Is the new 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro as off-road capable as you’d expect?
The 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro certainly ticks many of the right boxes when it comes to off-road potential. Equipped with a electronically actuated rear locker, TRD-tuned Fox internal bypass shocks and Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires – it’s a good start. It also has a pretty beefy front skid plate, and macho-looking 18-inch BBS forged aluminum wheels.
The overall look of the package is pretty impressive to me. Simply put, it looks badass.
More good news: it comes standard with a 437 horsepower, 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, making 583 lb-ft of torque.
Here’s where things play against the Sequoia’s strengths: It has a 3.31:1 rear end, which is no-bueno for off-road grunt. It also has difficult to reconcile off-road measurements. No, I’m not talking about its girth, which is about the same as some competitors. I’m talking about what’s under-foot.
It has a 23-degree approach angle, which means that medium off-road courses like “Fins and Things” could bash its nose. Avoiding that course that we consider to be a mid-level ORV trail…well, it’s a bummer. The other bummers revolve around the Subaru-like 9.1-inches of ground clearance and its subpar 20-degrees of departure angle. Finally, despite some “experts” claiming it has amazing articulation – it doesn’t. It’s acceptable at best.
All of that simply means: if you try to go off-road in the nearly $80,000 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro, your nose and tail may suffer. Hit a challenging crock-climb, body damage may be inevitable. Beaching this big boy is a distinct possibility too.
On the other hand, if you do light off-roading, and keep its limitations in mind – it’s pretty awesome. Like its brother, the Toyota Tundra, the powertrain is a beast. There’s a ton of space inside and it kind of feels like a giant 4Runner.
Check out this video and see what I mean:
