2012 Toyota Sequoia High Tech Review

Ever find yourself wishing you had more time to spend with your family? Maybe it’s not about how much time you spend, but about how you spend that time. Meet the 2012 Toyota Sequoia, the SUV built on the proposition that you can’t expand your kids’ horizons with a wide screen TV alone. Sequoia provides comfortable seating for up to eight,1 along with ample cargo room for everyone’s gear. Inside, its host of high tech features will eliminate any possibility of homesickness. And to help make your adventures possible, it offers a choice of two powerful engines and genuine all terrain capability. In short, this vehicle does much more than merely simplify trips to the local big box store. Sequoia gives you the ability to show your family the original meaning of “remote.”


Sequoia’s big cabin offers much more than just space. There’s comfortable seating for eight with the standard third row, and a variety of seating configurations to handle any combination of passengers and payload. Or fold all the seats flat and reveal 120 cubic feet of cargo capacity perfect for that drum kit, those home improvement materials or that eight-person tent. No matter what you’ve got planned, 2012 Sequoia is happy to oblige. Both the sliding second-row and third-row seats fold flat, making it easy to load and unload all the gear your road trip requires. And the split-fold seat design lets you choose how to stow your cargo: upright or flat. Of course, with its spacious interior, reclining third-row seats and available second row console, Sequoia is as accommodating to passengers as it is to cargo. So what are you waiting for?

When it comes to comfort, the available power reclining and fold flat third row seat will make settling in for the long haul as easy as pushing a button. The front-seat console on the Platinum edition offers climate controls and cup holders for those in the second row. There are also RCA jacks for the rearseat DVD entertainment system and a handy 115V AC power outlet. Sequoia’s second-row seat will have your kids hoping they’re not there yet. That’s because they can watch the latest movies or play video games on the available rear-seat DVD entertainment system with 9-in. display. Plus, all their movies and games will stow tidily away in Sequoia’s many storage compartments. And to keep front-seat occupants from feeling left out, Sequoia offers an excellent JBL Synthesis audio system with 14 speakers.

In addition to its vast cargo area and a multitude of cup holders, Toyota Sequoia offers a variety of other storage options. The dual-level glove compartment has a large compartment below for, well large things and a smaller compartment above for documents and other flat items. Featuring a 6.1-in. high-resolution touch-screen with split-screen capability and integrated backup camera display, this system also includes AM/FM CD player, eight speakers, SiriusXM Satellite Radio compatibility, HD Radio with iTunes Tagging, USB port with iPod connectivity and control, hands-free phone capability, phone book access, advanced voice recognition, and music streaming via Bluetooth wireless technology. Featuring a 7-in. high-resolution touch-screen with integrated backup camera, this system also includes JBL Synthesis AM/FM 4-disc CD changer, fourteen speakers including subwoofer, SiriusXM Satellite Radio capability, auxiliary audio jack, USB port with iPod connectivity, hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth wireless technology.

It’s remarkable what you can put in 2012 Toyota Sequoia, but it’s even more remarkable what you and your family will get out of it. Sequoia’s available power liftgate makes it easy to access that cavernous cargo bay and all your gear. Just press a button on the key fob and the liftgate gently releases upward. Let the fun begin. Sometimes you don’t realize how much you might appreciate something until you have one yourself. Then you don’t know what you ever did without it. Sequoia’s convenient available power liftgate is one of those things.

With Toyota Sequoia, one thing you’ll never leave behind is peace of mind. Sequoia’s equipped with an array of active safety features to help you avoid trouble, and passive safety features to help protect you if trouble proves unavoidable. It also offers features such as available Dynamic Laser Cruise Control (DLCC). While not technically a safety feature, DLCC automatically adjusts vehicle speed to help maintain a preset distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. We go to these lengths because, as with any excursion, there’s no substitute for preparation. Sequoia comes standard with the Star Safety System, a suite of six advanced safety features designed to help keep drivers out of harm’s way. The system includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA)3 and Smart Stop Technology (SST).

The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) evaluates the pressure of the tires. When pressure is critically low, the monitor issues a warning, allowing the driver to address concerns. An Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) helps prevent brakes from locking up, while the sophisticated Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) helps prevent front and rear wheelslip by monitoring your steering angle and comparing it to the direction in which your vehicle is traveling. Toyota offers a wide range of available pet accessories designed to help you transport your furry companions in comfort and security. Not all collisions call for maximum airbag deployment. Sequoia’s sophisticated system is designed to provide appropriate protection based on the situation. In certain types of frontal collisions, the standard driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System senses impact severity, adjusting airbag deployment accordingly.

When you take your family into the sticks, you need a vehicle that’s strong and reliable. Precisely what you get with Sequoia. It’s forged on a fully boxed frame for strength and durability. It also boasts an available 381-hp 5.7L V8 with up to 7400 lb. of towing capacity. Plus, a TOW/HAUL mode that selects transmission shift points to optimize that power. So grab the gang and the gear. Where you’re going, you won’t need to fight for a space to put the picnic blanket. Sequoia’s independent double-wishbone front and rear suspension gives you the best of both worlds: responsive handling on pavement and a smoother ride off-road. This sophisticated suspension utilizes low-pressure gas-filled shock absorbers and hollow stabilizer bars. Also enhancing Platinum’s on-road performance is Active Variable Suspension (AVS) with three settings ranging from “comfort” to “sport.”

2012 Toyota Sequoia is available with an allaluminum 5.7L V8 that puts out 381 hp and 401 lb.-ft. of torque. Or, go with a 4.6L V8 DOHC 32-valve1 that produces 310 hp. Plus, both engines have received an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle II (ULEV-II) rating, because with power comes responsibility. Maintaining ride height is important when the vehicle is carrying many passengers or a lot of cargo weight. That’s why Sequoia’s Platinum model features Electronically Modulated Air Suspension. It allows the driver to adjust ride height to compensate for changes in load. So Sequoia’s ride is always the same: smooth. Even with adjusted side mirrors, adjacent vehicles may enter “blind spot” areas to the side and rear of the vehicle that are outside of the driver’s view. Sequoia’s Blind Spot Monitor system, standard on Platinum, uses radar to scan these blind spots for other vehicles.

When towing, winds or load undulation can cause trailer sway. TSC is designed to apply brake pressure at individual wheels and manage engine torque to help the driver maintain control of the trailer. This available system can turn mountains into molehills. Just turn the shift dial to engage the 4WD mode and let the Torsen limited-slip center differential go to work. The differential locks up to get maximum traction on slippery or uneven surfaces. Sequoia’s advanced Automatic Limited-Slip Differential (Auto LSD) uses the brakes to help reduce wheelspin and enhance traction performance on unpredictable road surfaces like sand or mud.

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