When Toyota stopped selling the heavy duty Land Cruiser in Canada, many were left without one of the more compelling options in the SUV market. It was too bad, as the Land

Toyota entered the full-size SUV market in a big way with the Sequoia. (Photo: Toyota)

Cruiser was a time-tested feat of strength on the world front; the UN, for example, had them in regular circulation alongside the British Land Rover, not to mention the Mitsubishi Pajero and Nissan Patrol. They were tough trucks that could tackle any terrain, and of course they had to meet Toyota’s lofty manufacturing levels as much as more popular vehicles sold by the brand, like the Corolla and Camry sedans.

Still, as the big-name SUV manufacturers like Chevrolet and Ford gained popularity and profits in Canada throughout the ‘90s, Toyota decided to scrap the Land Cruiser and focus on the smaller SUV segment that they were perennial masters of, thanks to the 4Runner, which interestingly enough was and still is based on the Land Cruiser. Also in play was Toyota’s aim to be a greener company, and the Land Cruiser, as capable as it was, had a strong thirst and did not fit this mold.

By 2001,

It looked like a Toyota sport ute, only super-sized. (Photo: Toyota)

however, Toyota chose to deviate a little from its go-green motus operandi and jump back on the large SUV bandwagon. They had mastered the fuel-efficient segment with all-stars like the Prius, and by so doing lowered their U.S. CAFE rating, so it was time to expand. They did so by introducing the full-sized Sequoia, based on the Toyota Tundra pickup, a powerhouse performer in its own right.

Motivated by a 4.7-litre, DOHC, 32-valve V8 making 240 horsepower and a healthy 315 lb-ft of torque, Toyota demonstrated that it hadn’t forgotten how to mix it up with the big boys from down south. Granted, those output numbers weren’t quite on par with the figures of say, a 2001 GMC Yukon, but when it comes to Toyota, the quality of manufacturing often comes first and foremost on a buyer’s checklist, not to mention the fact that Toyota's V8 was ULEV rated. Considering that the recall count on the 2001 Sequoia (zero) stood head and shoulders above

The interior was nicer than the domestics, expected from Toyota at the time. (Photo: Toyota)

that of the Yukon, which according to Transport Canada went through no fewer than 17 recalls in its first year, it’s easy to see how the Sequoia should not be ignored when it comes to considering a pre-owned full-size SUV.

Buyers still got a 2,812 kg (6,200 lb) towing capacity, seating not just for seven but eight people, and up to 2,208 litres (78.0 cu-ft) of cargo space, depending on seating configurations, without the question marks regarding build quality often seen with regard to the Yukon, and the other domestics. Case in point, with regard to the Sequoia’s practicality: The two back rows of seats can be configured in a multitude of ways; the second row can be split 60/40 with a tumble forward or a fold back option, while the third row can tumble, fold or split 50/50. The result is the ability to find an ideal balance between passenger comfort and cargo capacity.

Additionally,

Big, comfortable and safe, the Sequoia has a lot of appeal. (Photo: Toyota)

those comfortable passengers can rest assured that they’re in the safe confines of a truck given a five-star safety rating for front-passenger protection—as long as the Sequoia you choose is prior to model year 2004; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stopped testing the Sequoia after that year. This may seem strange at first, but remember that the big Toyota hit the five-star level in both front passenger and driver safety in 2003, and no changes were made in the safety department up to and including 2007 models—there seemed to be little need to further review it. Neither the NHTSA nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ever tested the Sequoia for side-impact safety; perhaps because safety features like side-thorax and side-curtain airbags came standard on all models suggested that this was also a non-issue.

Features like four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, Active Traction Control (ATC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) were standard on both the entry-level SR5 model and the

Great road manners and a smooth ride makes the Sequoia a good traveling companion. (Photo: Toyota)

top-flight Sequoia Limited from 2001 on; helping to ensure a predictable ride in the various conditions the truck was built to take on. Especially intriguing is the VSC anti-skid system, which actually regulates throttle response and brake force displacement over all four wheels, reducing under- and over-steer depending on the circumstance.

