New giant on the block
We try out Toyota’s largest SUV to see if it has what it takes to hold its own in Oman

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Sequoia, it is a species of evergreen trees commonly called “Coast Redwood”. These trees live for as long as 2,200 years and grow to heights exceeding 115m and with a trunk diameter of 8m at the base, consequently making them the tallest trees in the world. No, this is not a botany lesson, the Sequoia is the name adopted for the latest offering from Toyota. And, true to its name, this is one big monster. End-to-end it stands at over five metres long, over two metres high and weighs in at nearly three tons! The Sequoia was primarily conceived for the American market. It was, and still is, based on the Toyota Tundra pickup Truck and it made its debut, in USA, in 2000 as a 2001 model. From its onset it was very well received and was even nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award for 2001.

For the purpose of this review we decided get the two minor annoyances out of the way first and then get to the good stuff. The first on the list, and also the most obvious, is its sheer size. As most buyers will already be aware of what they are getting into, it is but a minor issue. But do keep in mind that it is much larger than it initially seems, as we found out the hard way while trying to find a parking spot in Ruwi. To its credit, it does have one of the smallest turning circles in its class making navigation of tight spots that little bit easier. The second, and only other, annoyance is that some of the knobs in the centre console are closer to the passenger than the driver. Shorter drivers may find this to be a bit inconvenient.

Aside from the above, the rest of the Sequoia is “all good”. It was a smart move by Toyota to leave the looks of the Tundra intact. It gives the Sequoia a very imposing and masculine look that is perfectly suited for a vehicle of its class. Its exterior is perfectly complemented by the stylish interior. The two-tone dash is a funky addition and the large knobs and buttons are ergonomically placed and easy to operate. The huge external dimensions of the Sequoia, has ‘huge’ space benefits on the interior. The head and legroom, for all three rows, are easily some of the best you will find in this class of vehicle. In fact the third row is so spacious that six-footers can easily sit in comfort for long journeys. This is further complemented by the comfortable seats and great driving position, even short drivers won’t have a problem getting comfortable.

To add to this, Toyota hasn’t spared any expense with the features either. Even the basic version comes equipped with three-zone automatic climate control, full power options including power drivers seat, 14-speaker 6-CD changer audio system, all-round airbags and the entire bevy of acronym filled drivers aids. Head higher up the option tree and leather, moonroof, power folding third-row seats, a DVD player and various other options become available to you.

On the road there is particularly special to expect. The steering feel is good and, like the transmission, is responsive without ever feeling too urgent. In a way, it is like a very well trained horse; it does what you want it to when you want it to regardless of terrain and without much fuss, just so long as your expectations are within its limits. But we have to admit, it was a lot more stable through corners than we initially expected it to be.

But, as we mentioned earlier, we saved the best for the last. That honour has to go to the engine. The monster of a 5.7litre V8 produces a colossal 381hp and 544Nm of torque. While people may argue that these are net figures and that the true figures are lower, there is no denying the performance that it is capable of. While there are no official figures, there have been tests in which the Sequoia has hit 60mph (96kmph), from standstill, in under seven seconds! Regardless of these figures being true or false, it definitely feels that fast and that on its own deserves praise. Just don’t expect to save much fuel if you attempt to test the performance for yourself.

Overall, it seems that Toyota has a winner on its hands. It is a good vehicle through and through with only a few, easily overlooked minor issues. If you are in the market for a full-size SUV, you should definitely check the Sequoia out. Chances are that you will not be disappointed.