2018 Toyota Sequoia: What’s old is not new
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. Such is Toyota.
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. This is a long-haul ride, over space and time, at a reasonable price. And the piecemeal comfort and convenience options that abound in the competitors can feel like a whole lot of snake oil salesmanship. I get it.
What bothers me is how the new stuff is swapped for the old stuff without regard to form or function. What bothers me is the touch screen. The postcard-sized interface is smaller than the console cup holders, and the Entune infotainment system is still one of the worst on the market. Despite having large knobs for climate control and huge buttons on the steering wheel that can't be misapplied even with work gloves on, there's these tiny buttons that a bare pinky pad can't hit with any accuracy to get all the secondary vehicle info on the touch screen. And there is still no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Two of the five 12-volt outlets are up front, but USB ports are extra. And this is on the middle of the pack, leather-appointed Limited trim.
The cabin is loaded with hard plastic and free of any fancy flourishes, which also has a certain appeal to the truck-should-be-atruck purists. Accessing the third row takes a strong kid or help from an adult, but getting out is easy. The third row can recline, and the second row bench seat enables eight total passengers.
A power liftgate with sliding window and power folding thirdrow seats make it easy to lug stuff other than people. Second row folds flat as well, for a flat floor cargo area. The 120 cubic feet of cargo volume—a foot shy of the class-leading Chevrolet Suburban—is above average for the class.