2026 Toyota Sequoia: A Mighty Sequoia Hybrid SUV. Indeed!

Big and bulky and perhaps a bit awkward but definitely powerful and handsome, the 2026 Toyota Sequoia is truly as mighty as its namesake with the capacity to impress friend and foe alike.

Just make sure you can feed it, bathe it and pamper it as though it is an adorable emotional-support animal.

This year, all Sequoias are hybrids and come standard with Toyota’s i-FORCE MAX twin-turbo V6 hybrid powertrain, which cranks out 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. 

That’s a lot of power with which you can tow up to 4 ½ tons and get a combined 22 miles per gallon, even with a hybrid engine. 

The Sequoia is not really a high-glam Big Ben and yet it is rather refined IMHO. Third-row seating is more than a bit cramped for us Bears, so I would advise that you just fold it down and use it as extra cargo space. 

Toyota Safety Sense is standard on all trims (base trim is the SR5), and it includes Pre-Collision Warning with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Road Sign Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking.

Also standard is 360-degree Panoramic View Monitor, which is a great thing to have and, honestly, absolutely necessary for a beast this size.  But for a vehicle that starts at around $57K US, you should expect no less. 

I tested the top-tier Capstone trim (seen here), which comes with standard 4-Wheel Drive, 22-inch dark chrome alloy wheels, leather seating, wood accents, power running boards, power tilt / slide panoramic roof with power sunshade, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, JBL audio and, of course, 360-degree cameras, to name a few.

Other big SUVs to consider in this Hugh Jass category are the Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Ford Explorer, all great vehicles and incredible hulks.  Before you buy, I would advise renting one first to see how you like it. 

Next week, we will continue our Bears Crusin’ in Style series and explore the forever luxury of automaker Mercedes Benz.

A Benz has always been seen as a symbol of style and status, and now, with smaller and more simple cars, the brand has more ‘affordable’ choices for consumers who aren’t members of county clubs or who sit in executive suites. 

Keep in mind that perhaps being all bougie and posh isn’t for you, and I get that.  Maybe you just need a nice, solid, reliable car. Or perhaps something small but with a lot of class and pep.

The subcompact Mercedes GLA starts at around $42K US. Not exactly affordable, but it definitely is luxurious.

More luxury to follow next week, as we continue with the glam – and the Pride.

Happy Pride, Fellas!