Orlando Sentinel's view

A thousand years from now when the history of the auto industry intrigues scholars of ancient civilizations, how will Toyota be viewed?

I think I can answer that right now.

Toyota is an imitator. It takes ideas from other companies and perfects them. Toyota rarely blazes new trails in terms of technology, the Prius gasoline-electric hybrid car being one notable exception. Instead, Toyota focuses on building nearly flawless vehicles that last for many years and require minimum maintenance.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. Many drivers will take warmed-over technology wrapped in a rehashed shape for the peace of mind that comes with knowing the vehicle won’t break.

And that is the case with the new Sequoia full-size sport-utility vehicle. It’s clear that Toyota was gunning for the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe when it developed this vehicle.

The result is the same as when Toyota’s Lexus division copied a Mercedes-Benz right down to the emergency brake lever and brought out the original LS 400 11 years ago.

The Sequoia is a bull’s-eye, a brilliantly executed copy of a Ford Expedition or a Chevy Tahoe. And it will be a success. Ford and Chevrolet have already had great success with the same basic vehicle. Now, the pie will be divided by three.

Performance, handling

Sequoia comes with just one engine: a 4.7-liter, 240-horsepower V-8 with double-overhead cams and 32 valves. That’s impressive hardware for a truck-based vehicle.

Toyota has had plenty of time to study how Americans use their big SUVs. And that’s mostly on the road, not off.

Instead of tuning the Sequoia’s engine and suspension for rugged off-road work, the vehicle is set up for smooth city driving. The engine is extremely well-behaved, making very little noise or vibration while delivering exceptional performance.

Our test vehicle’s four-speed automatic transmission shifted through the gears almost imperceptibly. We tested a two-wheel drive model, but four-wheel drive is optional.

The suspension system provides a firm, quiet and stable ride at all speeds and under all normal conditions. I am convinced you are not going to find the limit of the Sequoia’s handling unless you purposely set out to abuse it. The wide track and long wheelbase keep things well under control.

Toyota says the Sequoia is nearly identical in size to the Ford Expedition — no surprise there. But give Toyota credit for making such a large vehicle easy to steer. Also, Sequoia doesn’t feel as heavy and bulky as a Ford or Chevy.

Fit and finish

As with most other Toyota products, you feel comfortable and confident about the vehicle from the moment you sit in the driver’s seat.

Toyota brings nothing new and different to the SUV party with the Sequoia. A carlike dash with analog gauges, bucket seats, column shifter, two rows of rear seats — we’ve seen it all before in other vehicles.

So the question becomes, how well did Toyota pull it off?

Quite well, indeed.

Starting up front, driver and passenger will find plenty of room and a pair of firm but comfortable seats. The cloth upholstery is thick and looks as if it will wear well through the years.

Visibility is excellent. Sequoia sits up fairly high, which gives you a clear view ahead.

The middle section also has first-class seating arrangements. There’s plenty of leg- and headroom. And those seats fold forward for added storage room. Things get a bit cramped for adults in the third row of seats. Getting back there takes a bit of climbing and squeezing, and legroom is a bit tight. But those seats can be folded forward or removed.

Our blue test vehicle came with power windows, mirrors and door locks, cruise control and CD player, all standard. The standard air-conditioning system can be bought with ual zone andfr nt and rear controls for an additional $570.

Two minor gripes: You have to pay extra for remote-controlled door locks. And Toyota charges $219 for floor mats. That’s ridiculous on a $33,000 vehicle.

In any case, Sequoia is an excellent alternative to the established Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe. It doesn’t do anything different from those two vehicles except offer Toyota’s awesome reputation for quality.

Test Drive: 2001 Toyota Sequoia SR5

Truett’s tip: The big, powerful Sequoia puts Toyota on equal footing with Ford and General Motors. This is an excellent full-size SUV.

Consumer information Base price: $30,815. Safety: Dual front and side-impact air bags and anti-lock brakes. Price as tested: $33,967. EPA rating: 14 mpg city/18 mpg highway. Incentives: None.