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2024 Toyota Sequoia TRD: How much is the 2024 Sequoia TRD? – Toyota’s full-size SUV, the Sequoia, has been a long-neglected entry at the bottom of the pack, but for 2024, it will be completely redesigned. The Tundra pickup’s powerful hybridized V-6 engine, as well as its bodywork and headlamps in front of the windscreen pillars, are borrowed for the 2024 Sequoia. This engine is mounted atop a variant of the Tundra chassis that is shared with the worldwide Land Cruiser and Lexus LX SUVs. The Sequoia also features a large three-row interior to complement its impressive performance. After getting behind the wheel of every model in the range (you can see a more comprehensive evaluation of the complete portfolio here), we are now going to take a closer look at the off-road-ready Sequoia TRD Pro.
Review
The legendary Land Cruiser 4×4 is no longer available for purchase in the United States. The new Sequoia is, mechanically speaking, the next closest thing (together with the LX), to the most recent generation of the worldwide Land Cruiser. Maintaining Toyota’s famed off-road image in the market for full-size SUVs, this fact alone places a certain amount of pressure on the vehicle. The new GMC Yukon AT4 and the Ford Expedition Timberline are two of the most recent opponents that the Sequoia must face in order to keep up with its most robust iteration.
Forget about the previous generation of the Sequoia TRD Pro, which aimed for the same muddy glory but was built on ancient bones and had no direct ancestry in common with the Land Cruiser. Every single model year ’23 Sequoia comes standard with a hybridized twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 engine that is capable of generating 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque and is coupled to the same 10-speed automated gearbox. The SR5, the Limited, the Platinum, and the top-of-the-line Capstone all come standard with rear drive, while the TRD Pro comes with four-wheel drive as basic equipment. Four-wheel drive is an available upgrade for the TRD Pro.
Who else is on board? A rear differential that locks, specialized trail cameras, 2.5-inch Fox internal-bypass shocks with remote reservoirs on the rears, a TRD front anti-roll bar, Multi-Terrain Select traction modes, crawl control, a scattering of TRD-branded parts inside, a quarter-inch-thick aluminum front skidplate, and 18-inch TRD wheels with 33-inch Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires are all included in this package. When compared to non-TRD Pro Sequoias, this results in a significantly improved approach angle (23 degrees, an increase of 8 degrees), as well as an additional 0.5 inch of ground clearance (9.1 inches overall).
The Sequoia TRD Pro has nasty tires, thick body protection, and a stylish roof rack/platform, all of which contribute to the vehicle’s formidable appearance. The fact that it is completely ready for work in the muck straight from the factory, exactly like Toyota’s Tacoma, 4Runner, and Tundra TRD Pro models, is another feature that we really enjoy about it. The new hybrid engine, much like the ones found in earlier Sequoia models, provides gratifying torque and punchy overall performance, regardless of the driving mode that is selected.
The squared-off body of the Sequoia makes it easier to put, which is a benefit while maneuvering through more congested terrain. We took a quick spin around an off-road course that had been fashioned out of a mountainous cow field in Texas. The course had some alternating humps that lifted a wheel or two in the air, as well as a steep rocky ascent, a faster-paced rocky dirt track, and areas where our sight was impaired. The onboard Multi-Terrain Monitor cameras were able to catch up on everything that was going on and provide us a view forward from the grille as well as angled views of each front wheel from the side mirrors. This gave us the ability to “see” over the tops of steep hills and straight in front of each front tire. Even though we were testing it on a rather tame off-road circuit, the TRD Pro had no trouble coping with all that we threw at it.
Although the TRD Pro improvements provide a significant amount of cosmetic value, the vast majority of the hardware can be found in the TRD Off-Road package, which is available in more affordable versions. And the components that aren’t, like the 33-inch tires and Fox shocks, make for a less enjoyable driving experience while traveling on paved roads. In addition to the problematic wind noise that we’ve experienced in all of the 2024 Sequoia that we’ve tested, this model’s all-terrain tires produce a noticeable sizzling sound, and the TRD Pro-specific exhaust produces a persistent droning sound. When the hybrid engine wakes up after snoozing at a stoplight to conserve gasoline, you will hear it, although the same activity is considerably quieter and almost passes undetected in other Sequoias due to the fact that they are not equipped with the hybrid system.
One more probable origin of the commotion? The tough roof platform is something that is included as standard on the TRD Pro. However, we are only making the assumption that it would add to the cabin wind whoosh since Toyota either removed the platform in advance or failed to install it on the TRD Pros that it made available to us to drive, despite the fact that one was attached to an example that was on static display.
Because of those Fox shocks, the ride is much more stable. On the quicker dirt rally stage that we drove the rig on, those dampers performed effectively, smoothing out harsher ride movements from rock strikes and ruts. However, on pavement, surfaces with lesser amplitude washboards, and daily expansion joints and cracks, the shocks are less successful. We noticed a significant increase in the amount of head toss, as well as a considerably harsher ride on the highway; yet, the Sequoia’s body control did not much improve when it came to either turning or stopping. Even on models that have the TRD Off-Road package installed, the ordinary Sequoia has a ride that is noticeably more pleasant while retaining almost none of its composure when the driver forces the vehicle into a bend or applies the brakes with force.
If you simply have to have the TRD Pro look—plus its good features—and expect to spend more time off-road than on, and if you can stomach the $78,395 price tag (only the opulent Capstone costs more), then go for it. Only the luxurious Capstone costs more. On the other hand, you may have much of the same gear and capabilities in a smaller Sequoia by choosing the TRD Off-Road package as an available option. This would require you to make fewer sacrifices.
Design
This year, the judges for our Four Wheeler of the Year competition didn’t pull any punches. And, sadly, it didn’t bode all that well for the brand-new 2024 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro when it came to its prospects. The fact that the Sequoia TRD Pro has a price tag of approximately $80,000 was the primary source of the majority of the criticism that was directed against it.
The interior was praised for being quite roomy and expansive, especially in the second and third rows; nevertheless, opinions about the level of comfort provided by the seats were divided, with half of the group appreciating the “flatness” of the seats and the other half finding it unappealing. Many people complained about the amount of hard plastic and the absence of soft touch-points, while others voiced their displeasure with the designs that resembled camouflage.
The Sequoia’s 14-speaker JBL audio system was a fan favorite among our panel of judges, despite the fact that several of them reported hearing a significant amount of plastic rattling whenever the bass was played. The group was clearly impressed by the large 14-inch multimedia touchscreen’s sheer size as well as the integrated technologies, especially how nicely the voice control functioned.
When it came to the outside, our panel of judges’ judgments was still mixed, but on the whole, they were considerably more favorable. The majority of people really liked the sporty and aggressive style, which elevates the normal SUV for transporting families to a level that almost everyone may find appealing. The LED lightbar that was incorporated in the grille, as well as the huge TOYOTA that was stretched over the grille in a Raptor-like fashion, received mixed reviews from the judges. A lovely touch, the 1/4-inch metal skid plate with prominent, red TRD branding is regrettably concealed below the huge and low front bumper. This is a shame since the skid plate is a wonderful addition. The Sequoia garnered praise from customers far and wide for its forged aluminum wheels and its sturdy metal side steps.
In the end, the choice made by Toyota to place the pricing and available options for the 2023 Sequoia TRD Pro closer to the upper end of the range influenced the views and scores of our panel of judges. Better reception may have been achieved if the Sequoia TRD Pro had been constructed on a platform of the SR5 grade costing 61,000 dollars. Unfortunately, though, we are all aware that off-road gear that is at this level of sophistication and sophistication no longer comes cheap.
Price
We anticipate that the manufacture of the 2024 Sequoia will begin this summer and that it will arrive at dealerships this autumn. Prices for the 2024 Sequoia are not anticipated to move too much from the current SUV’s starting price of $59,895 (including destination), and this is because no modifications are anticipated.