HOW'S QUALITY OF 2023 TOYOTA SEQUOIA TRD PRO? // 5 LIKES & 5 DISLIKES // ENGINEER'S REVIEW

How's the quality of the 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro? Automotive Engineer David Chao reviews the 2023 Sequoia TRD Pro from a different perspective, highlighting both "likes" and "dislikes". David covers such areas as manufacturing quality inside and out - a topic that's often neglected by other media reviewers. Specifically, David talks about 5 things he likes and 5 things he's not too crazy about. Watch the entire video to find out the details.
Automotive Press is owned and managed by David Koichi Chao, a global expert in the field of automotive evaluation, engineering, and strategy. With over 35 years of engineering experience, David is able to review vehicles from unique perspectives utilizing technical and specialized methods. David is a board member and a director at AJAC (Automobile Journalist Association of Canada).
David is known around the world as an authentic specialist of Lean/Agile Thinking, and travels all around the world to review vehicles and teach latest engineering methods. Born and raised in Japan, David has an engineering degree from University of British Columbia and post-graduate education from MIT and Harvard Business School in Boston.

[@randygravel2057]

That rear with the hump for the battery is a total no-go 😢

[@MGMidget73]

​@@tinhinnh They should of done it right or not at all. Almost totally useless cargo area.

[@MGMidget73]

​@@tinhinnh Yep, in this case I'm correct. Engineers have made some of the biggest blunders in history. The Caddy Diesel in the 70"s, GM engineers insisted using a gas block would work. Massive failures. XBody cars. Engines in Hyundai and Kias going up in flames. Engineers aren't gods, they make mistakes and sometimes people die. The faulty O rings in the space shuttle Challenger, bridges that get caught up in winds and collapse. I could go on and on. Engineers combined with bean counters are the worse.

[@jimmyamico4713]

Hi David, I agree 100% on your critique of the Sequoia Trd pro. In my opinion it always comes down to quality control and it just doesn’t justify the price I think with the quality control that they have in Texas. This vehicle should go about 60 65,000 you know the old saying is you get what you pay for and I would never ever pay $90,000 for a vehicle that is put together the way it is here in Texas , I wish the tundra and the sequoia was made by the Takumi craftsman. Wow you would really see a well-built long lasting vehicle again in my opinion…

[@RJ-vc2ju]

Great, honest review David. Another major dislike should've been the lack of selectable fulltime 4WD like the previous generation (superior even to the GX460 that you really like). For Canada and certain parts of the US (northeast and northwest, and the midwest), the lack of fulltime 4WD is going to be a major dealbreaker for those families wanting a safe, surefooted, all-weather SUV. I think you nailed it with the comparison to the Grand Highlander. My bet is that the GH will steal almost all the sales from the Sequoia for pretty much everyone that's looking for a large Toyota SUV and that doesn't need to tow more than 5000lbs. Unfortunately for Toyota, if you do need a large SUV and need to tow a lot, you're going to find the cargo volume insufficient for a large family SUV. I think the best non- North American large SUV on the market is the Armada (which is made in Japan), and beats this Sequoia in every category minus the rear locking differential (which almost no-one will use).

[@Odat]

How exactly is the selectable full time 4wd in the previous sequoia superior to the GX460??. I had both. The full time 4wd system in the GX is the same exact one in the Land Cruiser and the LX.

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@Odat I believe in the old Sequoia you could select RWD to maximize fuel efficiency in situations where extra traction was not required.

[@Odat]

@@rightlanehog3151 the fuel savings are negligible in an SUV that big. Look at the 2wd V6 4Runner. It gets the same mileage as the full time 4wd V8 GX460. I’ve only owned Toyota and Lexuses and the GX imo has the most solid feeling 4wd system. Sequoia is up there too.

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@Odat I heartily agree that the GX/Land Cruiser /LX/Prado permanent 4WD system is excellent. The fact that more and more models offer rear and front locking differentials to go along with the centre locking differential only makes it better. For the record, my dream Toyota SUV is a 2 door Prado, with an 'underpowered' 2.7 engine and manual transmission. 😁

[@Odat]

@@rightlanehog3151 you might get your wish sooner then later. The Prado is coming to the US next year. I’m sure it won’t be 2 doors but hey, at least we can get a Prado. The ATRAC system in the GX is really amazing!. It engages automatically once you go into 4Lo. Having had rear lockers before, I would say the ATRAC system is just as capable. It really is amazing!

[@johnaslan-zw9bi]

I love your channel. Love how you review the build quality of the car.

[@paulsnyder681]

Excellent, honest review. Thank you for your professional review as always.

[@rightlanehog3151]

David, I have not yet heard a clear explanation as to why the Sequoia's Hybrid battery is under the third row seats as it severely compromises the cargo area. The Tundra has the battery under the second row which makes more sense. In regard to the height, how did Toyota manage to make the Sequoia so tall without providing generous headroom? The new Sequoia seems more like a work in progress than a fully finished article but if my money was at stake, I would still bet on Toyota over the competition. 🤔

[@captain_storms5998]

That’s what I said about the battery 😂

[@DorDeKrey]

Battery needs to fit under a long bench seat...Sequoia's 2nd row is captain's chairs...so 3rd row it is.

