Sequoia Vs Land Cruiser: Which Is Toyota’s Best Large SUV?

by Conner Mckay

SUVs are the new market leaders, dominating all rankings and enjoying a sizable following. They are excellent options for anyone searching for a new family or work vehicle. This is because of their various sizes, exceptional performance, comfort, and practicality. In this article, we will exclusively focus on Sequoia vs Land Cruiser – two of the brand’s largest SUVs.

The Japanese tycoon Toyota is one of the world’s leading SUV producers, and their vehicles seem to hit all the right notes. One of its older models, the Land Cruiser, still dominates the market and is a well-known brand of huge SUVs. However, the current model has been dropped from the US lineup, making it a place for the Lexus LX to develop.

The Sequoia, on the other hand, just underwent a makeover and is now a formidable vehicle with an improved appearance and excellent performance. It is possibly the ideal gift for US auto enthusiasts who miss the Land Cruiser. So let’s compare these two enormous Japanese-made SUVs against one another.

Sequoia Vs Land Cruiser: Toyota Sequoia

Sequoia Vs Land Cruiser

The Toyota Sequoia is a full-size SUV that Toyota has been producing since 2000 for the 2001 model year. It is a Tundra pickup truck derivative. After the militarily oriented Mega Cruiser, which was only sold in Japan, it is the largest SUV ever made under the Toyota name.

The Sequoia was positioned between the luxury Land Cruiser and the mid-size 4Runner in the North American Toyota SUV portfolio until the 2021 model year. The Land Cruiser’s North American sales end with the 2022 model year. This makes the Sequoia the top-of-the-line SUV in Toyota’s inventory here.

The Toyota Sequoia is the brand’s largest SUV and a contemporary three-row SUV. It is perfect for travel because passengers can sit in any of the three seats in the utmost comfort and with plenty of legroom. The Sequoia’s construction is adapted from trucks, therefore it has a respectable towing capacity.

2023 Toyota Sequoia

The new automobile market is currently in a rather peculiar situation. Nearly every model produced by manufacturers is being sold out as they struggle to satisfy rising consumer demand and supply shortages. These circumstances create the ideal environment for an automaker to introduce a new SUV, such as the 2023 Toyota Sequoia.

With that in mind, I am confident that Toyota will sell each and every new Sequoia that it produces, at least for the first few years of the vehicle’s existence. According to Toyota, over 100,000 current owners have “raised their hands,” suggesting that they would prefer to upgrade. It seems that fifteen years of waiting is a terrific method to create anticipation.

After allowing its successor to become somewhat stale, Toyota eventually introduced the all-new Tundra full-size pickup last fall. The all-new 2023 Sequoia, its SUV sibling, is now available. The only full-size Toyota-branded SUV now available is the Sequoia, as the Land Cruiser is no longer sold in America.

The Sequoia will be produced in America rather than Japan, and it won’t bear the prized Land Cruiser moniker. However, it will utilize the same platform as the J300-gen Land Crusier. The Sequoia package appears to be enticing enough on paper to satisfy Toyota truck enthusiasts. Additionally, there won’t likely be a four-year wait.

2023 Toyota Sequoia: Interior

With materials that are comparable to and as durable as its American rivals, this interior’s appearance and feel have significantly improved. However, quality is not the issue; rather, space is. Toyota had a packing issue because the hybrid system is located beneath the second and third rows.

There is 39.2 inches of legroom for passengers in the middle row. This is three inches less than in a Tahoe because the middle chairs cannot be moved backward or forward. Additionally, headroom seems extremely restricted. This is because the blind for the panoramic sunroof is located just above your head in a bump in the ceiling.

Toyota is proud of its segment-first sliding third row, which gives you the option to pick between cargo capacity and legroom. Things are fine if only one of those is required. But if you pack the Sequoia full of people, you’ll give up almost all of the cargo room just to make the third row useful for your passengers.

There is only 11.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity when those seats are fully retracted. Over twice as much is present in the Chevy Tahoe. Additionally, unlike the Chevy, the third row of the Sequoia does not fold flat into the floor, making it harder to load goods into the rear.

Sequoia Vs Land Cruiser: Toyota Land Cruiser

Toyota produces a series of four-wheel drive SUVs under the Toyota Land Cruiser brand. It is the longest-running model series produced by Toyota. Over 10 million vehicles of the Land Cruiser had been sold globally as of 2019.

