The venerable Toyota Sequoia has weathered rough head winds as of late. Rising fuel prices as well as a major engine recall affecting 2022-2025 Sequoia models dealt the marque some early body blows in its attempts to carve a slice of the broader sales pie for itself.
Despite that, Toyota is still soldiering on, and is hoping to weather the storm with some minor updates for 2026. But will some of these updates be enough to push the Sequoia back into the good graces of buyers?
Light updates spearhead minor Sequoia tweaks
For better or for worse, the exterior styling of the Sequoia is largely unchanged. It still shares some elements with the Tundra pickup especially up front and it can still look very jumbled together when viewed from some angles. TRD Pro models have the only notable change with these trims getting a new one-year exclusive color called Wavemaker an aquamarine hue that would look at home on the set of Baywatch.
Capstone models like our tester get more chrome accents and 22-inch dark chrome wheels to help give it more presence out on the street. Captone models also get distinct badging but when viewed alongside rivals like the GMC Yukon Denali, the Sequoia lacks some of the broader cohesion that helps bring everything together in a unified way.
The interior is where the bulk of the updates are found with Capstone models getting a new textured upholstery with Limited models getting standard black or leather grey seating with contrast stitching. Power-folding third row seats are also standard across the lineup which is fine since they will spend most of their time being folded down to enhance the meager cargo room you get instead of making taller passengers uncomfortable with their cramped dimensions.
Tech and luxury continue to be Sequoia staples
With the third row being largely inhospitable for most people its best to focus on the first two rows of the Sequoia. Second-row passengers in Capstone models continue to have good amounts of leg and knee room but taller passengers might feel slightly constrained by the panoramic sunroof which chops into headroom to a certain extent.
Material quality does vary by trim but in Limited and Capstone models, the appointments are very upscale, but are still a step or two below Lexus which is expected. The textured leather appointments in our tester felt very comofrtable but the texturing and the grayish dominant color of the seats did make things look a bit when strange when viewed from some angles.
A large 14.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard on virtually all Sequoia models (the SR5 excluded) and it continues to provide good feedback with fast load times and crisp graphics. The front seats are also very comfortable but while they provide a commanding view of the road, the floor and the large center console can make front occupants feel a bit cramped.
Hybrid only and proud of it
The performance hardware continues to be unchanged with all Sequoia models being powered by a 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged engine that’s shared with the Tundra pickup. Unlike the Tundra, the Sequoia gets the latter’s optional iForce MAX Hybrid system standard with the setup producing a combined system output of 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque.
A 10-speed automatic is also standard and four-wheel drive continues to be optional for the most part with the TRD PRO and Capstone being the notable trims that get it standard. Our Capstone tester focused on providing comfort and that was apparent when driving it around town with the suspension providing plenty of compliance against dips and bumps.
The trade off is that the Sequoia feels as large as its dimensions when going through town. The light steering makes it difficult to place in a lane and its size can make it difficult to park in some situations. The EPA rated 19/22/20 mpg in city/freeway/combined driving may seem paltry at first glance but a RWD variant gets 21/24/22 mpg in the same categories which is better than the Chevrolet Tahoe and the Ford Expedition. The 8950 lb towing limit on our tester is also better than the Chevy.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the 2026 Toyota Sequoia starts at $65,025 for the base SR5 which is on par with other large SUVs in its segment. The pricing predictably goes up as you ascend the trim ladder with a range-topping Capstone like our tester starting at $87,530 with taxes and fees.
Our tester arrived with a light sprinkling of options which caused the price to go closer to $89,000. That’s still less than a Tahoe High Country and is in the same ballpark as the Ford Expedition.
When all is said and done, the 2026 Toyota Sequoia is still an interesting case in the full-size SUV segment. It still has some core flaws to contend with but it also has some things going for it beneath the surface, with the compliant suspension providing plenty of comfort,while the beefy hybrid equipped V6 continues to give it a strong presence (especially with the TRD performance exhaust.)
We look forward to seeing when Toyota will give the SUV some of the more comprehensive updates it needs to stay firmly in the pack especially in regards to comfort and interior ergonomics.
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