The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was the second-generation XK60 full-size SUV, a body-on-frame, three-row model derived from the Tundra pickup and built mainly for North America. The XK60 had been on sale since the 2008 model year, and the 2021 version was a carryover rather than a new generation; Toyota did not redesign the Sequoia until the 2023 model year. For a 2021 buyer that meant a proven V8 drivetrain, seating for up to eight and a towing rating just over 7,400 pounds, packaged in a truck-based SUV that Toyota had refined but not replaced.
What the 2021 Sequoia Is
Toyota introduced the Sequoia for the 2001 model year as its answer to the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe, planning it around a Tundra platform with a more sophisticated multi-link independent rear suspension than most rivals. The second generation arrived for 2008 and carried the same basic formula through the 2022 model year. Toyota built the XK60 at its Princeton, Indiana plant. The Sequoia sat between the mid-size 4Runner and the premium Land Cruiser in Toyota’s North American SUV lineup through 2021.
The truck uses body-on-frame construction, which gives it the load capacity and towing headroom that a car-based crossover cannot match, at the cost of weight and fuel economy. Four-wheel independent suspension and a 38.1-foot turning diameter help it feel smaller than its size suggests.
Exterior and Dimensions
The XK60 measured 205.1 inches long, 79.0 to 79.9 inches wide and 77.0 inches tall on a 122.0-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of about 5,730 pounds. Ground clearance was 9.9 inches. Front brakes were 13.9-inch ventilated discs with four-piston calipers and the rear used 13.6-inch ventilated discs.
Wheel sizes varied by grade. The SR5 rode on 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 275/65 R18 tires, while the TRD Sport, Limited, Nightshade and Platinum used 20-inch wheels with 275/55 R20 tires. The TRD Pro used 18×8-inch black BBS forged aluminum wheels with P275/65 R18 all-terrain tires, a TRD grille with the word TOYOTA in block letters, Rigid Industries LED fog lights, a front skid plate, cast-aluminum running boards and a TRD roof rack.
Interior and Seating
Inside, the Sequoia offered room for up to eight people, with the TRD Sport, TRD Pro, Platinum and the 2021 Nightshade Edition seating seven. Second-row legroom measured 40.9 inches and the third row offered 35.3 inches, enough for adults on shorter trips. Cargo space behind the second row was 66.6 cubic feet, rising to 120.1 cubic feet with the third-row seat backs folded flat.
The interior featured a seven-inch touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The Limited added a twelve-speaker premium audio system with navigation, and the TRD Pro and Platinum upgraded to a fourteen-speaker JBL system with a subwoofer and amplifier. The Platinum also offered a rear-seat entertainment system with a nine-inch screen, heated and ventilated front seats and heated second-row seats.
Engine, Performance and Towing
One engine served the whole 2021 range, and Toyota published complete figures:
- 5.7-liter i-Force V8 (3UR-FE) with dual overhead camshafts and dual independent VVT-i
- 381 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 401 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm
- Six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission
- Rear-wheel drive standard; Multi-Mode four-wheel drive optional, standard on the TRD Pro
- Maximum towing: 7,400 lb (7,100 lb for the TRD Pro, to the SAE J2807 standard)
- EPA fuel economy: 13 mpg city, 17 mpg highway
The four-wheel-drive system used a lockable TORSEN limited-slip center differential and a two-speed transfer case with a low range accessible on the move. Toyota fitted a Tow/Haul transmission mode and Trailer Sway Control, which works through the stability-control system to counter the forces that cause a trailer to sway. Because the V8 made 90 percent of its peak torque at 2,200 rpm, the Sequoia could pull a loaded trailer without revving hard.
Trims, Pricing and Release Date
The 2021 Sequoia went on sale in late 2020 in six gas grades: SR5, TRD Sport, Limited, Nightshade Edition, TRD Pro and Platinum. Prices before destination charges began at $50,100 for the two-wheel-drive SR5. The full lineup was: SR5, $50,100 (2WD) and $53,325 (4WD); TRD Sport, $52,815 and $56,040; Limited, $59,120 and $62,345; Nightshade Edition, $60,120; Platinum, $66,150 and $69,375; and TRD Pro, $64,225 with four-wheel drive as standard.
The TRD Pro returned for 2021 with a new Lunar Rock exterior color replacing Army Green, and the Nightshade Edition was the new addition to the range. Both changes were appearance-led; the mechanical package carried over unchanged.
Safety and What It Offered
Toyota Safety Sense P was standard on every grade, combining a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and automatic braking, lane departure alert with a sway warning system, dynamic radar cruise control and automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard, and the STAR Safety System added stability control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, traction control and Smart Stop brake override.
As a large, capable family SUV with a naturally aspirated V8, room for eight and a 7,400-pound towing rating, the 2021 Sequoia traded fuel economy for durability and simplicity. Buyers comparing it today against the 2023-and-later model should note that the newer Sequoia moved to a twin-turbo V6 hybrid, so the 2021 car is the last of the V8-powered generation.
Related Toyota reviews on this site: 2020 Toyota Corolla IM Engine Specs, Review, 2020 Toyota Yaris Review, and Toyota Review.
Sources
- Toyota Sequoia (XK60) — Wikipedia
- Big is Beautiful: 2021 Toyota Sequoia Adds Sizzle with Nightshade Edition — Toyota USA Newsroom
- Sequoia Marches Ahead with Pricing and All-New Special Edition for 2021 — Toyota USA Newsroom
- 2021 Toyota Sequoia SR5 Specs — Car and Driver
- 2021 Toyota Sequoia Specs — Edmunds
