2020 Toyota Sequoia 4x4 TRD PRO 5.7L V8 Review by David Colman +VIDEO
An 8-person beast for a relatively reasonable price
By David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL
![]() 2020 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro |
TRD goodies include a set of competition worthy FOX shocks front and rear. The 2.5 in. diameter front shocks offer 7 compression stages and 2 rebound zones. The monotube rears measure 2 in. and also increase damping both on and off road. These shocks increase static ride height by 0.7 in. The Fox shocks remain hidden from sight behind tough looking, satin black, 18 inch BBS forged alloy rims which mount beefy 275/65R18 Michelin LTX A/T tires. Also hidden from sight is a TRD front skid plate which comes into play if you exceed the Sequoia's 27 degree breakover angle.
![]() 2020 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro |
This current second generation Sequoia has been in production for 12 years, virtually unheard of in an industry that swaps models on 5 year cycles. So it's understandable that some of the layout is beginning to look a bit antiquated. For example, take the dashboard, which is still festooned with numerous knobs and buttons to control the HVAC system and oversee infotainment preferences. For 2020, however, Toyota has upgraded the Sequoia with an enlarged 7.0 in. touchscreen which now manages Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa. But even the newly enlarged screen looks lost in the vast environs of this dash.
That the Sequoia still depends on throwback control knobs does not degrade its operational utility. In fact, I found the array of knobs to be infinitely preferable to the current mania for converting car dashes to menu driven cell phones. As an added bonus, the TRD PRO's knobs are oversized, finely knurled, and thus easy to locate and twist. In fact, this old school Sequoia reminds you just how straightforward car design used to be before the advent of the current glass cockpit.
![]() 2020 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro |
![]() 2020 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro |
Although the oversize Sequoia TRD PRO will never save the earth from meltdown, it will transport 8 in relative comfort over virtually any terrain on earth. It will do so with a suspension system so finely tailored, and an engine so powerful, that it's hard to believe Toyota can bring this beast in for the reasonable price of $67,029.
2020 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 4x4 TRD PRO 5.7L V8 SPECS
ENGINE: 5.7 liter DOHC, 32 Valve V8 with Dual VVT-i
HORSEPOWER: 381hp
TORQUE: 401lb.-ft.
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 13MPG City/17MPG Highway
PRICE AS TESTED: $67,029
HYPES: All Terrain Conqueror, Vast Interior, Old School Layout
GRIPES: High Step In
STAR RATING: 9 Stars out of 10