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The man had a choice of several spots but pulled in next to the full-size SUV.

He didn’t park close to admire the mini-bus; he did it to walk around it and shake his head in disgust at the tall, wide, three-row sport-utility that makes a better door than window when driving or parking.

Worse, it guzzles fuel faster than you can pour it down its gullet.

Shame on Toyota. Yes, Toyota.

It was a 2008 Sequoia Limited 4×4. And it wasn’t a V-8 gas/electric, like the Chevy Tahoe that’s rated at 20 m.p.g. city/20 m.p.g. highway with four-wheel-drive. It was a guzzler rated at 13 m.p.g. city/18 m.p.g. highway with 4WD. From the king of the hybrids, there’s no alt power for its least fuel efficient full-size SUV.

Sequoia, which is built on the same platform as the Tundra pickup, has been redesigned for 2008. In addition to new sheet metal, it sports nearly a 4-inch longer wheelbase and is about 1.2 inches longer overall and an inch wider and taller. It means room to roam in the cabin. Second-row legroom is especially ample.

With the transformation, Sequoia inherited Tundra’s 5.7-liter, 381-horsepower V-8 as a companion to the 4.7-liter, 276-h.p. V-8. No huffing and puffing when climbing steep inclines and losing ground to 18-wheelers-whether going it alone or with a cabin full of folks and their gear and pulling a boat or trailer.

The good news when you stop for gas is that you will get change from a $100-but it may be the jingling kind rather than the folding.

At 5,700 pounds, Sequoia is a heavyweight, so it takes a little extra steering effort in sharp corners than a sedan. And you sit high, so the raised center of gravity means lean in corners. The aforementioned Tahoe is more nimble despite its similar size.

And expect a tight fit – read: you’ll have to squeeze out the doors-when parking between vehicles. It doesn’t help when those who don’t have the skill or energy to park their sippers straddle the lines so Sequoia doesn’t fit alongside. Ditto Tahoe.

But kudos to Sequoia for a soft, very forgiving independent suspension that, along with large, soft seat cushions, takes the torture out of long-distance travel. What you lose in handling, you gain in pleasant ride.

Sequoia seats eight in three rows. Second-row seats slide forward to give third-row occupants more leg room. And you can strap a child in the center seat and slide it forward for easy access.

To get to Row 3 just pull the levers on the outboard seats in Row 2 to open a generous aisle. Leg and head room are tolerable in third class, but headrests bite your back if left down.

Second- and third-row seats fold flat to expand an already spacious cargo hold. Only a manual control for second-row seats, but the third powers up or down in seconds. Toyota uses carpeted strips to fill the gap between prone second-and third-row seat backs.

Other nice touches are power plugs front, center and rear; power tailgate ($400) with power-window bonus; pull-up window shades for Rows 2 and 3; dial-up four-wheel-drive with a low setting; covered stowage compartments over the wheel wells in Row 3 as well as open storage pockets in those wells; iPod/cell phone holders in the center console and enough space under the front armrest to store at least one laptop computer, one purse or hanging files.

Under the armrest there’s a place for credit cards, pens and tissue. The cargo floor, likewise, has a covered stowage compartment. About all that’s missing are compartments under the second row floor.

But there are a couple gripes, other than mileage. Running boards are a big plus in getting in or out, but short folks could use power pedals to avoid resting against the steering column to reach the stationary ones. Clock and temp readings, in the top center of the dash, are hard to see in the sun. Small compartments under the door armrests have finicky lids. And of the eight cup and eight bottle holders, four bottle holders are low in the doors and difficult to reach when moving.

The Sequoia 4×4 Limited tested starts at $48,450 with such essentials as stability control, traction control, side-curtain air bags with rollover sensors, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, climate control and power windows/locks/mirrors (heated)/seats.

A DVD navigation system with backup camera and JBL premium audio system with 14 speakers runs $1,650, power moonroof $810 and DVD entertainment system $1,670.

For those who have to haul eight and their stuff, Sequoia is an option to buying two cars. It would be a nicer option with a hybrid and power pedals.

Read Jim Mateja Sunday in Transportation. Contact him at transportation@tribune.com.