2008 Toyota Sequoia

Conceived before the days of $3 gas, the Sequoia is bigger than ever but it is also better

by Gary Witzenburg

Toyota's image has been so defined by its fuel-efficient Prius and hybrid technology, people forget it sells a wide variety of other stuff in much larger numbers: small, mid-size, and large cars and compact, mid-size, and really big trucks and SUVs.

Among the latter are six, count 'em, six SUVs. These range from the newly larger and more powerful RAV4 and Highlander car-based crossovers through mid-size truck-based 4Runner and FJ Cruiser to the newly larger, more powerful 2008 Sequoia and Land Cruiser full-size truck-based SUVs.

Do we detect a pattern here?

To be fair, all of these were conceived and designed three or more years ago, before three-dollar gas began to redefine U.S. vehicle buying preferences, when "bigger, more powerful" was the American way for virtually every new model from almost every automaker. Most other automakers are going through the same transition as well, with 2007-08 models they might have done differently had they only known, and Toyota has done as good a job as anyone at making theirs as fuel efficient as physically possible.

Still, size and weight being the two most important fuel-economy factors, there's only so much that efficiency enhancing technology can do to compensate. And the new Sequoia SUV ends up sounding a lot bigger - which it is - than before. But it's also a lot better.

Girth and mirth

This new Sequoia sits 17 feet long, 1.4 inches longer, 1.0 inch wider, and 1.8 inches taller than the 2007 version on a 122-inch wheelbase nearly four inches longer than before. It also loads the scales 500-600 pounds heavier at 5680-6000 pounds, model for model.

How does all that added size and weight affect its fuel economy? Last year's 9-10 percent lighter Sequoia with a standard 4.7-liter V-8 and five-speed automatic scored 15 mpg city, 18 highway in 2007 EPA testing. This year's equivalent model drops one mpg on both ends to 14/17 city/highway for the 2WD and 13/16 for the 4WD, while the available 5.7-liter V-8 with its more efficient six-speed automatic scores 14/19 mpg 2WD, 13/18 4WD. Remember, though, that '08 ratings are lower due to more realistic new test procedures. Had the '08s been tested with '07 EPA procedures, they would have scored one mpg higher - about the same as the '07s.

So the larger, much heavier '08 Sequoias are roughly as fuel (in)efficient as the '07s because Toyota has worked hard to improve their efficiency both mechanically and with slicker airflow over, around and under their rounder new bodies. How do they compare to competitors? Both the base '08 2WD 5.4-liter V-8 Ford Expedition and the 5.6-liter Nissan Armada come in at 12 mpg city, 18 mpg highway, while the base 4.8-liter V-8 Chevy Suburban is rated at 14/19 mpg. Real-world fuel economy, of course, will vary with powertrain choices and the way these trucks are loaded and driven.

How does that added size and weight improve these all-new Sequoias? Toyota correctly points out that full-size SUV customers share two primary priorities - capability and utility - so much of it logically goes to those areas. Some also goes to the stiffer structure, higher performance, lower noise, and improved ride, handling, braking and occupant safety.

Interior room is up in most (but not all) dimensions, yet EPA cargo volume actually decreases about eight cubic feet to 120.8 with second and third rows down and 18.9 behind the third row. This is due to the more aerodynamic new body (drag coefficient 0.35) and the fact that the third row has been moved rearward to provide 5.5 inches more legroom for full-grown occupants. Shoulder and hip room are substantially increased, as are front legroom and third-row leg and headroom. Surprisingly, front headroom and second-row head- and legroom are actually down one to two inches vs. 2007, the latter because that spec is measured with the second-row seat - which slides nearly six inches fore-aft to ease third-row access and provide more second-seat room when its not needed behind - all the way forward.