OLD-SCHOOL SUV

Toyota’s 2018 Sequoia has received some tech upgrades over the last decade, but it retains its trucky appeal for folks averse to too many modern-day doodads

Toyota’s full-size three-row SUV rumbles on, same as it was a decade ago with technology upgraded for the modern era that has the look and feel of something from the prior era. Even though sales of the Sequoia are a fraction of what they were in its heyday in the early half of the millennium, demand remains constant for the Tundra-based SUV.

That old-school feel is welcome by a certain set dissuaded by all the doodads that turn the modern cabin into a carnival. No start/stop push-button on/off switches here: You get a stiff and unbending key, so you can stab your thigh or waist whenever you sit down. And the gear stick is in the console, notched and sturdy. And of course there is a CD player, to play any one of the many very best of the Eagles.

Crank that 5.7-liter V-8 engine and hear that fan roar over anyone talking. And that 11 mpg around town? Could be worse, could be the 1970s.

I get why consumers would opt for a stripped-down family hauler that acts as reliably as a truck. What bothers me is how the new stuff is swapped for the old stuff without regard to form or function. A postcard-sized interface touch screen operates the out-of-date Entune infotainment system. There is still no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Two of the five 12-volt outlets are up front, but USB ports are extra. The cabin in the mid-pack, leather-appointed Limited trim is loaded with hard plastic and free of any fancy flourishes.

A power liftgate with sliding window and power folding third-row seats make it easy to lug stuff other than people. Second row folds flat as well, for a flat floor cargo area.

Under the hood is the same fuel-snarfing 381-horsepower V-8 engine. We averaged 13.6 mpg at 45 mph on our highway commutes, a far cry from the EPAestimated 17 mpg highway. Around town, we were at a solid 11 mpg, shy of the EPAestimated 13 mpg city.

The aging powertrain with the six-speed transmission has proven reliable, and the 401 pound-feet of torque enables towing up to 7,400 pounds.

Most of the upgrades for the decade-old refresh are standard advanced driver assistance systems, such as pedestrian detection and adaptive cruise control. The standard safety features are nice, but not worth the upcharge over a lightly used older-model Sequoia, if old is your thing.