2020 Toyota Sequoia Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The 2020 Toyota Sequoia is Toyota's contribution to the large third-row SUV category. This massive vehicle underwent a few changes for the model year, the most important one being the addition of the TRD Pro trim level. While there are a lot of things that the Sequoia does well, there are some things that it gets wrong. At least smartphone app integration is now standard, as it takes the burden of having to use screwball touchscreen controls off of the driver. That being said, here's a look at why the new Sequoia is such a mixed bag.

What's New for 2020?

There are a few important updates to the 2020 Toyota Sequoia. Namely, the TRD Pro trim level and the new suspension that makes the Sequoia capable of handling off-roading adventures. Also, smartphone app integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 7-inch touchscreen display come standard. 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2020 Toyota Sequoia – The Pros

1. A Huge Cargo Area

If it is cargo space you want, it is cargo space you shall have. The 2020 Toyota Sequoia has a maximum of 120.1 cubic feet of cargo space one you fold all of the seats down. Only a couple of competitors can best this number, so if you are going to buy a Sequoia, this massive amount of cargo space is probably why. Even with 19 cubic feet when all seats are in place, there is a lot of space for groceries. Whatever you need to stash back there, the Sequoia can handle it. Lifting items in and taking them out is also fairly easy.

2. A Comfortable Ride Quality

You will not feel a whole lot of impacts from those pesky road imperfections while driving the Sequoia around. The ride quality is actually quite smooth, which might come as a surprise since vehicles in this class are not always known for having the most flawless ride qualities. It takes more of a luxury SUV approach, quickly smoothing everything out before those bumps can make themselves felt in the cabin.

3. Can Carry Up to Eight Passengers

Let's face it. You're probably looking into buying the 2020 Toyota Sequoia because it is a capable people-hauler. The first two rows are perfect for adults of all sizes, and children do fit best in the third row. That being said, if you have a growing family, this is probably just the type of vehicle that you are looking for since it can seat up to eight passengers.

4. Manages to Do Some Off-Roading

Off-roading might not be something you are planning on doing with the Sequoia, but if you need to, you can. It gets about 10 inches of ground clearance, which is enough to do some moderate off-roading. The low range transfer case and large approach angle help too. If you need to get better traction while driving on loose gravel or dirt, all you have to do is sit in your seat and lock the center differential into place. Easy as that.

5. Agile For Its Size

For being as huge as it is, the 2020 Toyota Sequoia is remarkably agile. Handling feels more precise than you would expect from a bulky third-row vehicle. When driven in normal, everyday conditions, the Sequoia remains fairly well composed. Of course, as is the case with any vehicle in this class, rounding quickly through turns or going too fast will cause the tires to kick up a fuss and the handling to become less composed.

6. Not Much Wind or Road Noise Makes It Into the Cabin

The Sequoia's cabin remains fairly well-muted from outside noises. There is little in the way of wind and road noise while you're going along on a city road. When you sit there in idle, you will hear almost nothing from the engine. Only a little wind manages to seep in when you take the Sequoia up to speed on the highway. Overall, the cabin sounds well-insulated from sounds.

7. Getting In and Out is Easy

You might look at the outside of the tall 2020 Toyota Sequoia and think you will have a hard time getting in and out. While there is a big step up, there are grip handles and running boards that help make it easier. You can get into the third row easily by tilting and sliding the second row of seats. Most adults should be able to get out without bonking their heads on the roof, but taller adults will have to duck down a little bit.

8. Plenty of Small Item Storage Areas

The Sequoia has a lot of nooks and crannies meant for housing small items. The doors have huge pockets that make it easy for you to quickly store slender items. There are also plenty of coin trays, bins that slide out, door panel channels, and two gloveboxes that offer extra small item storage areas. It is quite impressive just how much room there is to store things. Just do not forget where you put something, or else you might be searching for it for a little while!

9. Smartphone App Integration is Standard

At long last, smartphone app integration is standard on the 2020 Toyota Sequoia. Toyota has been systematically standardizing this feature on its vehicles for the past few years, and it has been one of the biggest gripes everyone has with Toyota's designs. Since so many other vehicles are given smartphone app integration, it is a wonder why Toyota dragged their feet for so long. This model year, the Sequoia finally gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which can be accessed through Bluetooth wireless connectivity. This makes accessing your phone's apps really easy, and it comes in handy when you want to use your phone's apps instead of the Sequoia's built-in features.

10. A Ton of Active Safety Features

Toyota crams as many standard features as possible into the Sequoia. You can get everything from a JBL sound system to a rear DVD entertainment system to keep the kids entertained during long road trips. They take the same approach to the safety features they tack on. The base SR5 comes with lane departure warning, forward collision mitigation, a blind spot monitoring system, a rear view camera, traffic-adapting cruise control, and parking sensors for the front and rear. You can get more when you upgrade, but this is already a nice set-up for a base trim level.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2020 Toyota Sequoia – The Cons

1. Poor Fuel Economy

The biggest pitfall of any third-row SUV is going to be its fuel economy. But even by this class's standards, the 2020 Toyota Sequoia falls short. This vehicle gets 13 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway, which is pretty abysmal, all things considered. If you do not want to spend much at the fuel pump, this is not going to be the right vehicle for you. It will get expensive fast if you plan on doing even an average amount of daily driving.

2. Controls and Front Cupholders are Hard to Reach

While a lot of the cabin looks nice, some things along the dash, as well as the front cupholders, are pretty hard for the driver to reach. Not only that, but some of the controls are labeled in a rather cryptic manner, which makes them even more difficult to use. On top of all of that, the dash is bulky and cuts off some of the room up front.

3. Not Much Road Feel

The 2020 Toyota Sequoia has some really disappointing steering. There is very little in the way of road feel that comes back through the steering column, and the looseness of the wheel itself makes for an incredibly vague performance. This will make the driver feel less confident in where there wheels are tracking than they should while piloting a big third-row SUV.

4. Still Feels A Bit Outdated

Even though the new Sequoia has a few nice changes that have been made to it, it still manages to feel outdated. As it stands, the Sequoia has been in its current generation for 12 years, and that is a long time. In that time, a lot of things have changed, and it seems like the exterior and interior could both do with some restyling. The outside, in particular, looks like older iterations and lacks a sleeker, more aerodynamic style that can eb seen on some of its competitors.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

2020 Toyota Sequoia vs. 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2020 Toyota Sequoia gets somewhat overshadowed by the 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe. The Tahoe seems to perpetually be a favorite in this segment. This year's model line-up features a strong standard V8 engine with a high tow rating, and the optional 6.2-L V8 gives even more in terms of performance and abilities. However, the brakes feel slow to respond, and there is a high trunk floor that makes loading and unloading cargo somewhat tough. Also, navigating tight city roads and parking lots is extremely difficult in the big ol' Tahoe.

2020 Toyota Sequoia vs. 2020 Ford Expedition

The 2020 Ford Expedition is bound to be a class leader this model year. Its massive interior feels cavernous and is well-designed for carrying cargo and people. The front seats are super cozy, and it also has a high tow rating. On the downside, the Expedition is not as quiet as the Sequoia when speeding along on the highway. Also, the steering is slow to respond, which makes driving this massive SUV around a bit of a chore.

Conclusion

The 2020 Toyota Sequoia is making headway, showing that Toyota is trying to catch up with competitors in this class. However, there are still a lot of things that need work on this vehicle. The dash could use a more user-friendly design, and there could be much more road feel going to the driver.