2001-2007 Toyota Sequoia: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Joining the familiar and long-lived Land Cruiser, Toyota added a second full-size, four-wheel-drive sport-utility vehicle for 2001. Built at the same Indiana plant as the Tundra full-size pickup, the Sequoia was a spinoff of that truck. The four door wagon rivaled the Ford Expedition for bulk, and was the largest vehicle ever offered in the U.S. by a Japanese manufacturer. Sole engine was the Tundra's 4.7-liter V8, here rated at 240 horsepower and linked to an automatic transmission. Rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive models were offered, in SR5 and upscale Limited trim. The 4WD system had to be disengaged on dry pavement, but included low-range gearing. A dashboard switch allowed shifting between 2WD and 4WD-High. Traction control was standard on both versions. Toyota's Vehicle Stability Control antiskid system was an option. The Sequoia's independent front suspension was similar to the Tundra's, but its rear suspension used coil instead of leaf springs for a smoother ride. Toyota claimed that the Sequoia had 10.6 inches of ground clearance, significantly more than the Expedition or a Chevrolet Suburban. Maximum cargo volume was a claimed 128 cubic feet. All models had standard three-row seating, in a 2-3-3 format. Second-row seats were 60/40 split-folding, while a 50/50 split-folding seat went into the rear. All eight passengers got three-point seatbelts. This was the first Toyota truck with window-curtain side airbags, standard for all models.