The Land Cruiser has been manufactured continuously for more than 70 years, through 14 model lines, with countless variants. It was initially designed as a mobility vehicle for Japan’s National Police Reserve.

In that time, it has sold more than 10 million units and developed a cult following among four-wheel-drive enthusiasts. The Land Cruiser continually set the standard for toughness, dependability, adaptability, and longevity. It is the SUV with the highest customer trust in the entire world. It laid the groundwork for Toyota’s development philosophy of quality, reliability, and durability.

Sequoia Vs Land Cruiser

Despite the Toyota Land Cruiser’s well-known reputation for off-roading, the more recent models are made to be more opulent and sophisticated than daring and adventurous. Luxury leather seats line the interior of the car, giving it a stylish appearance and enhancing the comfort of any long-distance journey.

The Toyota Land Cruiser is a unique combination of great quality and dependability, although being slightly more expensive. The majority of reviews state that it is unmatched in terms of performance and off-road experience.

Toyota only produces the Land Cruiser in two plants and is unable to expand either. This limits worldwide supply and causes the corporation to anticipate strong demand for the new model abroad. Sales figures in the United States have been low for years, in part because of the high starting price.

Toyota will only sell the more profitable Lexus model in our region rather than continue to sell both. This is because the Lexus LX commands a higher price and a correspondingly higher profit margin.

2022 Toyota Land Cruiser

The Toyota Land Cruiser got its long-awaited redesign in 2022, replacing one of the most well-known SUV models in history. Unfortunately, it won’t be available to Americans. The 300 Series is the name given to the new model. It combines the 200 Series, which has been in production since 2007, and the GA-F variant of Toyota’s more recent TNGA platform.

The new Land Cruiser‘s frame has been overhauled in an effort to reduce weight and boost rigidity. However, it is still a body-on-frame truck-based vehicle with all the capabilities it always exhibited. Toyota claims that the 2022 Land Cruiser weighs 441 pounds less than the previous generation. The SUV weighs 5,774 pounds with five seats and 5,874 pounds with seven seats.

The older naturally aspirated V8 has been replaced by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6. It produces 409 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque.  This is an increase of 28 horsepower and 78 pound-feet. The Land Cruiser has long been available with diesel engines, and a 3.3L twin-turbo diesel V6 with 304 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque will be an option for this generation.

Both engines will be coupled to 10-speed automatic transmissions with two-speed transfer cases for full-time four-wheel drive. A naturally aspirated gas V-6 with a six-speed automatic will also be offered in some areas. However, Toyota claims that compared to the previous SUV, the engine and transmission are located 1.1 inches lower and 2.8 inches further back.

The new Land Cruiser will go on sale this summer all over the world. But it will be the first model to not be offered in the United States in more than 60 years.

2022 Toyota Land Cruiser: Interior

The interior of the 2022 Land Cruiser is also brand-new. An updated horizontal dash with a blocky center stack and a widescreen infotainment screen is found up front. The instrument cluster’s twin analog gauges are divided by a smaller display.

All of the buttons and switches are conventional physical ones rather than ultra-modern touch-sensitive screens because they are designed for practicality. According to Toyota, all controls should be simple to use while off-roading.

In the third row, there is a substantially larger improvement. For the past two generations, the third-row seats have been split along the middle and could have been folded up towards the windows when more cargo room was required. This configuration has been abandoned in favor of more conventional seats that fold flat into the ground.

Sequoia Vs Land Cruiser: Size And Purpose

Both the Land Cruiser and the Sequoia are preferred by individuals searching for an SUV out of all the Toyota SUV models. For customers with families, the inclusion of the third row of seating has a significant impact. Although they are both roomy, one of these models wins out when it comes to specific measurements.

Compared to the Land Cruiser, the Sequoia is larger. In comparison to the Land Cruiser, the Sequoia features more room for passengers and cargo. The Land Cruiser has the better ground clearance and impeccable off-roading prowess making it the more rugged offering. It features more refined components that make it the premium choice, while the Sequoia is bigger and more useful.

Sequoia Vs Land Cruiser: Performance

Here we will primarily focus on the latest generation of these Toyota SUVs as earlier both came equipped with similar, gas-guzzling V8 engines. But now, that has changed. As of now, surprisingly the new Sequoia has a more advanced powertrain than the brand’s flagship SUV, the Land Cruiser.

