Toyota Sequoia (2026)

The Car Care Nut is impressed by the 2023 Toyota Sequoia’s modernization, but his recommendation remains qualified. He praises the powerful i-FORCE MAX hybrid drivetrain, solid truck-based engineering, comfortable and spacious second row, physical controls, and improved rear suspension. His mechanic’s perspective also surfaces concerns buyers may miss, including turbo and cooling-system complexity, mediocre real-world fuel economy, questionable paint quality, rattly fit and finish, an awkward cargo setup, and a cramped third row caused by the hybrid battery. Overall, it feels like a capable, genuinely improved Sequoia, though expensive and less practical than Toyota’s Grand Highlander.

Savagegeese is distinctly underwhelmed by the 2026 Toyota Sequoia. He praises the i-FORCE MAX hybrid V6 for its effortless torque, smooth power delivery, and strong advantage over several rival engines, while appreciating the well-organized front cabin and quiet ride. However, the Sequoia’s tiered cargo area, cramped third row, outdated Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, and notably harsh live-axle ride undermine its appeal. Compared with the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and Jeep Wagoneer, it feels poorly packaged and old-fashioned, leaving Savagegeese unconvinced despite the drivetrain’s genuine strengths.

Micah Muzio is warmly positive about the 2026 Toyota Sequoia, though he sees clear tradeoffs. He praises its roomy, highly functional cabin, comfortable seats, strong hybrid acceleration, towing ability, off-road hardware, and broad trim selection. Family testing also reveals easy car-seat installation and usable third-row access. However, the ride feels notably floaty, steering is light and rubbery, visibility around the hood and left rear pillar is limited, and cargo flexibility trails extended rivals. Most importantly, he considers the cheaper, more efficient Grand Highlander roomier in several dimensions, recommending the Sequoia mainly for buyers who genuinely need extra towing, width, or off-road capability.

Ben Hardy is strongly enthusiastic about the 2026 Toyota Sequoia as a family-focused alternative to the Lexus GX. He praises its hybrid V6’s extra power, stronger low-end torque, spacious cabin, more comfortable third row, greater cargo practicality, and superior towing stability from the longer wheelbase. He also enjoys its honest truck-like ride and calls the TRD Pro a beast, especially with the performance package. The main drawback is the battery hump, which compromises cargo flexibility, while the interior feels less luxurious than the GX. Overall, Hardy argues families should drive the Sequoia before choosing the trendier, tighter GX.

Motormouth is disappointed by the Sequoia, despite admiring its powerful hybrid drivetrain and bold, truck-like styling. The 437-hp system offers impressive torque, easy maneuverability, and strong towing potential, while the cabin feels comfortable and well organized up front. However, the TRD setup rides harshly, real-world fuel economy was far worse than expected, and the eight-inch screen feels cheap at this price. More seriously, cramped third-row access, limited headroom, immovable second-row seats, and an awkward cargo floor undermine its family-hauler mission. They view it mainly as a tow vehicle, not a spacious everyday SUV.

Car Confections is clearly positive about the 2026 Toyota Sequoia, though not uncritical. After a week with the luxurious 1794, they praised its powerful i-FORCE MAX hybrid, smooth transmission, quiet cabin, strong towing ability, excellent resale prospects, and upscale, Lexus-like interior. Real-world testing added useful context, including a 53.3-dB cabin reading and roughly 17 mpg in early city driving. The major drawback is practicality: fixed second-row seats, limited third-row thigh support, tight headroom, and far less cargo space than a Tahoe or Expedition. Overall, they like it, but recommend it more for luxury and performance than maximum family space.

Joe Raiti is highly enthusiastic about the 2026 Toyota Sequoia Platinum, calling it a compelling alternative to the GMC Yukon Denali. He praises its punchy 437-hp i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain, smooth, quiet ride, strong fuel economy, comfortable cabin, excellent cameras, and well-organized technology. The enthusiasm is tempered by a cramped third row and an awkward, less-useful cargo area than the Yukon’s, with uneven seat-folding space and limited rear USB access. Overall, Raiti views the Sequoia as an easy-to-drive, well-equipped full-size SUV whose hybrid performance and Toyota dependability outweigh its packaging compromises.