[@LuwigChannel]

Having owned the Sequoia with captain’s chair for a month now, I honestly don’t mind having the battery under the 3rd row seat. Most of the time when I have passenger’s they only fill up to 2nd row captain’s chairs. And they LOVE the spacious 2nd row. I think having the battery under those captain’s chairs would severely compromise the 2nd row space.

[@normanli7085]

Actually, it looks tall, and headroom has increased in all 3 rows compared to the previous generation, but the vehicle actually shrunk a few inches in height actually. So while the previous generation had a ton of room, and this sequoia looks tall, it actually shrunk to about the size of a current gen gx460. In comparison, previous generation was 2.5 inches taller. So it looks like the gx/prado could shrink an inch to an inch and a half for the upcoming generation

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@normanli7085 TNGA-F trucks are going backwards in interior accommodation. Sadly, I expect that to continue with the new 4Runner , Prado, GX etc.

[@rediscoveringleonardodavin4227]

you made a good job man, thank you for this

[@cdb5662]

Excellent review!

[@allenchitwood493]

David, I’m purchasing the Lexus GX460 later this year. How late will they come out of the Tahara Plant in Japan? Thank you!

[@brianwaugh8482]

@automotivepress I am curious on your take on the fuel economy being seemingly so low in the real world reviews. It really seems to negate the compromises made for it, room, ride, pricing, etc. I would still gather the non hybrid TTv6 or small tuned v8 like the old 4.7 L would have been a better choice. Local dealers here say in the Tundra there is only a 1 or 2 MPG difference in both engines and have a hard time recommending the hybrids. Note we are not hybrid haters, we have a 21 AWD Sienna hybrid and the Mileage almost doubled from our 2018 awd sienna and we love it.

[@Johnny_Bee]

Panel alignment is very noticeable to me on any vehicle, however I never let the dealer try to fix it for fear of making it worse. I agree, 1/4” gaps are expected on some makes of cars and trucks but I expect better from Toyota.

[@Baebon6259]

so glad I went with the last year model.

[@JCVACCARO]

There's some quality problems but the TRD Pro just looks so good.

[@jordanh4127]

I have a 2022 sequoia. Bought it brand new December 31st 2022. My neighbor just bought a 2023 sequoia and we are going to put them side by side for comparison. Mine looks huge compared to his already

[@judithvilla6026]

The price is pretty high here in Canada! Do you see all Toyota trucks and SUV’s getting the massive centre console? Where do you see the new Land Cruiser pricing relative to the Sequoia?

[@alexblankenship7385]

When the 2023 Sequoia TRD Pro was introduced I really wanted to like it. I think I’d go with the GX Overtrail. Due to the lack of bench 2nd row seats and the option not to take out the 3rd row because the large battery in the trunk space in the new Sequoia there is a bulge. Had the new Sequoia offered the non-hybrid variant, I would not have been as concerned for the reliability. The new Lexus GX Overtrail looks like it has everything I want.

[@markderoller7645]

The powertrain seems awesome, but I would never buy a first year production model. Wait a couple years.

[@cartopia6161]

Dislike, the fact that Toyota doesn’t offer just the twin turbo V6 without the hybrid system.

[@wentfishing]

Where is the final assembly?

[@stephenchen99]

Interesting 👍could you tell me TRD need a hoe much? Thanks!

[@nasty3145]

I just like how u actually notice stock body gaps. Most people dont until its worked on. They think they are perfect. 3mm tolerance is factory... if all the gaps are within 3mm of eachother they send it. Wish more people did this Before buying instead of after bodywork...

[@g.r.2985]

David, I really like sour videos but you’re starting to be repetitive: it seems like u made the same video already 2 or 3 times, but maybe I’m mistaken. Otherwise, I really respect your opinions mostly. Keep up the great work!

[@petergazarek9466]

NEW TOYOTA SEQUOIA 😎👍🏻

[@nomsi4263]

I wish Europe could have this 😢

[@rightlanehog3151]

We wish we could have the 2 door Prado, GR Yaris, Yaris 4 door hatch, Yaris Cross, Corolla Touring Sports and Corolla Commercial.

[@commonduck10]

that's how you keep it gangsta

[@MaxPower-qx7lh]

Toyota engineer should suit up and beef up the Sequoia for the Limo fleets market, with such the fuel efficient and adequate powerful power train. With the plug in hybrid system might even more competitive.

[@reptoid5634]

Such a nice truck, only to be ruined by that useless cargo space! Might have to consider going to Yukon Denali

[@themarccox]

The roof rack is NOT standard. Plenty of PRO owners, myself included, don't have one. I also disagree with the responsiveness of the touchscreen, I find it misses touches all the time.

[@1greak]

Why is it a us only ? The previous generation wasn't

[@tundranc9130]

Toyota hybrid system on sequoia and tundra were not made for fuel mileage it was all made for torque .