The stylish new LX 600, a J300 Land Cruiser dressed in formal attire, was recently unveiled by Lexus for the US. This is the only version of the Land Cruiser now sold in the USA. That vehicle only comes with a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 with 409 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque in its solely internal combustion configuration.

This means that the less expensive Sequoia suddenly boasts an oddly superior engine. We anticipated that the Sequoia would forgo the tried-and-true but wasteful 5.7-liter V8 and instead employ the Tundra’s TNGA-F truck underpinnings.

We assumed the new iForce Max twin-turbo 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid with 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque would be installed in the Sequoia. Surprisingly, the Tundra’s upgrade option, the hybrid, is the only Sequoia engine available at launch. That engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, just like the Tundra.

Sequoias are offered in two different drivetrain options: two-wheel drive and intermittent four-wheel drive. However, the TRD Pro trim comes exclusively with the 4-wheel-drivetrain. The Toyota Sequoia’s iForce Max hybrid can tow up to 9,000 pounds. In terms of top towing SUVs, the Sequoia comes in just behind the Ford Expedition but ahead of models like the Dodge Durango and Lincoln Navigator.

Sequoia Vs Land Cruiser: Interior And Comfort

The Land Cruiser’s front cabin features a modern horizontal dash that is held up by a large, sturdy center stack with an infotainment display on top of it. The vehicle has vintage, analog buttons and knobs that are all used for off-roading. For its off-roader, Toyota wants to keep things as straightforward as possible.

The Land Cruiser has three rows of seats, and unlike earlier models where the seats had to be tucked against the windows, the third row may be folded into the floor. The cabin of the Sequoia is significantly more spacious. Eight people can fit comfortably in the Sequoia when equipped with the second-row bench seats while the second-row captain’s chair is an optional feature.

Sequoia Vs Land Cruiser

The portfolio offers a variety of interior trim levels at various pricing points. There are several different upholstery options, including leather, wood, and chrome accents. The second-row seats in the high-end lineup models have temperature-adjustable backrests, a panoramic sunroof, and a powerful radio system.

The touchscreen available in prior models has been replaced by the newer one found in the Toyota Sequoia, which was introduced in the Tundra. The Sequoia also offers an improved infotainment system with several smartphone-mirroring choices as well as additional functions like an in-car WiFi hotspot and music streaming services. You can learn more in our guide on how to connect my phone to my car.

Sequoia Vs Land Cruiser: Safety

Both the Toyota Sequoia and the Land Cruiser are incredibly dependable SUVs. The Sequoia uses automatic emergency braking and a cautionary forward collision warning. The Sequoia also has a lane-departure alert, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control as additional safety features.

On the other hand, the Toyota Safety Sense system has been added to the Land Cruiser to improve its safety features. When a driver is compelled to react quickly to a situation, this system can recognize vehicles approaching an intersection and intervene with lane-keeping assistance, perhaps preventing an accident.

Additionally, the technology will assist the driver by automatically braking during parking maneuvers to reduce the likelihood of colliding with other cars or pedestrians.

2022 Lexus LX

For 2022, Lexus gave a complete makeover to its flagship LX SUV, giving it a modernized platform, an improved interior, and a twin-turbocharged engine. The new Toyota Land Cruiser will regrettably not be marketed in the United States. However, the LX600, which is based on it, prioritizes off-road ability without sacrificing luxury.

The new model will get by with a 409-hp twin-turbo V-6 engine in place of the robust V-8 that powered the previous iteration. The LX could be outfitted with a variety of off-road goodies, including a height-adjustable suspension system, while four-wheel drive is still standard.

To compete with plusher rivals—large luxury SUVs like the BMW X7, the Range Rover, and the Mercedes-Benz GLS-class—Lexus enhanced the new LX600’s interior. Prices start at $88,245 and cost more than $127,345 for the top-end model.

The LX600 represents a step in the right direction for Lexus, even though it isn’t quite the large luxury SUV we had hoped it would be. Despite its size, the acceleration is smooth and sufficient, there are few body movements, and the suspension does a fantastic job of absorbing all but the worst pavement imperfections.

Though less sophisticated than the 3.0 system on the 2022 NX, the Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 on the LX is largely simple to use; if a touch intrusive.

2022 Lexus LX Interior And Comfort

The Lexus LX continues to uphold the reputation of its predecessors for superb on-road comfort and a smooth ride. Thanks to four-corner air suspension with adaptive dampers. However, all four seats have more than enough room thanks to the upright, towering stance.

