November car of the month: Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro

by Steven Perez

posted on November 29, 2024

The next level of family fun

When you think of the Toyota Sequoia, you might imagine a hulking beast of an SUV with room for the whole family. That alone isn’t unique. But upgrade to the TRD Pro trim, and you get Toyota’s suite of all-terrain goodies, and something that pushes beyond the status quo as well as the beaten path. Lets have a look at our November car of the month, the 2025 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro.

2025 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro

There’s no mistaking Serious’s Sequoia TRD Pro for a minivan. It may share the same oversized front grille as the base model Sequoia, but the trim-exclusive badging and LED light bar stand out with aggressive style. Enthusiasts are sure to appreciate the black forged aluminum wheels, which are produced by BBS. And while there are plenty of fun paint colors to choose from, this “Mudbath” TRD Pro looks tailor-made for the Nevada desert.

The crown jewel of the TRD Pro is an off-road suspension tuned by Toyota Racing Development. It’s comfortable enough for daily driving, but its true purpose is to conquer anything that isn’t freshly paved asphalt. Other highlights include a selectable locking rear differential and multi-terrain select, which offer additional traction and control. Just remember that as exciting as these features are, off-roading is strictly prohibited for cars booked on Turo.

The TRD Pro shares the same powertrain as other Sequoia trims, but what’s under the hood is plenty respectable. You’ll still get 437 horsepower and 538-lb of torque, all delivered from a turbocharged hybrid V6. Purists might miss the character of the past generation’s V8, but the gains in power and fuel efficiency are well worth it for most drivers. Four-wheel drive also comes standard on every TRD Pro, so you won’t have to play guessing games if your heart is set on the Sequoia.

The interior is consistent with the rest of the vehicle, which is to say that it’s unsurprisingly large. This Sequoia TRD Pro seats up to seven passengers, as it’s equipped with the available second row captain’s chairs. The third row bench will be a tight squeeze for adults, but it’s perfect for kids. It also folds down if you need to carry additional cargo, although it doesn’t lay flat like you might expect from a traditional family hauler.

If you’re looking at other SUVs, you might be wondering where the Sequoia sits within Toyota’s lineup. The incoming sixth generation 4Runner will appeal to SUV traditionalists who aren’t as concerned about luxury, in a slightly smaller package — though the 4Runner can be optioned with third-row seating.

Meanwhile, the recently repositioned Land Cruiser balances off-road prowess with more creature comforts. It’s powered by a hybrid turbo-four engine and the interior seats five, but there’s no option to add additional seating. You do get several luxurious touches that come standard, such as heated front seats and side mirrors. The Land Cruiser also gets an eye-catching exterior that evokes classic Toyota styling, especially with the 1958 trim’s round headlights.

That leaves the Sequoia, the largest of these sturdy Toyotas with a standard hybrid V6 engine. With the most spacious cabin of the bunch and performance to spare, it hits a sweet spot for thrill-seeking families. And if yours is itching for a desert adventure, Serious’s TRD Pro is ready and waiting.

*Daily price is subject to change

Steven Perez

Steven is an avid car guy and content maker at Turo. Between Golden State Warriors games he can be found getting lost somewhere in California.

Previous post: Fall 2024 host release