD roof rack, a TRD front skid plate, a TRD-tuned suspension, black TRD leather upholstery, heated front seats, red interior stitching, 18-inch BBS wheels, and four-wheel drive.
The range-topping Platinum trim is the most upscale Sequoia in the lineup. It features chrome exterior trim, heated and ventilated front seats, perforated leather upholstery, heated second-row seats, air suspension, and 20-inch wheels.
Compare Sequoia Trims Side-By-Side
The 2021 Toyota Sequoia feels old and outdated, but that’s what makes it so charming. Additionally, the TRD Pro trim is one of the most capable off-roaders in the class, as long as you can find a wide enough trail for the vehicle. While the TRD Pro trim is worth the money, we recommend the SR5 trim, as it comes with a decent list of standard features and can be fitted with the available Premium Package for an upscale feel.