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After over a decade of Toyota leaving the Toyota Tundra and Sequoia getting stale on the shelf, Toyota finally gave both the pickup truck and SUV a massive and well-deserved update. The 2023 Toyota Sequoia isn’t just making people think about the old outgoing model. No, there’s one other model that the new Sequoia might draw some attention to; the 2023 Toyota Land Cruiser. Is it possible that the 2023 Toyota Sequoia could be better than the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser? 

This TRD i-FORCE MAX makes more torque than the Ford F-150 Raptor
This 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro is a hybrid 4×4 | Toyota

Is the 2023 Toyota Land Cruiser better than the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser? 

As you may know, Toyota pulled the 2022 Land Cruiser from the American market. In return, we got a new Sequoia. With these things happening so close to one another, it is a bit absurd not to make the connection. 

Of course, as  Gear Patrol points out, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia doesn’t have the legendary Land Cruiser nameplate. That alone might hurt the Sequoia on the lust factor a bit. However, the Sequoia will be made in America, and it’s built using the same platform as the new J300 and Cruiser. 

The spec sheet should have the big 4×4 boys and girls pretty excited and won’t likely have nearly the same kind of (4-year) wait as the Landy does overseas. 

How much is the 2023 Toyota Sequoia? 

Wind Chill Pearl 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro parked in a forest
Wind Chill Pearl 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro | Toyota

Toyota hasn’t released pricing info yet. However, the new Sequoia will likely start somewhere around the $50,000 mark to stay competitive. The Sequoia will have five trim levels available; SR5, Limited, Platinum, the new high-lux Capstone, and the off-road high-performance TRD Pro. If the new three-row SUV follows suit with the outgoing model, the top-dog TRD Pro trim will likely start somewhere in the mid-$60k range. 

The Sequoia has the Land Cruiser whooped here. The 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser has only one trim, and it starts at $87,000. Well, that’s that covered. 

How much can the 2023 Toyota Sequoia tow? 

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone SUV
The Toyota Sequoia is an American-made SUV | Toyota

The Sequoia ditched the old 5.7-liter V8 for the same iForce Max twin-turbo 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid with 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque as the 2022 Toyota Tundra. However, unlike the Tundra, the hybrid – the reward for the highest trim for the Tundra – is the only engine the Sequoia offers. 

Thanks to this beefy new powertrain, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia will be one of the strongest towing SUVs at 9,000 lbs. Although the Ford Expedition can just out tow the Sequoia, the Expedition can’t off-road like the Sequoia. 

Is the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser nicer than the 2023 Toyota Sequoia? 

One of the major feathers in the cap of the 2022 Land Cruiser are the many luxury aspects. This fancy dress, alongside the undeniable toughness and 4×4 capability, makes the Land Cruiser a tough competitor. 

The Sequoia isn’t a covered wagon, but it’s not as nice as the Land Cruiser. Toyota is letting customers upgrade up to the 14-inch screen. Even still, while nice, the Sequoia isn’t on the same level as the Landy. However, it’s also, at best, $30,000 cheaper. That points for the Sequoia again. 

Would you rather have a 2023 Toyota Sequoia or a 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser? 

2022 Toyota Land Cruiser
2022 Toyota Land Cruiser | Toyota

Here’s the truth: The Sequoia is just as good if not better in many ways than the Land Cruiser. It’s far cheaper, just as powerful, and likely just a tough off-road. However, the Land Cruiser is sexy. This makes the Land Cruiser really tough to beat, maybe impossible. 

The Sequoia is great. I can see this being a big hit for Toyota, but it’s not Land Cruiser. Try as it might, the Sequoia is just more sensible and practical than the Land Cruiser. Let’s be honest, that’s not always what we’re looking for, is it?

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