Here Are 3 Things That Will Make Toyota Sequoia Purists Dislike The 2023 Redesign

Let's start off by discussing the pricing, engine trims and the Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) of the 2023 Toyota Squoia.

1.) The Price.

With the Sequoia Capstone model starting at around $70,000, it's easy to say that one would be better off buying a much better luxury sedan than a Sequoia. With that money, you can buy a top trim level Lexus GX 460 with the F-Sport package and still probably have money left over.

Also, with that price, you could easily buy a Genesis GV80 for almost half the price. With all the technology that Toyota is going to be cramming into the Sequoia, it is easy to say that purists might go for a used model if they just want a V8 on top of a huge body. Speaking of V8, did you know that it isn’t going to have a V8 for the 2023 model?

2.) Engine Trims of 2023 Toyota Sequoia

As of today, Toyota has not confirmed whether or not they will add in the V8 option however, you can now order the 2023 Sequoia only with the I-Force drivetrain consisting of a 3.4-liter, twin-turbo v6 hybrid pushing out an impressive 437 horsepower. Yes, that’s right, the all-new 2023 Toyota Sequoia will be a hybrid. I personally don’t have a problem with it however I’m sure that a lot of the purists who love the 5.7-liter V8 in the earlier models will miss the sound and feeling the V8 gave.

With Sequoias being known to be targeted for catalytic converter theft, many videos of accidental straight piped sequoias have flooded the internet. Only one word can explain that sound…ferocious. Just like any V8 that gets straight piped, many of them probably end up burning your floorboard if the cats were not cut correctly. Which became a thing straight-pipped Sequoia owners had to look out for.

3.) No More IRS

While people took the Sequoia as a sort of soccer mom car/off-roader, people loved it for the independent rear suspension (IRS) because it meant you could offroad more easily and not lose traction or slip off. However, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD PRO will no longer have the IRS and will now come off the factory line with a solid rear axle. I honestly saw this move by Toyota as a surprise. With Toyota releasing cooler and cooler cars by the year, why get rid of the IRS in a car that is loved to be taken offroad?

Some critics call the 2023 Sequoia a tundra with no bed. While it is true in some respects, like the interior and how it rides, I can’t really agree because the Tundra TRD could be taken offroad and it performed really well. Now that the solid rear axle is introduced, I don’t know how some Sequoia purists will react to this however, I am sure that no one will praise the 2023 Sequoia for being an off-roading vehicle.

I have seen a few lifted off-roading Sequoias from the past generations and while still looking like a soccer mom car, it handled well. People love mud bogging in their sequoias and it was all possible thanks to the Sequoias IRS.

All in all, I personally think that the new 2023 Toyota Sequoia has a nice design, ample room, and a lot of technology. While I like that they went back to placing the Toyota script on the front of the TRD PRO model instead of the Toyota logo, I still think that they should not have electrified this car. It just doesn’t fit right with me. I honestly would like to see an electric Sequoia instead of a hybrid one. But until the day comes when we see these cars on the road, we will just have to enjoy the older ones we can find.

What do you think? Is Toyota stepping in the right direction with its hybrid SUV? Are they breaking away from Sequoia roots? Let us know in the comment section below.

Harutiun Hareyan is reporting Toyota news at Torque News. His automotive interests and vast experience test-riding new cars give his stories a sense of authenticity and unique insights. Follow Harutiun on Twitter at @HareyanHarutiun for daily Toyota news.