The 2026 Toyota Sequoia walks a familiar line in the full-size SUV world: it’s big, capable, and unapologetically truck-based. With that, it is still trying to be a comfortable companion for daily life and long family hauls. Toyota hasn’t reinvented the wheel for this model year, but what it has done is refine the details that matter most in real-world use.
Underpinning the entire 2026 Sequoia lineup is the i-FORCE MAX twin-turbo V6 hybrid system, a sophisticated piece of engineering that produces a solid 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, routed through a 10-speed automatic. It’s a powertrain that moves this big body with the sort of grunt that makes merging and passing on highways feel less like a negotiation with physics and more like confidence.
Toyota’s decision to standardize this hybrid across the range is interesting and not entirely surprising. It’s an efficient technology for a vehicle of this size, but don’t expect Prius-style economy. In mixed driving, the Sequoia tips toward the lower end of the mid-20s.
Step inside, especially in Platinum, 1794 Edition, or Capstone trims, and you’ll find Toyota has put effort into rescuing the Sequoia from its own scale. Leather, contrast stitching, and even massaging seats in higher grades speak to a desire to elevate this beyond a plain old family hauler. Power folding third-row seats now come standard, which is a remarkably simple touch that dramatically improves everyday usability.
Tech is similarly modern: a digital instrument cluster, optional large multimedia touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, and a comprehensive safety suite make this feel purposeful rather than antiquated. That said, the Sequoia’s cargo and third-row ergonomics still lag some rivals. It’s spacious, but it’s not class-leading in every metric.
Driving a vehicle this size is always about compromise. The Sequoia is confident on pavement, and it rewards you with solid manners for a body-on-frame SUV, but it’s unmistakably big. Steering is composed and predictable, but there’s no mistaking this isn’t a luxury sedan. It’s a large machine doing large vehicle things very capably. Acceleration is impressive for the segment, and towing, with a max rating north of 9,500 lbs, is often where this SUV shines brightest.
Off-road inclined drivers will appreciate the TRD Pro and TRD Off-Road packages, which bring terrain controls, locking differentials, and cameras that take a lot of the guesswork out of rough spots. It’s not a Wrangler, but it can live adjacent to that world reasonably well.
In the 2026 Sequoia, Toyota hasn’t delivered a revolution, but it has delivered a finely honed evolution. It’s a full-size SUV that handles the everyday with a surprising sense of composure for its bulk, and it carries the utility most buyers in this segment expect. All of that makes the Sequoia a compelling choice for someone who needs capability without surrendering modern tech or creature comforts; even if it doesn’t quite shake the sense that, at its core, it’s still very much a truck in SUV clothes.
This review originally published on CarNewsCafe.com.