Gearbox Car Reviews is moderately positive about the 2026 Toyota Sequoia, appreciating its quick, torquey hybrid powertrain, useful towing ability, thoughtful controls, and excellent camera visibility. The Capstone feels well equipped, with comfortable second-row amenities and a welcome digital mirror, though the reviewer finds the front seats less convincing for long trips and the ride distinctly truck-like. The biggest drawbacks are the cramped, high-floored third row and awkward cargo area, while fuel economy gains are modest. Overall, it’s a capable, feature-rich family hauler, but rivals offer more practical space for similar money.

ToyotaJeff Reviews is highly enthusiastic about the 2026 Sequoia, calling the Platinum gorgeous and praising its powerful i-FORCE MAX hybrid, smooth features, massage seats, flexible cargo area, and upscale design. He especially appreciates the adjustable third-row seating and storage shelf, which make the SUV more practical than its fixed space suggests. His main criticism is that third-row headroom and legroom remain limited, while the 400-watt outlet falls short of his ideal. Overall, his hands-on tour presents the Sequoia as a stylish, capable, feature-rich family SUV, with clear excitement despite those space-related compromises.

TheSketchMonkey is strongly positive on the 2026 Toyota Sequoia, calling it a powerful, upscale family tank with genuine presence. He praises the standard i-FORCE MAX hybrid’s effortless acceleration, smooth 10-speed automatic, 9,500-pound towing capacity, available TRD Pro capability, and premium Platinum, 1794 Edition, and Capstone trims. He also appreciates Toyota’s modern technology and long-term reliability reputation. The main drawbacks are its roughly $65,000 starting price, modest 22-mpg efficiency versus the Grand Highlander hybrid, and less cargo room behind the third row due to the hybrid battery. Overall, he sees it as ideal for families who tow, travel, or want truck-based luxury.

Born Again Motoring is highly enthusiastic about the 2026 Toyota Sequoia Platinum after a month and nearly 1,400 miles. He especially admires its i-FORCE MAX hybrid’s effortless torque, smooth 10-speed automatic, easy maneuverability, quiet upgraded cabin, massage seats, and family-friendly second row. He appreciates the adjustable third row and clever cargo shelf, though acknowledges the uneven folded-floor and limited third-row charging ports. The Tahoe may ride slightly more smoothly and offers automatic four-wheel drive, while cargo capacity is not class-leading. Still, its strong drivetrain, comfort, dependability, and usability make it an easy recommendation for his family.

Jason is highly enthusiastic about the 2026 Toyota Sequoia Platinum, calling its styling, upscale cabin, technology, and comfort features especially impressive. He appreciates the powerful i-FORCE MAX hybrid V6, roughly 9,000-pound towing capacity, adjustable third-row seating, power running boards, massaging front seats, and easy-to-use 14-inch infotainment system. His hands-on inspection is detailed, including a useful look at third-row space: adults may find the thigh support and headroom limited, though children should be comfortable. Overall, he presents the Platinum as a striking, capable, luxurious family SUV, while pricing near C$117,650 is the main consideration.

Kelly Stumpe is sharply critical of the Toyota Sequoia for family-focused practicality. She calls its trunk surprisingly small and explains that gaining cargo space sacrifices third-row legroom, while the second row cannot slide to help balance the tradeoff. Her biggest concern is the third row’s single, middle-seat tether anchor, which restricts forward-facing car-seat placement, hurts visibility, and limits usable seating. Although she stops short of calling the Sequoia a bad vehicle, her tone is frustrated and her recommendation is clearly conditional, especially for families with multiple children in car seats.

Christina Branman is highly enthusiastic about the 2026 Toyota Sequoia’s family-friendly versatility. She focuses on the clever three-level cargo system, which creates a tailgating table, flat floor, or separated storage, along with easy-access features like the power step, abundant USB ports, sunshades, heated and ventilated seats, and extensive cabin storage. She acknowledges limited space behind the third row and non-sliding second-row seats, while noting the third row’s high knee position. Still, the nearly 9,000-pound towing capacity, 437-horsepower i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain, and upscale Capstone equipment leave an overwhelmingly positive impression.

Real Mom Car Tours likes the Toyota Sequoia but feels its third row is a significant compromise. She tested the flexible shelving and found it awkward yet usable, while the hybrid battery’s placement prevents a flat load floor. With the third row raised, luggage space is severely limited, and car seats make the seating arrangement especially impractical. The rail-mounted seats offer clever flexibility and decent legroom when positioned carefully, but she views the third row as occasional rather than suitable for everyday family use. At $86,000 fully loaded, the Capstone also feels expensive, especially since she does not want the sparsely equipped base model.