The Toyota Sequoia is a full-size, body-on-frame SUV derived from the Tundra pickup and sold mainly in North America. The second-generation Sequoia (XK60) went on sale for the 2008 model year and stayed in production, with updates, until 2022. The 2019 Sequoia Limited sat near the top of that long-running generation, above the SR5 and TRD Sport and below the Platinum.
Origins of the Sequoia
Toyota introduced the Sequoia on January 11, 2000, at the North American International Auto Show, with full production starting that September for the 2001 model year. It was the first vehicle from a Japanese brand in the mainstream full-size SUV class in North America, and chief engineer Kaoru Hosokawa aimed it squarely at the Ford Expedition and the Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon. The Sequoia is named after the giant sequoia trees of California and is the second-largest SUV ever built by Toyota, after the Japan-only Mega Cruiser.
The first generation (2001–2007) used a 4.7-liter V8, initially producing 240 hp and later upgraded to 282 hp for 2005 and 273 hp for 2006–2007, with a four- or five-speed automatic depending on the year. The second generation arrived for 2008 with a three-trim lineup of SR5, Limited and Platinum.
What the 2019 Sequoia Limited Was
The Limited trim added leather-trimmed seating, a power liftgate, a premium audio system, a 10-way power driver’s seat, a 4-way power front passenger seat, dynamic radar cruise control and lane departure alert. The 2019 model was a carryover year in the middle of the second generation, which had received a light refresh for 2018 with new standard LED headlights, daytime running lights and fog lights, three new paint colors (Midnight Black Metallic, Shoreline Blue Pearl and Toasted Walnut Pearl) and a distinct grille for each trim.
Engine and Performance
Every 2019 Sequoia used the same 5.7-liter 3UR-FE V8, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Output was 381 hp at 5,600 rpm and 401 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. Rear-wheel drive was standard; four-wheel drive with high- and low-range gearing and an electronically locking center differential was optional. Independent testing quoted a 0 to 60 mph time of about 6.6 seconds and a quarter-mile run of 15.5 seconds.
Size, Seating and Towing
The second-generation Sequoia seated seven or eight passengers across three rows, with a power-folding 60/40 split third row available on Platinum models and seven-passenger seating offered as an option on the Limited. Curb weight was about 5,730 lb. Maximum towing capacity was 7,400 lb with the 5.7-liter V8 in two-wheel-drive SR5 form, or 7,100 lb in the four-wheel-drive SR5. The cabin shared its dashboard layout with the contemporary Tundra and included a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, power windows, keyless entry and, on higher trims, navigation with a rear camera. Cargo space behind the third row measured about 18.9 cubic feet.
Fuel Economy
As a large V8 SUV, the Sequoia was never frugal. The 2019 rear-wheel-drive model was rated at 13 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway, for about 15 mpg combined. Four-wheel-drive versions were rated at 14 mpg combined. Those figures came from the window-sticker ratings published by the EPA and reported by car-shopping sites.
Limited Pricing
The 2019 Sequoia Limited started at $57,545 with rear-wheel drive and $60,770 with four-wheel drive. For comparison, the SR5 began at $49,050, the TRD Sport at $51,765, and the range-topping Platinum at $64,760 (all rear-wheel drive). The 2019 Sequoia lineup thus spanned roughly $49,000 to $68,000 depending on trim and drivetrain.
What Came After 2019
For 2020, Toyota added a TRD Pro off-road package with Fox internal-bypass shocks, brought Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite to the Sequoia, and introduced a Nightshade-style appearance option on the Limited. The second generation finally ended after 2022, and an all-new third-generation Sequoia arrived for 2023, built on the GA-F platform and powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter hybrid V6 with towing ratings of up to 9,520 lb.
Buying a 2019 Sequoia Limited Today
A used 2019 Sequoia Limited is a straightforward, V8-powered three-row SUV with strong towing ability and a below-average thirst for a vehicle of its size class. Buyers should note that the 5.7-liter V8 and six-speed automatic are shared with the second-generation Tundra, so parts and service information are widely available. The main trade-offs are fuel economy and an older interior design compared with the third-generation model.
Sequoia in the Toyota Lineup
Until the 2021 model year, the Sequoia was slotted between the mid-size 4Runner and the premium Land Cruiser in Toyota’s North American SUV range. When North American sales of the Land Cruiser ended after 2021, the Sequoia became the brand’s flagship SUV. It remained one of the largest SUVs Toyota ever produced, second only to the Japan-only Mega Cruiser.
The second generation launched for 2008 with a choice of a 4.7-liter V8, soon replaced by a 4.6-liter unit for 2010, or the 5.7-liter V8; by the 2019 model year only the 5.7-liter remained. The Sequoia shares its body-on-frame construction, independent front suspension and live rear axle with the Tundra, which is why towing figures and service parts overlap so heavily between the two.
The Sequoia has been covered in several other Toyota guides, including 2019 Toyota Sequoia Specs and Rumors and the 2019 Toyota Sequoia SR5 Review. The Toyota Review homepage collects the full range of model write-ups.
