The Sequoia SUV is now available in the Tundra's 1794 Edition trim, but the price just ain't worth it.
2025 Toyota Sequoia 1794 review by The Road Beat
Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman
$85,630. Yep, you read that correctly. And since we're already coming out of the gates swinging Thor's hammer, this latest edition of Toyota's Sequoia SUV is grossly overpriced for what it is. Not to say it isn't nice, but eighty-five grand nice? For a Toyota? No, thank you. And before you call me a hater, you being should be agreeing and thinking the same for the variety of reasons detailed below.
Picks
The highlight and dominating feature (besides the aforementioned price tag) of the Sequoia is the engine — a twin-turbocharged V6 hybrid power unit. Pumping out 437 healthy horsepower and a gargantuan peak 583 lb-ft of torque, this mammoth full-size SUV accelerates at a shocking pace. The 0-60 MPH benchmark takes just 5.5 seconds, which is as quick as the fastest Ferrari was during Ronald Reagan's first term. Imagine being in a brand-new Testarossa when a giant Toyota SUV from 40 years in the future rolls up next to you and dusts you at the stoplights, all while clumsily roast the clutch and miss a gear on the gated shifter.
Anyway, as a replacement for a V8, the powertrain delivers impressive outright performance, with smooth pulses and seamless operation. Towing capacity is also above a substantial 9,000 pounds, which should be enough for most drivers before requiring a step up to a heavy duty diesel rig.
Despite this 1794 Edition retailing for an absurd price, the Sequoia model itself starts at a far more reasonable sub-$65,000, with some decently well-equipped and furnished Platinum models available for below $75,000. In that range, a Toyota Sequoia at least begins to make some semblance of sense. Every Sequoia also comes standard with a humongous center display screen for easy navigation of your everyday tech, and all the usual bells, whistles, and safety features are present - except one glaring omission in the rear we'll get to later.
Most surprisingly unexpected is that the new Sequoia drives quite well, combining confident steering for such a large vehicle with grip and handling that leaves the old model in another dimension. Hustle a Sequoia, and while it’s not happy to do so, it’s amazing how quickly it can carry speed through corners without really any kind of fuss or protest. On the highway, it tracks arrow-straight, and I like the steering weight, too, making for an easy driving experience despite its massive size.
Nicks
Here’s where the problems return — and there are a lot — but I’m going to go quick, relatively.
First, we have the price again, because did I mention this thing costs $85,630? I know the seats are wrapped in high-quality leather, and some of that extends to the armrests and dashboard, but the rest of the cabin consists of cheap plastics with unsatisfying controls and touchpoints. The sagging glovebox, along with the release and latch for the center console storage, are particularly terrible and more fitting of a 15 year old Corolla.
For such a physically vast and modern SUV, the third-row seats do not fold flat into the floor, which is inexcusable in a vehicle of this design and price point in 2025. Instead, to create extra cargo room, you have to manually remove them in an ungraceful and impractical process. Even then, the second-row seats aren’t all that spacious in terms of legroom, with Toyota’s own Grand Highlander offering a far more convenient and roomy setup for families. For measuring a Goliath-like 208-inches long, this has to be the smallest interior space to exterior dimension ratio of any new SUV. Packaging is important, and the Sequoia simply squanders this aspect tragically.
For a direct comparison of interior space numbers, with the Sequoia's third row of seats folded (but not flatly), your storage capacity will be a weak 49 cubic-feet. On the other hand, a GMC Yukon with its third row of seats folded flat into the floor (and low storage bay height), packs a towering 72 cubic-feet of volume. A Yukon is only two inches longer than a Sequoia overall, but its storage capacity is nearly 50% larger.
Remember the powerful engine that replaces a V8? Well, it certainly drinks like one, averaging a paltry 16 MPG during a week of mixed driving conditions — and that's despite being a hybrid. Both my passengers and I also disliked the obviously fake and synthetic V8 noises piped into the cabin to further disguise the fact that it’s a V6. It’s fine as it is—just embrace the V6 instead of pretending to be something you're not, which is what Instagram is for.
While I praised the Sequoia’s handling, that comes with an unfortunate tradeoff: ride quality. With a bridge-girder strength required for its high towing capacity, the engineers seemingly couldn’t find a workaround for the stiff and jiggly ride. The suspension reacts harshly to imperfections, making for an uncomfortable experience especially at the rear end, where not even a modern and sophisticed multi-link design has reaped any rewards. Speed bumps are a particular menace, with the rear axle slamming into them even at low speeds instead of gliding over like rival SUVs or trucks. For a supposedly luxurious SUV, this lacks the comfort and refinement you would expect. It must be said this example has the TRD Off-Road package and 'off-road' suspension, but off-road suspension usually actually means softer suspension to better cope with the earth's lumpy and bumpy terrain. A past Ford Raptor I drove, for example, simply glided over pavement in soothing fashion. So, if this is the supposedly softer option, that makes it even worse.
So many SUV choices
There’s no hiding the fact that there is a manic abundance of alternatives in the SUV market. General Motors alone offers a plethora of options, with the Escalade and GMC Yukon standing out, and Ford has the stalwart Expedition to boot. Other choices include Lexus with the more luxurious LX 600, Genesis has the superb GV80, Jeep offers the Wagoneer, and Nissan brought out a revitalized Armada with unexpected style and chic — and that's before bringing up any of the sporty and luxurious German family haulers. Also, for families seeking a large Toyota, don’t overlook the Grand Highlander—it’s actually more spacious and practical, costs significantly less, and its highest Platinum trims are nearly as nicely furnished.
Sequoias can make sense, but only at their entry-level asking prices. Besides, Toyota became the automotive giant it is for delivering quality at unbeatable value. Today, hardly any Toyotas win on the value front, often costing more than equivalents from other brands. And as for its intended purpose as a big three-row SUV, it fundamentally fails here by being pointlessly inefficient as a hybrid, and also inefficient when it comes to interior space and cargo volume. When you venture into the $80,000-and-above territory, Toyota simply has no business competing there—and it shows.
2025 Toyota Sequoia 1794 Edition
Price as-tested: $85,630
Pros: Powerful engine
Cons: Thirsty; Overpriced; Third row doesn't fold flat
2025 Toyota Sequoia 1794 Edition Basic Specifications
Powertrain:
Engine: 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid
Horsepower: 437 hp @ 5,200 rpm
Torque: 583 lb-ft @ 2,400 rpm
10-speed automatic
Four-wheel drive
Dimensions:
Overall Length: 208.1 inches
Width: 79.8 inches
Height: 74.5 inches
Wheelbase: 122.0 inches
Curb Weight: Approximately 6,150 lbs
Cargo Volume Behind Third Row: 22.3 cubic feet
Cargo Volume Behind Second Row: 49 cubic feet
Towing and Payload:
Maximum Towing Capacity: 9,010 lbs
Maximum Payload Capacity: 1,410 lbs
Fuel Economy:
EPA Estimated MPG: 19 city / 22 highway / 20 combined
Real World Road Beat MPG: 16 MPG
More photos of the Toyota Sequoia 1794 Edition exterior and interior:
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