While New Zealanders are currently getting their first glimpses of the new Toyota Land Cruiser in public, as the first examples hit Kiwi streets, Americans are still grovelling over the decision to cull the Land Cruiser nameplate stateside.
This forces those wanting a traditional body-on-frame SUV from the brand to make do with the local-market Sequoia. Thankfully for them, a new one has just been unveiled.
Replacing the 15-year-old first-generation Sequoia, the new one is based on the same platform as the Land Cruiser and the (also recently updated) Tundra pick-up. You can tell, too, with the pairing sharing plenty of styling elements, including the front fascia and the chiseled guards.
The model is set to be exclusively sold with Toyota’s i-Force Max 3.5-litre twin-turbo hybrid powertrain paired to a 10-speed automatic, carrying over from the aforementioned Tundra. It produces 326kW of power and 790Nm of torque.
It’s capable, too, being rated to tow over four tonnes. Toyota says the platform is more rigid than ever before thanks to things like laser welding, while also being comfier than the outgoing model thanks to a new multi-link rear suspension set-up, and Toyota’s Adaptive Variable Suspension and Load-Leveling Rear Height Control Air Suspension systems.
Built in Texas, the Sequoia has also been revealed with a off-road-flavoured TRD Sport package and more serious TRD Off-Road package. These both give the model a less suburban look; the former adding 20-inch black wheels, Bilstein shocks, and TRD springs, and the latter adding 18-inch wheels with meatier tyres, a locking rear diff, and more.
The Sequoia’s cabin is based on the Tundra’s, sporting the same dashboard layout with some differences in specification. It features a 12.3-inch digital cluster, 8.0-inch touchscreen, and a ‘Hey Toyota’ voice interface similar to ‘Hey Mercedes’ and ‘Hey BMW’ systems.
Those wanting even more creature comfort will opt for either the Limited or flagship Premium models. The former gets a heated steering wheel and heated/cooled front seats among other things, while the Premium throws in captain’s chairs for the second row, a wireless charger, panoramic moonroof, a 14-speaker JBL sound system, and more.
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