The Toyota Sequoia is a SUV built from 2000 to 2026 over 3 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 99.8% of those on record. Between 2001 and 2026 it grew 11 cm longer and gained 209 kg. Engines offered: Hybrid, V8. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Sequoia is
The Toyota Sequoia is a SUV that Toyota built from 2000 to 2026 — 27 model years. Our measurements put it at 3 generations, the current one starting in 2023. It has been offered with Hybrid, V8 power. Its closest siblings in the Toyota range: Highlander, Grand Highlander.
Where the Sequoia is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 2,665 Sequoias on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 5TD | 2001-2022 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Toyota VIN decide which of these 3 lines your Sequoia belongs to. What every character in a Sequoia VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Toyota Sequoia adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Sequoia generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Sequoia's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Sequoia that gives 3 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-2007 | 518 cm | 300 cm | 2390 kg | - | - |
| 2008-2022 | 521 cm | 310 cm | 2581 kg | +3 cm | +191 kg |
| 2023-2026 | 529 cm | 310 cm | 2599 kg | +8 cm | +18 kg |
Between 2001 and 2026 the Sequoia gained 11 cm in length (+2.1%) and 209 kg in weight (+8.7%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Sequoia that is 209 kg against 11 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Toyota Sequoia tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Sequoia owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Toyota Sequoia have? Power & range
The Toyota Sequoia is offered with 2 powertrains — 5.7L 8-cyl, 3.4L 6-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Toyota Sequoia, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V8 | 5.7L · 8-cyl | Automatic (S6) | RWD | Regular |
| Hybrid | 3.4L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S10) | RWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Toyota Sequoia tow? Towing & payload
As an SUV, the Toyota Sequoia is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Sequoia's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
The Sequoia by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Toyota Sequoia. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Sequoia | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 136 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 3,204 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,241/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 955 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Toyota Sequoia?
The Sequoia is a SUV, built from 2000 to 2026 across 3 generations. Engines offered: Hybrid, V8.
Where is the Toyota Sequoia made?
Across 2,665 cars in our records the split is: the United States (99.8%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Sequoia have?
3 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2023. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Sequoia grew 11 cm longer and gained 209 kg.
What is the Toyota Sequoia warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Sequoia reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Sequoia?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Toyota
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 1983–2026 | 162 | 52 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 1996–2026 | 168 | 78 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Toyota Corolla | 1981–2026 | 222 | 52 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Toyota Tacoma | 1995–2026 | 197 | 24 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Toyota Highlander | 2001–2026 | 110 | 36 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Toyota 4-Runner | 1984–2026 | 172 | 23 mpg | 4.0/5 |