What does the reveal of the most capable modern SUV in North America mean for us enthusiasts? In short, it means that the world of exploring with vehicles is about to see the largest transformation in history. During the event I was able to attend that revealed the new Sequoia (and Capstone + Hybrid Tundra, see page ?? For details), I was talking with a well known colleague. He said "People thing Overlanding has reached peak, it's not even getting started". After thinking about that for a minute, I think he's right.
Over the last 14+ years covering the Toyota Adventure world, our team has learned that everything is about compromise. Want to build a capable rig that will take you around the world? Sure, but your MPGs will suffer, and watch out for that GVWR. Want to explore with the family on the weekend, and still have room for soccer gear? Great, but you won't be going any where too fast.
By the time you knock out minimal modifications to your Toyota rig to make it capable enough for adventure, you've modified not only the cargo capacity, but the suspension and drivetrain as well. The truck was engineered to perform in OEM configuration, modifications end up messing with everything from electronics to performance to efficiency.
In this new future we're starting to see, factory trucks will be quite capable of tackling almost anything. Let's face it, they kind of always have been that capable. The reason these trucks will be so capable, efficient, and performant from the factory is the architecture I started with. Specifically the TNGA-F "Toyota New Global Architecture - Full size". It includes a fully boxed and robot welded steel frame. It includes the 3.5l Twin Turbo V-6, with Hybrid as an option. It includes coil suspension on all four corners, and on and on.
This platform will, for the first time, unite Toyota full size vehicles on a single architecture. We also expect that a version will be used on the new 4Runner and Tacoma, and potentially another more off-road focused SUV in the near future. That means that your 2022 Tundra or 2023 Sequoia or 2022 LX 600, are all 'basically a Land Cruiser'.
Yes, I said it, and I'll keep saying it. They are all going to be built to the same standards as the 300 Series Land Cruiser, which we don't get in North America. This will come with capability, reliability (once the bugs are sorted out), and modifiability.
Think about the fact that the 2023 Sequoia now has a 9,000lb towing rating. We haven't seen the exact weight or GVWR specs yet, but I'm certain that they will provide ample overhead for the 'overland modifications' that most people will want to do to their trucks. The same will likely hold true for Tacoma and 4Runner in the near future.
Today, the 4Runner and Tacoma are likely the most popular outdoor adventure 'overland' vehicles in North America. As the modern version of full size trucks come to market, and the aftermarket industry is able to work their magic, great things will be happening all over the country.
So what does the 2023 Sequoia mean? It shows us that Toyota is listening, they are building a new generation of factory capable yet easily modifiable trucks. These new vehicles will be able to handle anything we throw at them, and we will all be able to go places. The future, as they say, is bright!
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