[@bohan9957]

The Sequoia is designed and manufactured in Texas. I think that's all I need to say.

[@ryanflores2281]

Outside of a quality inspector not one of us arm chair QB’s is going to notice a 5.5 to 5 mm gap difference 😂.

[@jamesday7344]

That would be called “attention to detail “. Integrity can be described as doing something right when no else is watching.

[@ryanflores2281]

@@jamesday7344 it’s called a new manufacturing process, integrity would be the desire to fix over time.

[@jamesday7344]

I hope I am never your customer or employer

[@ryanflores2281]

@@jamesday7344 🤷🏻‍♂️ almost nothing comes out “perfect” when initially deployed. You must not buy a lot of 1st gen things. There is only so much refinement you can do in a test environment and when transitioning to a production environment there are bound to be hiccups. You can look down on my view of reality, however I can assure you that your integrity is no greater than mine.

[@redolent9432]

I cancelled my order for a 2023 after discovering the ludicrous interior design in the cargo area with the battery under the seat. Instead, I bought a used 2020 Sequoia and I couldn't be happier. My prediction is that this new Sequoia will be a sales dud unless all the problems are quickly resolved regarding quality and interior cargo space. I am a huge Toyota fan but I would take a Yukon XL over this abortion of a vehicle.

[@Shane23Armada]

Thats like my 2013 armada, it's ride is terrible on rough road, not riding soft or quiet . Plus very noisy inside cabin

[@dell7054]

No thanks i am not spending 70 to 80k for a SUV.. i like toyota but the price range is too expensive. Dont want 1k payments for a damm car

[@healer81]

The battery could go where the spare tire is. People would forsake a spare tire to have more truck space. They rushed it and overlooked quality. The sequoia is a failure. When people are spending that much money. The items that are lacking can not be overlooked

[@RJ-vc2ju]

It can't actually due to crash protection for the battery.

[@healer81]

@@RJ-vc2ju They put the battery on the bottom of a sienna. They can build protective housing. Afterall gas tanks are positioned under so many cars.

[@theofficialpeterkim]

I love my Japanese made cars.

[@rekt5737]

Aren’t these made in the US

[@holeinjuan1644]

No tow hooks, wrong color headliner (why isn’t it black?), the rear cargo window no longer goes up and down, lack of rear cargo space due to the battery, the center console was made by Fisher - Price/cheap and flimsy plastic, fake engine sounds piped inside the cabin, and on and on…us loyalists want a redo, Toyota. When do we get the Land Cruiser back?

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

dislikes .. dealer mark ups on a over priced car to Start with , fold down 3rd row seat takes up to much cargo space when folded , large hole when both 2nd snd 3 rd row folded down , needs a f150 like power boost on board generator, sunroof if you dint want it its standard , plus = shorter wb and better looking grille than tundra , soild rear axle

[@rugged9769]

They should just remove the hybrid engine and go with regular turbo v6 (same one Lexus LX uses), which will fix the rear cargo issue. Then use that savings to bring back the center diff and full time 4WD, keep the new outside look, and you have a home run instead of this thing

[@Joe.dirt7909]

They totally screwed the pooch with the Sequioa.

[@japerezo75]

Toyota fanboys will buy it but everybody knows the designers should be fired

[@Discussions1]

1st

[@wakawaka8736]

Too expensive

[@melissamanohar6939]

First

[@rayamanelly]

I trust an Asian man measuring body panel-gaps within millimeters eith only his eyeballs for some odd reason.

[@JC4130BMX]

I always dreamt of being able to buy a new vehicle and being the first owner. I thought the new sequoia would be it. NOPE! Makes me afraid of how bad they're going to do the incoming Landcruiser....looks like the 200 series and anything pre2022will be the last Toyotas worth buying

[@applianceman6009]

No V8 is a no go!!

[@aaronbrooks4091]

I hate the signature toyota rattles! Arrrggggh!!! give it three years and it will be a steady nuisance. Same with the console rattle. I hate it! Yet, I keep buying toyota's...haha.

[@johncarncross6488]

Absolutely useless cargo area and 3rd row for my family of 4 and 1 dog.

[@estuardogutierrez9041]

you bought a Lexus GX i really hated that car..... so slow!!! swallow gasoline!!! outdated they just replaced the screen... what a terrible car!! i dunno how people keep buying that Lexus... i owned mine for 6 months and i sold it..!!!

[@mikeamizzle]

This thing is lame

[@chrisn.e.q.patriot5957]

THE N/A. V8 OLD MODLE W/ INDEPENDANT REAR SUSPENSION . IS MUCH BETTER. TOYOTA F'D UP STOPPING THE V8 ENGINE . AND THE ELECTRIC . BATTERY . CRAP . THE V8 VS TT V6 . ( NOT THE HYBRID) FUEL MILAGE DIFFERANCE. IS ABOUT 2 MPG . ?? THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THE V8. WITH/10 SPD TRANS. I HAVE HAD 6 TUNDRAS .