Competes with: Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, Chevy Suburban
Looks like: A Tundra SUV
Drivetrain: 276-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 with five-speed automatic or 381-hp, 5.7-liter V-8 with six-speed automatic
Hits dealerships: Early 2008
The designer of the new Sequoia went so far as to live with an American family to find out what their large-SUV needs were to help on this redesign. We don’t know if all that effort was needed to basically build the SUV version of the new Tundra pickup, but that’s pretty much what we get with the new Sequoia.
Thankfully, it features the 5.7-liter V-8 engine we loved in the new Tundra. The standard V-8 is the same as the outgoing Sequoia’s, however. Surprisingly, the larger engine gets better fuel economy, at 14/19 mpg city/highway with the 5.7-liter and 14/17 mpg city/highway with the 4.7-liter. Those numbers drop to 13/18 and 13/16 mpg for the four-wheel drive models of each, respectively.
Even inside, the Tundra’s Neapolitan color scheme is carried over. We’re guessing it’ll be a terrific-riding large SUV, and the fact that it can tow 10,000 pounds may make it a favorite of the hauling crowd.