2022 Toyota Sequoia Performance

The most obvious showing of the Sequoia's age is definitely its powertrain. Naturally aspirated gas engines have fallen out of favor, especially when they displace in excess of five liters. This wasn't a problem ten years ago, and it still suits the heavy body-on-frame Toyota SUV well if you can afford the gas. The setup delivers a decent amount of power, which is what the hefty vehicle needs to get around town without a fuss, though it lacks the turbo-pep that most modern SUVs enjoy. Still, there's no denying the low-down torque offered by the motor, nor the impressive 7,400-pound maximum towing capacity of the 2WD models. The 4WD variants have to settle for 7,100 lbs. This is a negligible sacrifice considering how capable the four-wheel-drive models are at off-roading, especially the TRD Pro.

The only engine option in the entire Sequoia range is a 5.7L V8 that develops 381 hp and 401 lb-ft. Even compared to other old-school nat-asp units, it's not the most powerful, and it pales when going up against modern turbocharged motors - except in proven durability which the Sequoia retains and wears as proudly as it does its Toyota badge. Nevertheless, it supplies a decent amount of passing power on the highway, and the low-down torque means that getting around town is a simple task. Handling the shifting of gears is a 6-speed automatic, which we're not particularly fond of as the shifts feel heavy-handed and very noticeable. You get a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive on every model except the TRD Pro, which is 4WD only.

There is a reason automakers are abandoning large-displacement, naturally aspirated engines, and the Toyota Sequoia is a perfect example of why. In rear-wheel-drive guise, it returns abysmal gas mileage of just 13/17/15 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles. The four-wheel-drive models are a bit heavier with more mechanical drag, which equates to even worse figures of 13/17/14 mpg. Going off-road, we got the indicated MPG down to a horrific 7 mpg.

To make up for this, the car comes with a large 26.4-gallon fuel tank, allowing it to travel 396 miles between refuels, and only slightly less in 4WD guise.