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You’re either saying, “Who is Doug DeMuro?” or “I love Doug DeMuro!” He’s one of the Internet’s most beloved car reviewers and is known for finding all of the little quirks and features in vehicles and for comprehensive reviews of everything from Geo Metros to Ferraris. When it comes to the Toyota Sequoia, Doug DeMuro says, “It’s a really nice luxury SUV,” in his new video about the new SUV. And, he found at least one quirk that seems out of character for Toyota.

He found one “badass” Easter egg in the Toyota Sequoia

What DeMuro is great at in his videos is finding the little quirks and features of vehicles. In this case, scroll to 5:10 in the video to find out what one of the best of the Sequoia’s Easter eggs says. He also points out the Michigan state outline Easter egg, where the Sequoia was designed, and the Texas state outline under the hood, where the Sequoias are built. They’re made in Toyota’s San Antonio factory which also builds the Toyota Tundra.

The Sequoia has a V6 Hybrid – what’s Doug DeMuro’s take on it?

A lot has been made about a big SUV like this NOT having a big V8. V8 engines and truck-like SUVs go together like hot dogs and buns, but the Toyota has a V6. At 25:03 in the video, DeMuro talks about the new i-FORCE MAX engine, which is Toyota’s branding for its new turbocharged V6 hybrid powertrain. The new engine makes 437 horsepower, which is a lot more than the 420 the Chevy Tahoe makes with its optional 6.2-liter V8. “It is fantastic. I love this engine,” DeMuro says. “It is incredibly potent.”

The infotainment screen in the Toyota Sequoia, Doug DeMuro says, has one big flaw

Promo photo of the interior of the TRD Pro trim of the 2023 Toyota Sequoia SUV.
2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro | Toyota

One of the big things in the new Sequoia is the new BIG 14-inch touchscreen. At 9:30, DeMuro takes you on a tour of the massive screen. He shows you how to use the 360-degree camera, the trail cam, the radio and the maps.

Though the big size is appreciated, it has one major flaw: It can only show one feature at a time, like the radio or the map. Not the map and the radio. At 11:42 he shows how the new high-resolution gauge cluster works, and which parts of the cluster. The 14-inch screen is standard in all models of the Sequoia except the base SR5 model.

The new Sequoia has three, very nice, rows

A 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro in the dirt
2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro | Toyota

The new Sequoia can seat up to eight. But the Capstone models, like the Toyota Sequoia Doug DeMuro tested, have heated and cooled second-row captain’s chairs. Second-row passengers get USB, USB-C and even a household outlet.

To get to the third row, you simply grab a handle, and the second-row flops forward. The third row is also power-folding. There’s also a handle that allows you to move the way-back seats forward and backward to maximize the rear cargo area room.

What’s the Doug Score?

When testing the Toyota Sequoia, Doug DeMuro says "It's the best full-size SUV that I've ever driven."

Scroll to the end of the video to get DeMuro’s take on the Sequoia as it compared to all the other SUVs in the class. He does say that if you have the money, a Mercedes-Benz GLS ($77,200), a Range Rover ($104,500) or a Cadillac Escalade ($77,795) could offer more. But Demuro had high praise for it. The Toyota Sequoia, Doug DeMuro says: “It’s the best full-size SUV that I’ve ever driven that isn’t wearing a luxury badge.”

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