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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2013 Toyota Sequoia

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Overview

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2013 Toyota Sequoia Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

KBB Expert Rating: 7.2

We'd all like to drive fuel-efficient cars such as the Toyota Prius, but sometimes the reality of what needs to fit inside those cars is far greater than the desire to be green. For those with big families and big hauling needs, Toyota offers another option, one that may not be as green as the Prius but is every bit as dependable. It's the 2013 Toyota Sequoia SUV, an 8-passenger giant with a standard V8 engine, available 4-wheel drive (4WD) and a 7,400-pound tow rating. Designed to challenge the likes of the Chevy Suburban, Nissan Armada and Ford Expedition, the Sequoia may not be tops in towing or fuel economy, but it does offer the most horsepower in its class.

You'll Like This Car If...

If room and comfort for eight passengers takes priority over maximum towing ability or fuel economy, the 2013 Toyota Sequoia is a hard choice to argue against. Cool features, such as the Blu-Ray DVD rear-seat entertainment system, should go over big with the kids.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If maximum towing and horsepower are your first priority, the Ford Expedition or Chevy Suburban 2500 is probably going to make a better choice.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

7.2
Driving Dynamics

7.1
Comfort & Convenience

6.9
Design: Interior & Exterior

6.9
Value

6.4
Safety

7.8

How It Ranks

#20

out of 21

MPG

#1

out of 21

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

9.4 out of 10

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consumer ratings

2013 Toyota Sequoia Low/wide front photo

What's New for 2013

The 2013 Toyota Sequoia now offers just one engine choice for all trims: the 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8. Also new is an available Blu-Ray DVD entertainment system and Toyota's Entune multimedia audio system.

Driving the Sequoia

2013 Toyota Sequoia Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions The 2013 Toyota Sequoia SUV is most appreciated when asked to haul numerous passengers and their belongings over vast distances. The available air-spring suspension delivers a ride as smooth and...

enjoyable as in some luxury sedans, and a healthy slathering of sound-deadening material throughout the Sequoia's cabin keeps exterior wind and road noise to a minimum. Don't get us wrong, the Sequoia for 2013 is still a large and heavy SUV, but its independent rear suspension and precise power steering make the 6,000-pound hulk quite easy to command. Aids such as the available proximity-warning system and rearview video camera help diminish the difficulty encountered when attempting to park or maneuver such a large vehicle. And, we should point out that while the Sequoia is able to successfully tackle gravel roads, wet and slippery boat ramps and steep snow-covered driveways, it is not a serious off-roader.

Favorite Features

PLENTIFUL REAR-PASSENGER ROOM
The Toyota Sequoia for 2013 provides expansive passenger room in the two rear rows, thanks to its redesigned independent rear suspension, long wheelbase and wide track. Fore-and-aft sliding 2nd-row seats allow maximization of rear legroom, and the rear doors open wide for easy access.

ENTUNE MULTIMEDIA AUDIO
With Entune you can leverage your smartphone to provide such services as Pandora, MovieTickets.com or iHeartRadio, as well as real-time info on traffic, weather, gasoline prices and sports.

2013 Toyota Sequoia Details

2013 Toyota Sequoia Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

Where some SUVs have a 3rd-row seat that is best suited only for children, the 2013 Toyota Sequoia offers adult-sized seating in all three rows. The Sequoia's 2nd-row bench seat features three independently movable sections that travel fore and aft, as well as fold flat. For those who don't require a bench seat, Captain's-chair-style seats are available, as is a power-folding 3rd-row seat. Access to the 3rd-row seat is made simpler by wide and long rear doors and the sliding 2nd-row seats. Stylistically, the Toyota Sequoia's interior may leave you bit underwhelmed, with plastic parts that feel a bit hard and the absence of rich wood trim.

Exterior

The 2013 Toyota Sequoia is not only the longest SUV Toyota makes, it's the widest and the tallest, too. Because the Sequoia's front and rear axles are pushed as far from each other as engineers could manage, the Sequoia looks much longer than it really is. The expanded wheelbase is the primary reason for the Sequoia's roomy interior, not to mention its admirable stability at highway speeds. The Sequoia's short front and rear overhangs give the big SUV plenty of leeway when approaching steep angles, like those encountered when off-road adventuring or serving duty on a sharply raked boat ramp.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The 2013 Toyota Sequoia SUV's standard safety features include anti-lock brakes and electronic traction and stability control. Larger disc brakes all around and the brake-assist system help to minimize emergency stopping distances. The Sequoia has eight airbags, including full-length side-curtain head protection and front-row knee protection. The Sequoia SR5 comes with standard 18-inch wheels. A powerful, 3-zone climate control system helps keep all passengers comfortable. Sliding, 40/20/40-split 2nd-row seats maximize rear-passenger legroom, and the 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 2013 Toyota Sequoia SUV – SR5, Limited and Platinum – are available with either rear-drive or 4-wheel drive. The optional air-spring rear suspension automatically adjusts to changing cargo, passenger and trailer weight, and contributes to a smoother ride when the vehicle is unloaded. The Limited trim offers only three standalone options: navigation with Entune audio, 7-passenger seating (2nd-row captain's chairs), and a rear-seat entertainment system that includes a Blu-Ray player and 9-inch LCD display, plus a 115-volt AC outlet. The sonar-based proximity warning system reduces strain when parking and backing out, and the satellite navigation system also includes a rearview video camera. The Platinum trim comes fully loaded.

Under the Hood

The 2013 Toyota Sequoia is powered by 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 that produces 401 lb-ft of torque, which helps the Sequoia tow trailers up to 7,400 pounds. This engine is connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission, which employs a very low 1st gear for strong acceleration and two overdrive gears for better fuel economy.

5.7-liter V8
381 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
401 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/18 mpg (rear-wheel drive), 13/17 mpg (4WD), 9/13 mpg (E85, 4WD)

Pricing Notes

The 2-wheel-drive 2013 Toyota Sequoia SR5 has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting just under $43,000, while the mid-level Limited starts closer to $52,500. Opting for 4-wheel drive will add a few thousand more, and the top-of-the-line Platinum edition pushes past the $60,000 mark. Overall, the Toyota Sequoia's price range overlaps that of the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban 1500. And when it comes to residuals, the Sequoia holds its resale value better than any other large SUV. To find out what kinds of deals consumers in your area are making for their Toyota Sequoias, check out the KBB.com Fair Purchase Price.

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2013 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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