It was not all roses, however, at least from 2002 to 2004 when the Sequoia got hit with the same recall notice that afflicted the three other trucks in the Toyota family. The 4Runner, Tundra, Tacoma and eventually the Sequoia all suffered from a fast-wearing front ball joint, which at the least would require more steering effort and at the worst resulted in total loss of steering control, as the steering knuckle disconnected from the front lower ball joint. Over that three year span, 14,341 Sequoias were recalled, plus another 10,943 from ‘04 to ‘07 because of a similar issue—be sure to look into this when it comes time to select a

Rear seat entertainment makes for happier family vacations. (Photo: Toyota)

Sequoia, as dealers were required to replace the front lower ball joint, and don’t assume newer, lower-mileage trucks to be exempt. A quick look at online message boards regarding the truck reveals other problems, some niggling, others more serious, but all atypical of a Toyota product; rear hatch door handles breaking, an intermittently functioning fuel gauge and failed power mirrors to name a few. These problems are mainly found on the earlier (2001-02) models, so they can possibly be chalked up to growing pain issues. One issue that should be noted concerning the Sequoia’s VSC system, regardless of year: Reports of a sudden loss of power to the wheels for no apparent reason are found online—the fix was relatively simple, involving a new dealer-installed VSC control module, but expensive at $2,000. The fact that this problem was not exclusive to early models suggests that it is an important issue to look out for.

The

Model year 2005 saw the Sequoia's mid-cycle update. (Photo: Toyota)

only real significant change to the first generation Sequoia throughout its seven-year life span came in 2005, when Toyota finally got around to adding their VVT-i variable-valve-timing architecture to the Sequoia’s 4.7L V8. This led to not only an increase in output, up to 282 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque at 3,400 rpm, but better fuel economy as well. Early pre-VVT-i Sequoias used fuel at a rate of 17.4 l/100 km and 12.9 l/100 km on the city and highway respectively, while models from 2005-on saw a reduction to 15.9 L/100 km and 12.4 L/100 km. These numbers may sound out of character when being used to describe a product from eco-friendly Toyota, but when you’ve got 2,413 kg (5,320 lbs) to haul around, there’s only so much you can do to reduce consumption. Also helping fuel efficiency was a revised automatic transmission; the low-range option, accessed through a floor-mounted shift lever remained, as well as the dash-mounted dial used to switch from 2WD to 4WD mode, but the gear count was upped to 5 speeds, as opposed to four on the outgoing model.

Like with most full-size SUVs, the Sequoia depreciates pretty heavily, which makes it a good buy, especially in well-equipped Limited. The fact is, even the less reliable years should be more dependable than the domestic sport utes of the era, so a Sequoia is a good all-round bet.

Specifications (2001-2007 Toyota Sequoia):

• Body type: 8-passenger full-size SUV
• Layout: front engine, 4WD
• Engine (01-04): 240-hp, 315 lb-ft of torque, 4.7L V8
• Engine (05-07): 282-hp, 325 lb-ft of torque, 4.7L V8 w/ variable-valve timing (VVT-i)
• Transmission: (01-04) 4-speed automatic; (05-07) 5-speed automatic
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc BA, ABS, EBD
• Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 5,180 / 2,005 / 1,925 incl. roof rack / 3,000 mm (203.9 / 78.9 / 75.8 / 118.1 in)
• Curb Weight: 2,413 kg (5360 lbs)
• Cargo Capacity (behind 3rd / 2nd / 1st row): 834 / 2,208 / 3,627 L (27.8 / 73.6 / 128.1 cu ft)
• Towing Capacity: 2,812 kg (6,200 lbs)
• Payload Capacity: 590 kg (1,300 lbs)
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 17.4 / 12.9 L/100 km (15.9 / 12.4 L/100 km w/ VVT-i)
• Original Warranty (mo/km): 36/60,000 comprehensive – 60/100,000 powertrain
• Competitors: Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Durango, Jeep Commander, GMC Yukon Denali, Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada