The Americans love giant SUVs, pickup trucks, beer and guns, it’s a statistical fact. And like a chameleon, to be part of this Yankee Doodle culture, Toyota has adapted to the American way of life. America is big, the roads are big, thus a large SUV is a basic requirement. The previous generation had a production run of 15 years, which is unheard of in modern automotive production lifecycles. Enter the all-new 2022 Toyota Sequoia, which is based on a modified platform of the Tundra. Indeed the Sequoia’s styling is fairly similar and also injects elements of the RAV4 into the exterior design language. Nevertheless, it is a huge step forward, but has it come too late?

The Toyota Sequoia range is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo hybrid that yields a total system power of 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, 2-wheel-drive is standard on entry-level models, and 4-wheel-drive is optional, or standard on higher-spec model variants which total five.

Entry-level models will ride on 18-inch alloy wheels rising to 20-inch and 22-inch for upper trim levels. Load-leveling rear air system and adaptive dampers are optional however the new Sequoia adopts an independent suspension setup at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear. Towing capacity is increased by 22 percent which translates into 9,000 pounds.

The Sequoia will also offer an upgradeable off-road package. TRD off-road will include a selectable locking differential, crawl response, TRD turned Blistein shock absorbers, TRD tuned springs, crawl control and downhill assist.

On the inside, the Sequoia is comprehensively modernized. A 12.3-inch digital instrument binnacle is standard as is the central 8-inch tablet style infotainment system, which is upgradeable to 14-inches or standard in top-spec models. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are offered as standard.

The Sequoia will be offered with a suite of driver safety assists which includes Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, Emergency Steering Assist and much more.

No news yet on pricing, rumors suggest $55K for entry-level models. We’ll know for sure when the Sequoia goes on sale later this summer.