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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2008 Toyota Sequoia

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Toyota Sequoia

Overview

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2008 Toyota Sequoia Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

The significantly revised 2008 Toyota Sequoia was designed with long road trips in mind. Greater width and length help increase rear passenger room, and adults can now ride comfortably in the third-row seats. This full-size sport utility vehicle can be quickly reconfigured into a flat-floored cargo hauler that will swallow lengthy items, and a strengthened frame with integral hitch receiver allows it to tow trailers up to 10,000 pounds. A new front suspension, an all-new independent rear suspension and improved shock absorber valving help produce a smooth highway ride. The optional 5.7-liter V8 makes 381 horsepower, which is 108 more than the lone engine offered in 2007. In size, the Sequoia slots between the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, which, along with the Ford Expedition, will be its prime competitors.

You'll Like This Car If...

Those who regularly carry up to eight people, haul a lot of gear and tow heavy trailers will find that the 2008 Toyota Sequoia can do all that with ease and comfort.

You May Not Like This Car If...

The Tundra's slab-sided flanks and aggressive front styling make an odd combination that may not appeal to some. Also, this is a large, heavy vehicle that is a challenge to maneuver in tight situations and does not deliver great fuel economy.

What's New for 2008

Substantial revisions to the 2008 Toyota Sequoia include a four-inch longer wheelbase, a one-inch increase in width and an all-new independent rear suspension. These combine to boost interior room. It also gets a strengthened frame, larger brakes, electronic stability control and an optional 5.7-liter V8.

Driving the Sequoia

Driving Impressions The 2008 Toyota Sequoia is at its best when hauling a lot of people and cargo over long distances. When equipped with the optional air-spring rear suspension, its ride comfort...

rivals some luxury sedans, and increased sound-deadening material helps keep cabin noise to a minimum. Still, the Sequoia is a big, heavy vehicle: It tops out at almost 6,000 pounds. The steering feel is precise and confidence-inspiring, but, when cornering harder, body roll will be noticeable and somewhat pronounced. Even with the optional proximity warning system and back-up video camera, parking and tight maneuvering is challenging. While the Sequoia is more than adequately able to successfully tackle dirt logging trails, wet and slippery boat ramps and steep snow-covered driveways, it is not a serious off-roader.

Favorite Features

Improved Rear Passenger Room
The 2008 Toyota Sequoia provides expansive passenger room in the two rear rows thanks to the new independent rear suspension, four-inch longer wheelbase and a one-inch increase in width. Fore-and-aft sliding second-row seats allow maximization of rear legroom, and rear doors open wide for easy access.

Variable Steering Ratio
To ease maneuvering in tight situations, such as parking or off-roading, the Sequoia's steering ratio increases just before the steering wheel is turned to its limit, which helps to significantly reduce the turning circle.

2008 Toyota Sequoia Details

Interior

While the third-row seats in the first-generation Sequoia were best reserved for children, the significantly larger 2008 Toyota Sequoia comfortably accommodates adults in all rows. The standard second-row bench seat is split into three segments that slide fore-and-aft independently. Captain's-chair-style second-row seats are optional. The third row is split 60/40, both the second and third rows fold forward for hauling cargo and access to the third-row seats is made easier by rear doors that open wider. The instrument panel is simple and clean with easy-to-read gauges, and the steering column telescopes and tilts for driver comfort.

Exterior

The 2008 Toyota Sequoia is longer, wider and taller and gets all-new sheetmetal. From the side, it looks bigger than it really is because the axles were pushed apart, increasing the wheelbase and, therefore, expanding the passenger room. A side benefit of the longer wheelbase is that the off-road capability is enhanced by virtue of shorter front and rear overhangs. The aggressively styled front end features larger headlamps, and bigger outside review mirrors improve the driver's vision when towing a trailer. Stylish 20-inch-diameter wheels are optional on the Limited and standard on the Platinum.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

For 2008, the Toyota Sequoia's standard safety features include anti-lock brakes and stability control. Larger disc brakes all around and the brake-assist system help to minimize emergency stopping distances. It has six airbags, including full-length side-curtain head protection. Eighteen-inch wheels are standard. A more powerful, three-zone climate control helps keep all passengers comfortable. Sliding, 40/20/40-split second row seats maximize rear passenger legroom, and rear bench seats fold forward to create a large, flat cargo area. The steering column has both tilt and fore-and-aft adjustments.

