“Big-Game Intent, Trail‑Ready Heart”
There is something plainly honest about a full‑size SUV that refuses to apologize for its size. The 2025 Toyota Sequoia TRD is exactly that: a purposeful, large‑format machine that telegraphs capability the moment it fills your mirror. This is Toyota’s rugged counterpoint to weekday suburbia and weekend backcountry misadventure; a Sequoia that has been schooled by trails, tuned for towing, and finished with a demeanor that says: bring it on.
First impressions count, and the TRD’s exterior is forthright. The TRD front fascia, heavy‑duty skid plates, and pronounced flared arches give the Sequoia a planted, go‑anywhere stance. Blacked trim and matte finishes keep the visual story serious rather than showy; aggressive all‑terrain tyres wrap TRD‑specific wheels and tuck neatly under thoughtfully extended fenders that shelter the cabin from the elements. Practical details like heavy‑duty tow hooks, an integrated roof rail system, and robust side steps remind you this is a vehicle built to work as much as to wander. Proportionally its long hood and upright greenhouse read classic SUV, but the TRD treatment makes the Sequoia look like it earned every inch of its presence.
Measured muscle At the heart of the Sequoia TRD is Toyota’s i‑Force MAX twin‑charged V6 hybrid system It’s a refined, sophisticated powertrain that balances real‑world punch with remarkable tractability. The setup pairs a 3.4‑litre twin‑scroll turbocharged V6 with an electric motor integrated into the transmission housing, supported by a high‑capacity hybrid battery pack. Combined output sits in the neighbourhood of 437 horsepower and impressive 538 lb-ft of low end torque courtesy of the electric assist. The twin‑charging turbo and electric boost means you get that immediate EV‑like torque from standstill paired with the turbo’s midrange thrust; the result is strong, linear acceleration without the abruptness some turbo engines display.
Power is routed through a refined 10‑speed automatic that works seamlessly with the hybrid system. Shifts are crisp yet unobtrusive; the transmission mapping favours smooth, deliberate upshifts under light load and firmer, quicker downshifts when towing or hustling. Toyota’s calibration tames torque fill and minimizes turbo lag, while regenerative braking helps recapture energy under deceleration and lightens the load on the friction brakes on long descents or in stop‑and‑go traffic.
Drive modes let the driver tailor the Sequoia’s character: Eco and Normal smooth power delivery for relaxed cruising; Sport sharpens throttle response and holds gears longer; Tow/Haul adjusts shift points and firmness to manage trailer loads; and Multi‑Terrain settings optimize traction by altering torque distribution, throttle mapping and brake intervention. The TRD’s four‑wheel‑drive system includes a low‑range transfer case and a locking center differential option in certain packages, allowing confident slow‑speed crawling and predictable traction on technical trails.
Thermal management and cooling are upgraded in TRD spec: larger radiators, transmission coolers and brake ducting ensure the drivetrain remains composed under sustained loads. This is precisely the sort of engineering that turns anecdotal capability into dependable performance day after day. This is a packaging approach that prioritizes usable power and longevity over headline sprint times.
Beneath that purposeful skin sits Toyota’s refined i‑Force MAX powertrain: a potent twin‑charged V6 paired with hybrid assist that delivers substantial low‑end torque where it matters most. The result is a Sequoia that moves with surprising alacrity for its mass and provides for effortless overtakes, confident highway merging and towing that never feels strained. The TRD’s calibration emphasizes tractable thrust rather than explosive sprinting: think steady, unflagging progress up grades and through loaded runs rather than a race‑car launch. The ten‑speed transmission is silky when left to its own devices and obligingly responsive when asked to downshift for passing or descents.
Off‑road cred is not merely cosmetic. TRD‑tuned suspension components such as upgraded springs, beefier dampers and reinforced control arms where applicable give the Sequoia a composed gait over uneven ground. Ground clearance is respectable for the class, and approach/ departure angles are improved just enough to reduce worry on rougher trails. Toyota’s multi‑terrain select and crawl control systems work in concert with a capable four‑wheel‑drive system to let the TRD inch over obstacles rather than bludgeon them. In practice this means the Sequoia TRD asks little of the driver in demanding terrain; it patiently finds traction, meters throttle, and rewards measured inputs with forward progress. Rest assured Toyota has put the quality control issues that plagued the i‑Force MAX V6 and buyers can expect Toyota’s legendary reliability for years to come.
The Sequoia TRD is equally convincing on asphalt. Body motions are controlled and the adaptive damping (when specified) smooths highway irregularities with a Denali‑esque calm, while steering remains composed and communicative for a vehicle of this size. It is not a B‑road razor, nor does it pretend to be. Instead it is a long‑distance cruiser with the chops to detour off the beaten path without apologizing for the dirt on its flanks.
Step inside and the cabin confirms Toyota’s pragmatic luxury philosophy. Materials are durable where necessary and refined where you expect to touch: heavy‑duty woven fabrics or optional leather at key contact points, padded armrests, and stitched surfaces that read as intentional rather than cosmetic. The Sequoia’s interior is organised with purpose providing abundant cubbies, deep door bins and a low, wide centre console that accepts grown‑up items without complaint. Seating is generous front to rear, and third‑row accommodations are genuinely usable for adults on shorter trips, which remains a distinguishing point in this segment.
Technology is straightforward, high‑function and well integrated. Toyota’s latest multimedia screen runs crisply and includes standard navigation, connected services and over‑the‑air update capability. A full complement of driver aids like adaptive cruise, lane‑keep assist, blind‑spot monitoring and a surround‑view camera, come pre‑assigned to the TRD, tuned to be helpful rather than intrusive. The TRD’s audio system has clarity and punch that belies its fitted position; in an SUV designed for long journeys this matters. Practical creature comforts, multiple USB ports, wireless charging, heated and ventilated front seats, and optional heated second‑row seats all contribute to making long miles less taxing.
Towing is central to the Sequoia’s raison d’être. Tow prep and cooling are robust, the hitch geometry is sensible and trailer‑integrated aids make hookups less fiddly. The Sequoia TRD tows with a confidence born of design (9,000 lbs): steady hill ascents, predictable braking with trailer‑assist integration, and no sensation of the vehicle being overwhelmed. Payload figures are competitive and the bed (for those opting for the rear cargo configuration) is usefully proportioned and easy to access.
A few tradeoffs are inevitable. The Sequoia TRD’s size demands attention in tight urban environments, parking and narrow streets require planning and despite hybrid assistance fuel consumption remains a consideration for the mindful buyer. Weight and aero also limit outright range compared with lighter rivals, but those compromises are the price of true utility and ruggedness.
Who is the Sequoia TRD for? It’s for the buyer who wants a genuine, full‑size SUV that does not compromise on utility or off‑road capability while offering a comfortable, purposeful cabin. It’s for families who tow boats or trailers, for weekend adventurers who crave genuine terrain ability, and for drivers who prefer a vehicle that reads as earned capability rather than merely fashionable ruggedness.
In short, the 2025 Toyota Sequoia TRD is a full‑size statement: rugged where it must be, refined where it counts, and eminently practical throughout. If your life demands hauling, towing and moving people through varied terrain without pretense, this Sequoia is built to deliver and to do so with an unfussy sense of competence that is, in its way, rather satisfying.
