LA Auto Show Report: Toyota Sequoia Gains on 'Merican SUVs

by Alex L. Dykes

November 15th, 2007 11:07 AM

la auto show report toyota sequoia gains on 8216 merican suvs

With all this talk about green machines (both real and imagined), the LA Auto Show is in danger of boring the snot out of the average driver. And with GM and Chrysler busy hyping hybrid SUVs, those red-blooded American who like driving big ass trucks may be thinking the red dot of political correctness and emissions regulations is trained on their V8-stuffed whips. Leave it to Toyota, the maker of the chattering class’ favorite ULEV fuel miser, to understand that selling vehicles– not press releases– is the name of the game. And so I give you the new bigger (yes bigger) and badder (yes faster) Toyota Sequoia. SUV lovers can now order their supersized ToMoCo truck with an all new 5.7-liter V8, boasting 401 ft.-lbs. worth of bass boat-schlepping, ass-kicking torque. The Sequoia finally joins Lincoln’s Navigator by offering an independent rear suspension, with optional air support. The Sequoia's cabin interior is also longer, wider and taller than afore– making it suitable for eight genuine adults. Fuel economy's up by 12 percent. There’s more. Suffice it to say, the previous Sequoia couldn’t quite match the ‘Slade and Navi for comfort, style or performance. This one looks like it can. Who ARE those guys?

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4 of 14 comments

G4zilla on Nov 15, 2007

I drive a Sequoia. I load up the family, take long trips, drive it daily to work, and drive it any damn way I please. Sorry, had to say that first. Ramble on all you want about the numbers; that 2008 Sequoia is one sharp looking rig.

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Quasimondo on Nov 16, 2007
Comparing 2WD models the Sequoia gets 2 mpg better in both city and highway. Comparing 4WD models the Sequoia gets 1 mpg better in both city and highway. And in the long run, with various driving styles and traffic conditions, this 2- and 1- mpg difference is statistically nil. Maximum trailering weight for a Suburban is 9700 lbs. Maximun trailering weight for a Sequoia is expected to be 10,000 lbs. If you're going to agonize over a 300 lb difference, then it's clear that neither vehicle will suit your needs. To say that one vehicle has a clear advantage over the other when the differences between them (on paper) are negligible is just flat wrong.

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RobertSD on Nov 16, 2007

Car and Driver recently averaged 12 on their Sequoia with a small bit of towing, call it 13 to be fair. The Escalade with its 6.0 averaged almost 14 in a luxo-SUV comparo a few months back. The much slower Navigator averaged 15. That's splitting hairs, but there is nothing fuel-efficient about this ugly brute (and boy do I mean ugly) or it competitors. Bickering over 13 versus 14 still misses the point that you can carry almost as much stuff in a minivan and some smaller cross-overs and get 17-18 or better under the same conditions. Large SUVs are, generally, nothing but excess. True, you can't tow as much in a minivan, but tell me how many people use their Suburban/Expedition/Sequoia/Armada for towing above the ability of a minivan.

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Johnson on Nov 18, 2007
quasimondo: And in the long run, with various driving styles and traffic conditions, this 2- and 1- mpg difference is statistically nil. Maximum trailering weight for a Suburban is 9700 lbs. Maximun trailering weight for a Sequoia is expected to be 10,000 lbs. If you’re going to agonize over a 300 lb difference, then it’s clear that neither vehicle will suit your needs. To say that one vehicle has a clear advantage over the other when the differences between them (on paper) are negligible is just flat wrong. A bit better fuel economy with a bit more power. They might seem negligible to you but these little things all add up. And yet again you're quoting the wrong Suburban figures. Max towing capacity is 9700lbs on the Suburban 2500, *not* the 1500. The quoted fuel economy figures are for the 1500. As I said, EPA numbers for the 2500 are unavailable as they likely would be even lower. Max towing on a Suburban 1500 is 8100lbs. RobertSD: Car and Driver recently averaged 12 on their Sequoia with a small bit of towing, call it 13 to be fair. The Escalade with its 6.0 averaged almost 14 in a luxo-SUV comparo a few months back. The much slower Navigator averaged 15. That’s splitting hairs, but there is nothing fuel-efficient about this ugly brute (and boy do I mean ugly) or it competitors. Bickering over 13 versus 14 still misses the point that you can carry almost as much stuff in a minivan and some smaller cross-overs and get 17-18 or better under the same conditions. Large SUVs are, generally, nothing but excess. True, you can’t tow as much in a minivan, but tell me how many people use their Suburban/Expedition/Sequoia/Armada for towing above the ability of a minivan. C&D tested a loaded 4WD Sequoia which had a curb weight over 6000lbs. C&D *also* got a 0-60 time of 6.6 sec, astonishing for a vehicle of this weight and size. Considering C&D testers like to push vehicles, the high curb weight, the tested model being 4WD, and a bit of towing being done 12 mpg real world is very good for a gasoline engine.

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