The 2019 Toyota Sequoia Platinum was the most luxurious version of Toyota’s full-size, body-on-frame SUV for that model year. It combined the Sequoia’s 5.7-liter V8 and three rows of seating with heated and ventilated leather seats, a rear-seat entertainment system and rear air suspension. It was a carryover of an established model rather than a new design, because the Sequoia’s second generation spanned the 2008 through 2022 model years. This article covers what made the Platinum distinctive, along with its equipment, performance and 2019 pricing.
No New-Generation Sequoia for 2019
Toyota introduced the second-generation Sequoia for the 2008 model year and built it at its Princeton, Indiana plant until March 2022. The line was refreshed for the 2018 model year, when Toyota added standard LED headlights, daytime running lights and fog lights along with three new exterior colors: Midnight Black Metallic, Shoreline Blue Pearl and Toasted Walnut Pearl. The 2019 Sequoia carried that refreshed design forward with no major mechanical changes.
A ground-up redesign arrived only with the third-generation Sequoia, which Toyota unveiled on January 25, 2022, for the 2023 model year. A buyer looking at a “2019 Sequoia Platinum” is therefore looking at the final stretch of the second generation, not a new platform. Toyota’s own 2019 product information lists the Platinum as the top of four grades and describes the model as a continuation of the existing SUV.
What the 2019 Sequoia Platinum Is
The Sequoia was Toyota’s largest SUV in North America at the time, sitting above the mid-size 4Runner in the lineup. It shared its basic body-on-frame architecture with the Tundra pickup and was positioned against full-size rivals such as the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition and Nissan Armada. Every Sequoia of this generation was sold in left-hand drive and was available in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica.
For 2019 Toyota offered four grades — SR5, TRD Sport, Limited and Platinum — each with a choice of rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. The SR5 and Limited seated eight, while the TRD Sport and Platinum used second-row captain’s chairs for seven-passenger seating. The Platinum was the flagship grade, and it came with no factory option packages because its equipment list was already extensive.
Interior, Comfort and Technology
The Platinum used perforated leather seating surfaces, with heated and ventilated front seats and a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory settings. Unlike the lower trims, it was configured for seven passengers, with second-row captain’s chairs in place of the middle bench, and it added heated seats for the middle row.
Comfort equipment included rear load-leveling air suspension, a power-folding 60/40 split third row, a power rear liftgate with a sliding window, and retractable second- and third-row sunshades. Rear passengers got a Blu-ray entertainment system with a 9-inch LCD screen, a separate rear audio system and dual wireless headphones — an option on the Limited but standard on the Platinum — along with a JBL premium audio system.
Passenger space was generous. Toyota quoted 40.9 inches of second-row legroom and 35.1 inches in the third row, enough for adults to use the rearmost seats. With the second and third rows folded flat, cargo volume reached 120.1 cubic feet, and the load bay could accommodate objects up to 11 feet long. A 4.2-inch driver information display and Optitron gauges were standard across the 2019 range.
Exterior and Design
The 2019 Sequoia kept the boxy, upright proportions that had defined the second generation since 2008. The Platinum was distinguished by 20-inch alloy wheels with a diamond-cut finish, chrome grille and body accents, and puddle lights, while SR5 models rode on 18-inch wheels and the Limited also used 20-inch wheels. Tire sizes were 275/65 R18 on the SR5 and 275/55 R20 on the Limited and Platinum.
The 2018 refresh that carried into 2019 added upgraded lighting and new paint choices, but the SUV’s overall shape — tall, wide and clearly related to the Tundra pickup — was unchanged. Despite its size, Toyota quoted a turning diameter of 38.1 feet, which it said helped the Sequoia feel smaller to drive than its dimensions suggested.
Engine, Performance and Safety
Every 2019 Sequoia, including the Platinum, used a 5.7-liter i-FORCE V8 with dual overhead camshafts and 32 valves. It produced 381 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 401 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm, matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. Dual independent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence and an Acoustic Control Induction System helped spread torque across the rev range. Fuel economy was 13 mpg city and 17 mpg highway (15 mpg combined) for two-wheel drive, and 14 mpg combined with four-wheel drive.
Rear-wheel drive was standard, with a Multi-Mode four-wheel-drive system available that included a lockable TORSEN limited-slip center differential and a two-speed transfer case, with low range selectable on the move. Towing capacity was rated at up to 7,400 pounds for two-wheel-drive models and 7,100 pounds with four-wheel drive. The Platinum added an adaptive variable suspension with electronically actuated shock absorbers, and all Sequoias used an independent rear suspension.
Standard safety equipment included Toyota Safety Sense-P, which bundled a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and automatic braking, lane departure alert with sway warning, dynamic radar cruise control with full-stop technology and automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was also standard, along with Toyota’s STAR Safety System of stability and traction aids. Every Sequoia carried a 36-month/36,000-mile basic warranty and ToyotaCare maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles.
Price
For 2019 the Sequoia Platinum started at $64,760 in two-wheel-drive form and $67,985 with four-wheel drive, according to Cars.com. That placed it above the SR5 ($49,050), the TRD Sport ($51,765) and the Limited ($57,545). Those figures exclude the destination charge; CarsDirect, which quotes prices including the $1,295 destination fee, listed the Platinum at $65,705 and $68,930. The Platinum came with no factory option packages.
The 2023 Sequoia and What Came Next
The second-generation Sequoia ended production in March 2022. Its replacement, the 2023 Sequoia, moved to the TNGA-F platform shared with the Tundra and Land Cruiser and switched to an i-FORCE MAX twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 hybrid. Towing rose to between 9,300 and 9,520 pounds depending on trim, and the range gained a new Capstone luxury grade alongside SR5, Limited, Platinum and TRD Pro.
Related Toyota Models
Buyers comparing body-on-frame options can also read about the 2019 Toyota 4Runner Limited Engine Specs and Release Date and the 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro Review, or browse the Car Review index for other models.
