Eight People Hauling Ability With Cargo? 2009 Toyota Sequoia

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Summary

The Sequoia is Toyota's largest SUV, and the full-size model was redesigned for 2008. The Sequoia is available with a choice of two V-8 engines, including a 5.7-liter V-8 that makes 381 horsepower. When properly equipped, the Sequoia can pull 10,000 pounds. With a comfortable interior with seating for up to 8 people including cargo, the Sequoia is a great choice for a large family that takes long road trips.

Full Review 2009

The 2009 Sequoia is Toyota's largest SUV.  The full-size model got a redesign for 2008.   The Sequoia can tow up to 10,000 pounds and transport eight people, plus cargo.  The optional engine, a 5.6-liter V8, makes more than 400 pound-feet of torque.  An available six-speed transmission allows for smooth, low-vibration cruising on the biggest roads.  Four-wheel-drive models offer credible off-highway driving capability, with easy shifting into and out of 4WD, good low range gearing, and lockable differential for better traction. 

The 2009 Sequoia, despite its weight still gets relatively good efficiency and fuel economy for a vehicle of this size.  Seating comfort for rear-row passengers is a design priority, so the more you carry full loads of people, the more the Sequoia becomes attractive.  The interior is designed with generous seats, big armrests, and lots of storage for passengers, plus an optional entertainment system for long trips. 

The Sequoia is built to transport people and their gear, in comfort, across long distances on highways.  It rides quietly, steers easily, and with three models, two drive trains, and a broad selection of options, the new Sequoia can be configured in a variety of ways to meet specific wants, needs and price points.  Competitors include the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition and Nissan Armada.  Changes are relatively minor for 2009. A flex-fuel model that can run on E85 has been added, but only on one model: the four-wheel-drive Sequoia with the 5.7-liter V-8. Flex-fuel models are only sold in states that haven't adopted California's emission standards.

Sequoia Trim Levels

The 2009 Toyota Sequoia is packaged in three grades: SR5, Limited and Platinum.  Platinum comes standard with the 5.7-liter V8 and six-speed automatic.  Eight-passenger seating is standard; Platinum seats seven.  SR5 is the entry grade and it comes standard with tri-zone air conditioning, power windows locks and back window, keyless entry, and eight-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with a plug for iPod compatibility, tilt steering, cruise control, spare tire, and mud guards.

Limited adds heated, leather trimmed seats, upgrades the driver's seat to 10-way adjustable, and adds leather trim to the steering wheel, seats, and gearshift knob.  The rear 60/40 third row seat is power operated.  The dash is upgraded with brighter Optitron gauges and a multi-information display, and the JBL Synthesis audio system includes Bluetooth capability.  Outside, the Limited includes a roof rack, fog lamps, running boards and parking sonar system. 

Platinum grade comes with the bigger engine plus 20-inch alloy wheels, a rear load-leveling suspension, a memory feature for the power seats, which are heated and air conditioned in the front.  Second-row seats are heated buckets, converting the interior to seven-passenger capacity, and the navigation system with backup camera is standard with Platinum.  The exterior also includes a rear spoiler, power back door, sunroof, and headlamp cleaner. 

Driving the '09 Sequoia

The 2009 Sequoia has a two-speed transfer case with 2.6:1 low range.  Like the Tundra, the front and rear differentials are larger than previous versions.  The internals are made with high-strength materials, and a low-friction valve train is employed for better efficiency.   In everyday driving, the suspension is surprisingly compliant for a vehicle built to carry heavy loads.  When hard braking is called for, the front end does not dive wildly or pitch about.  The suspension standard setup is an independent A-arm setup at all four corners with coil springs and anti-roll bars.

Toyota Powertrain

The Sequoia is available with a 4.7 V-8 or an optional 5.7 V-8.  Rear-wheel-drive Sequoias get an EPA-estimated 14/17 mpg city/highway with the 4.7-liter V-8 and 14/19 mpg with the 5.7-liter V-8. Four-wheel-drive Sequoias, meanwhile, achieve 13/16 mpg with the smaller V-8 and 13/18 mpg with the larger one, showing that more powerful powertrains don't always get worse gas mileage.

2009 Cabin Features

The Sequoia can seat up to eight people in its three rows of seats, which can be covered in either fabric or leather. The Toyota Sequoia cabin is very comfortable, with generous legroom and headroom.  Seating is designed for long days of driving, with an unusually wide driver's seat with power lumbar support.  The seats have soft, wide bolsters and the kind of adjustability that allows a driver to shift around during long drives.  The second row slides out of the way when you lift a lever, making it easy to get to the third-row seats. The dash includes two central gauges, speedometer and tachometer, fuel, temperature and voltage gauges.  Bright rings accent the instrumentation.  Cargo room behind the third row seat is ample. 

When the seat is folded flat, large baggage or cargo can be loaded without removing the seat.  There is an optional power full-flat mechanism for the third row seat that becomes standard in Limited models.  The Sequoia is especially designed to make the third-row passenger seats more comfortable, and more useful, than many third row SUVs.  The third row seats have almost as much leg room as the second-row seats, and have adjustability features rarely seen in eight-passenger SUVs.  For those who do not need eight-passenger capacity, the Sequoia can be configured with Captain's chairs in the second row, which shifts the priority to second-row passenger comfort.  Large air conditioning knobs dominate the middle of the dash.  Two overhead compartments are suitable for sunglasses, and the control strip has sunroof controls.  An electrochromic rear view mirror is standard except on SR5, and the mirror contains built-in garage door opener buttons operating on three different frequencies.

Toyota Sequoia Design

 

From the front bumper to the B-pillar, the Sequoia shares a lot of design features with the Tundra pickup, along with numerous drive train components.  The 2009 Sequoia is designed in a two-box shape, but it doesn't have bump strips on the side doors and more subtle fender flares, like older models did. Like the Toyota Tundra pickup truck, the Sequoia has a large chrome grille.  The windshield angle is lower than before, accentuating bulk below the hood line, and larger high-mounted headlamps add an alert look to a cabin-forward design.  Exterior mirrors are large, because they have to be, but careful smoothing has reduced wind noise, as does the use of partially hidden wipers that likewise, must be very large to sweep the large front windshield.  The new design permits a drag coefficient of 0.35, respectable for a full-size truck.   The rear doors now open 10 degrees wider for easier child seat and passenger access.  Toyota's Star safety system comes standard on all models.

Conclusions

The 2009 Toyota Sequoia is built in America to satisfy North American conditions: big roads, big loads, and wide open spaces.  This is an SUV that specializes in cabin space and comfort and power.   The Toyota Sequoia is well engineered and offers high levels of build and finish quality. With its redesigned for 2008, it as become an even more capable and comfortable SUV.  Standard safety features include front side airbags and curtain side airbags, antilock brakes, traction control, and electronic stability control.  "Toyota has finally nailed this full-size-truck thing, just as the potential buyers are craigslisting their Cigarette boats, Boston Whalers, and Airstream campers." says Truck Trend "The best all-around eight-passenger SUV available." adds Edmunds Overall, the Sequoia is perfect for large families looking for, not only ease in daily transportation, but a vehicle which will be comfortable and convenient over longer trips.