Optional Equipment

All three trim levels of the 2008 Toyota Sequoia are available with either rear- or four-wheel drive. The optional air-spring rear suspension not only automatically adjusts to changing cargo, passenger and trailer-tongue weight, but also contributes to a smoother ride when the vehicle is unloaded. The optional JBL Premium audio system features 14 speakers and a six-disc CD changer. A must for road trips with children is the rear-seat entertainment system, which includes a nine-inch LCD display and, for game consoles, a 115-volt AC outlet. The sonar-based proximity warning system reduces strain when parking and backing, and the satellite navigation system also includes a back-up video camera.

Under the Hood

Standard on the 2008 Toyota Sequoia is a 276-horsepower 4.7-liter V-8. However, the vast majority of Sequoia buyers will choose the optional 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V-8; not only is it more powerful, it also gets slightly better fuel mileage and meets California's Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle-II standards. The 5.7-liter V8 produces 401 pound-feet of torque, which helps the Sequoia tow trailers up to 10,000-pounds, an increase of 3,500 pounds over the 2007 version. The big V8 is mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission, which employs a very low first gear for strong acceleration and two overdrive gears for better fuel economy. Unlike older truck-based four-wheel-drive systems, the Sequoia's can be employed on dry or wet paved roads, and can be operated in rear-wheel drive or low-range four-wheel drive.

4.7-liter V8
276 horsepower @ 5400 rpm
314 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/17 (2WD), 13/16 (4WD)

5.7-liter V8
381 horsepower @ 5600 rpm
401 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/19 (2WD), 13/18 (4WD)

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2008 Toyota Sequoia Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

9.4

Out of 10

Based on 104 Ratings for the 2008 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

9.3/10

Quality

9.4/10
Reliability

9.6/10

Performance

9.5/10
Comfort

9.5/10

Styling

9.4/10

Great value - top performance

By RAPOWER (CA) on Monday, February 25, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 13,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Comfort, Reliability, Road Warrior"

Cons: "Loose steering-low end tires on nice rims"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This is an exceptional value vs the high end Lexus (same engine) and GM products. I drove Suburbans for years until they became 80% plastic. Because I keep my trucks for a long time and don't buy a new one every three years- I went for reliability. If you want to experience why I turned away from GM, just sit in the back bucket seat of a Denali and then the back bucket of the Sequoia Platinum - absolutely no comparison. The Denali interior is mostly plastic and the back buckets are perfectly sized for a dwarf. I've now had my Sequoia Platinum almost 2 years and only two issues come to mind. First off, while the turning radius is incredible, the wheel is a little sloppy and steering seems engineered for female drivers more so than a work truck on a job site. I like more resistance when I turn the wheel. Second, mileage. (which is in no way a defect as I knew that going in). For the money, ($55,000) There is not a better full-sized SUV on the market!"

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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2011 Platinum -Worst 4WD and High Risk of Rollover

By Dave (WI) on Friday, January 04, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 18,500

10 5.0

overall rating 5 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 5/10
Value: 4/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 7/10
Performance: 3/10
Styling: 3/10
Comfort: 7/10

Pros: "Most comfortable seats, Accelleration"

Cons: "Old 4WD , Rollover risk, cooled seats useless"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"We have had 3 Tahoes, 4 Suburbans, 1 Trailblazer and 1 ForeRunner and 1 Denali XL... all of them made me feel safe driving in rain, snow or sleet. The Sequoia scares me given its high center of gravity, ultra short steering radius with no resistance, High Torque and a 4WD system that makes you switch it on/off at low speeds, so when you are on the highway in variable conditions you better have it on or it will be too late to help you maintain control. In my first snow storm I was feeling the truck sway and cars where spinning out ahead and could not engage the 4WD!!! So you need to leave it on and watch the fuel gauge move fast at 11.5 mpg. It also has several overpriced and useless options/ features like the Radar Controlled Cruise which is frequently unavailable when the truck is dirty or wet and the manual leveling system, it's a lot quicker and easier to adust a trailer height than this truck's height! I was sold on the interior and seat comfort which is nicer than the GM and Ford Big SUVs but is hard to be comfortable when it doesn't provide a modern 4WD and safe handling. I care about my friends too much recommend this joke of a 4WD SUV to them. I am going to trade it in for a new LTZ Suburban and feel safe again!"

3 people out of 12 found this review helpful

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