Even if you have no use for the biggest Toyota SUV in the brand’s current lineup, you probably remember the Sequoia. Named after the Sequoia tree to represent strength, longevity, and beauty, the newest version of this vehicle has come a long way. After spending the week driving the 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro around Florida, here are a few reasons this SUV is one of the more capable vehicles on the market right now.

How much will the 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro cost?

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro starts at $77,565 this year, while the base model Sequoia starts at $59,865. While that seems like a lot initially, the Sequoia isn’t really missing anything. From the factory, Toyota adds 18-in. TRD Pro matte-black forged-aluminum BBS wheels and TRD Pro off-road suspension with 2.5-in. FOX Internal Bypass coil-overs, rear remote-reservoir shocks, and TRD Pro front stabilizer bar.

If you were to buy the wheels individually, they are around $480 each, which is just under $2,000 for a set of four. Toyota says the 18″ Nitto all-terrain tires are $1,549, and the TRD skid plate is $699. The coilovers are another $1,000 at least, and the rear remote-reservoir shocks are around the same amount. Adding those few things to the base model Sequoia already brings you past $70,061. Even the Solar Octane paint is $425.

That doesn’t include four-wheel drive or any other systems that aid in the capability of the 2023 Toyota Sequoia. The newest i-FORCE MAX 3.445L twin-turbo V6 hybrid engine gives the TRD Pro 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. We found that it was pretty quick during everyday city driving, surprisingly fast for its size.

Why is the 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro hard to find?

Our test vehicle was the 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro in Solar Octane, one of this year’s more limited paint colors. Since this year jump-started the third generation of the Toyota SUV, it has been pretty popular among shoppers. In the area, there are few Sequoia SUVs on the road. Add in the bright orange Solar Octane paint, and this SUV stands out in any situation.

We took the Sequoia TRD Pro off the beaten path to test its capability, and it makes sense why this SUV is so popular. Some of the systems we found particularly helpful were the Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM) with selectable front, side, and rear views, along with the Multi-Terrain Select (MTS), Crawl Control (CRAWL), and Downhill Assist Control (DAC). The Sequoia has so many cameras on the truck’s exterior you can see everything from the driver’s seat. This makes it easy to get through tricky areas or even help parking in a tight parking spot.

Is the 2023 Toyota Sequoia better than the competition?

As expected, the 2023 Sequoia nails the family vehicle turned weekend off-roader. That isn’t as niche of a segment as you might anticipate. The Sequoia fills a void no other vehicle can really serve, except for the now-discontinued but probably coming back Land Cruiser. It also has several driving modes, such as Eco, Normal, and Sport. While driving around in the city or otherwise on the road, the different modes were helpful to increase fuel economy or performance when necessary.

Toyota equips the 2023 Sequoia with a basic 36-month, 36,000-mile warranty and a 60-month, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The hybrid system is 96 months or 100,000 miles, and the hybrid battery is 120 months or 150,000 miles. That’s pretty good, and it covers all of the TRD Pro systems and accessories that come on the vehicle.

Most of the time, you must choose between a family SUV and a weekend vehicle. A few exceptions exist, like the Ford Bronco or the Jeep Wrangler. The 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro makes a lot of sense, but the price does hold it back from being more popular. It remains one of the best-selling SUVs in Toyota’s lineup, and this most recent redesign will only help bring more fans in.

Any version of the Sequoia is good, but the TRD Pro is impressive

For how big it is, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro is fun to drive. Even as a Toyota enthusiast, the sheer size can be intimidating from the outside. Once in the driver’s seat, all cameras and systems work harmoniously to make the full-size SUV easy to drive. The back has a ton of space, and the power folding seats made life easy. Some folks take issue with the small trunk area, but there is so much room throughout the Sequoia that it wasn’t an issue.

Even though the 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro is expensive, there is something to be said about the meticulous design and thought that went into the SUV. Sure, you can spend a lot of time and money making the Sequoia perfect with aftermarket mods and upgrades. Or, you can just get the TRD Pro model and hit the road.