The narrow bodywork encourages some intimacy between the right and left passengers. Although the front seats are supportive and comfy, there isn’t any multi-contour or massaging technology, which is regrettable in a vehicle of this price. At least they can be adjusted to provide the driver and front passenger with a comfortable position.

The LX Ultra Luxury top-end trim’s second row is the ideal location. Especially if no one is sitting in the front passenger seat you can fold the seat forward to make room for the power ottoman in front of the right rear bucket.

The seats are really comfortable, with good support for even a lengthy trip, and are configured for maximum reclining. But the left side is also not without merit. While it doesn’t have the same footrest as the one on the right, it nevertheless reclines and slides back for additional space, providing almost as much relaxation.

Additionally, there are two 11.4-inch entertainment screens in front of each back seat occupant. There is also a touchscreen positioned in the center console. It manages the settings for the individual seats, climate, and entertainment.

Sequoia Vs Land Cruiser: Which One Suits You The Best?

The Sequoia is a family-friendly SUV with an exceptional reputation. The Land Cruiser is for individuals looking for a daring and adventurous car that is secure for longer journeys. You must consider the aspects that matter to you the most while deciding between these two vehicles.

The Land Cruiser is the vehicle for you if you want a slick, elegant style with premium leather upholstery. The Sequoia, on the other hand, is the best option if you want to save some money and get a more roomy SUV.

The key distinctions between these two amazing cars were covered in this article. Although both SUVs are very powerful, there are notable visual distinctions between them. You should choose between a family SUV that can provide a comfortable ride packed with many modern conveniences and an adventure SUV that will provide you with an excellent off-road experience by taking your personal priorities into account.

Conclusion

Both SUVs are very affordable and have a lot to offer. Although they are both large, spacious SUVs with a tonne of interior options, the Toyota Sequoia appears to be superior to the Land Cruiser in terms of value. This makes it the ideal alternative for the venerable SUV as it has been discontinued in the US.

For more luxury, you could always opt for the Lexus LX 600. It is the super-upgraded, super-luxurious version of the Land Cruiser available in the USA. However, if you’re adamant about needing a hardcore off-roading SUV and are ready to adjust to older technology inside, you could always get an older Land Cruiser model.

FAQs On Sequoia Vs Land Cruiser

When Will The 2023 Toyota Sequoia Be Released

At the summer of 2022, the third-generation, completely redesigned 2023 Sequoia is anticipated to arrive in dealerships. The standard powertrain is the potent twin-turbo V6 hybrid i-Force Max in every 2023 Sequoia. It generates 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque.

Why Is The Toyota Land Cruiser So Expensive

The Land Cruiser is constructed to be rugged, durable, and up to a point, opulent. The Toyota Landcruiser is pricey due to its high reliability and impressive performance. Both their gasoline and diesel engines are believed to have an endless lifespan. Furthermore, components are readily available practically anywhere thanks to the interchangeable Toyota platform.

How Much Is A Toyota Sequoia

The base MSRP of the 2023 Toyota Sequoia is $58,300. This makes it one of the full-size SUVs with the highest starting price. For the midrange Limited and Platinum trims, the cost increases to $64,700 and $70,900, respectively. Starting at $75,300 is the range-topping Capstone.

Where Are Toyota Sequoias Made

In San Antonio, Texas, in the United States, there is a facility called Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas (TMMTX). It is a division of Toyota Motor North America, which is a division of the Japanese Toyota Motor Corporation. The Sequoia and Tundra full-size sport utility vehicles are now made at the TMMTX production lines.

What Is The Biggest Toyota SUV

The Toyota Sequoia is the largest SUV in the Toyota lineup. It comes with a standard third row of seats so that both passengers and baggage may be transported in comfort.

Are Toyota Sequoias Reliable

According to RepairPal, the Toyota Sequoia has a 3.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating. This places it 5th out of 14 full-size SUVs. It has moderate ownership expenses since the average cost of annual repairs is $642.

Does Toyota Sequoia Have 3rd Row Seating

Yes, there are seven- and eight-seat versions of the Sequoia available. However, the third row is reserved for kids. In these back seats, there isn’t much room for either the head or the legs. Smaller adults can ft there for shorter trips, but they are unlikely to feel comfortable for very long.

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