Text by Tom Appel
2025 Toyota Sequoia 1794 Edition 4WD Hybrid
Specs
Class: Large SUV
Country of Manufacture: United States
Color: Celestial Silver
Miles driven: 257
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B+ |
| Power and Performance | B+ |
| Fit and Finish | B |
| Fuel Economy | B+ |
| Value | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A |
| Tall Guy | B |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 478-horsepower, 3.4-liter |
| Engine Type | Turbo, hybrid V6 |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | 4WD |
Observed fuel economy: 18.2 mpg
Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 19/22/20 (mpg city/highway/combined)
Fuel type: Regular gas
Base price: $80,135 (not including $1945 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Head-up display ($600), Adaptive Variable Suspension ($1045), power running boards ($1005), front skid plate ($385), dash cam ($499), connected services (2 years) ($325), roof cross bars ($365)
Price as tested: $86,304
Audio-System Brand
JBL
Audio-System Quality
Poor Fair Good Very-Good Excellent
Pros and Cons
The great: Roomy, comfortable, sporty for the class
The good: Relatively easy on the gas, plenty of power
The not so good: Worst 3rd-row accommodations in class
Review
While the large SUV segment isn’t as high volume as the full-size pickup-truck category, it is roughly as profitable on a per-unit basis. And, for years, the Detroit Three have dominated the big-ute sales charts.
Sales
In fact, the only non-U.S.-brand big SUV to sell in meaningful numbers is the Toyota Sequoia, racking up a little more than 26,000 sales in 2024. Redesigned for 2025, expect the Nissan Armada/Infiniti QX80 to chalk up more meaningful numbers this year—perhaps taking a little share from Toyota in the process.
Dimensions
Thoroughly redesigned for the 2023 model year, the Sequoia plays in an interesting corner of the segment, that of the slightly smaller, more fuel-efficient option. At a tidy 208 inches in overall length, the Toyota is comfortably shorter than the Chevrolet Tahoe (221) and significantly smaller than the Chevy Suburban (226). The Sequoia is also about an inch narrower than the popular Chevy duo.
Engines
Toyota also eschewed V8 engines for 2023, parting ways with the brand’s well-regarded 5.7-liter mill in exchange for the makers turbocharged and hybridized 3.4-liter “iForce-Max” V6. Though significantly smaller in displacement than the V8, the V6 cranks out a stout 437 horsepower, up from the V8’s 391-horse output. For 2023, the Sequoia also moved from a 6-speed automatic transmission to a 10-speed unit, improving both drivability and fuel economy.
New for 2025
The Sequoia hasn’t changed much since it was redesigned and moved to the corporate TNGA-F architecture, which it shares with the midsize Tacoma pickup truck and full-size Tundra pickup. That said, a new trim level has been added near the top of the Seqouia lineup. Recalled from previous generations of the Seqouia, the 1794 Edition is now the penultimate trim level, positioned in price just below the topline Capstone.
Prices and Trim Levels
For 2025 the Sequoia lineup looks like this:
- SR5 ($64,520)
- Limited ($70,920)
- Platinum ($81,665)
- TRD Pro ($82,390)
- 1794 Edition ($82,480)
- Capstone ($86,010)
With the exception of the business-like SR5, and off-road ready TRD Pro, the Sequoia lineup is mostly comfort and luxury oriented. And while the Capstone can get pricey, so can topline offerings from Chevrolet and Ford.
4WD
Note that 4WD is standard on all Sequoia models save for the SR5 and Limited, on which the option adds $3000 to the bottom line.
Test Car
Consumer Guide recently spent a week behind the wheel of the new 1794 Edition in Celestial Silver. Including destination charge, our test car came to $86,304.
Cabin Appointments
Somewhat reminiscent of Ford’s King Ranch trim level, offered occasionally on its big trucks, the 1794 Edition includes a health dose of wood and leather. The cabin doesn’t quite come off as swanky as top-trim variants of other-brand large trucks, but the 1794 still feels clubby and upscale.
Controls and Connectivity
Toyota has not gone all-in one incorporating controls into the infotainment system, which means that console includes a large touchscreen and a fair number of physical switchgear controls—to good user effect. Everything is logically place, and climate functions are manipulated by a row of easy-to-use controls just under the screen.
Passenger Space
Getting into and out of the Sequoia is easy enough. There is a little more of a step than found on, say, a Toyota Highlander, but for the most part, ingress and egress are a snap. And though this big Toyota is a wee smaller than the other rigs in this class, there is ample first and 2nd-row space for four or five adults. (In 1794 trim, the Sequoia comes with captains chairs in the second row, so no middle passenger.)
3rd-Row
The 3rd row, a mandatory feature of full-size SUVs, is another story, however. Unlike the big rigs from Chevy Ford, GMC, and Jeep, as well as Cadillac and Lincoln, the Toyota’s way-back seats do now offer much in the way od legroom, nor do that fold flat into the floor. This is because the hybrid battery (1.9 kWh, in case you were wondering) is located in the rear of the Sequoia, under the load floor. And while the hybrid system pays off in power and efficiency, it badly compromises 3rd-row passenger space, and cargo-handling utility. It is this critical deficiency which may limit sales of the Sequoia the folks who don’t regularly carry more than four or five passengers, or large, heavy loads.
Ride and Handling
Back to the good news, the Sequoia is among the best handling of the large utes, serving up surprisingly control in corners, and decent steering feel. And while the big Toyota is only somewhat smaller than its direct competition, it feels much smaller in traffic and parking garages.
Power and Performance
Toyota’s IForce Max engine, the only powerplant offered in the Sequoia for 2025, does a fine job of hustling the big SUV around. The engine and transmission combo delivers plenty of smooth power, with only the occasional awkward shift in around-town driving. More impressive than the power, perhaps is the fuel economy. Our test Sequoia delivered better than 18 mpg in rear-world driving that favored slightly city traffic.
Work Truck
Note that despite its passenger-space and cargo-carrying limitations, the Sequoia is still very much a serious truck, with towing and payload capacities inline with class competition.
Value
For that reason, consider the Sequoia a serious big SUV with part-time space for more than 4 or 5 passengers. In terms of Forward compartment passenger space, ride, handling, power, fuel economy and refinement, this big Toyota is absolutely worth a look. And given Toyota’s reputation for quality, the Sequoia should look extra good.
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2025 Toyota Sequoia 1794 Edition Pictures
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