Trims and Powertrain

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia is sold in six trims: SR5, TRD Sport, Limited, Nightshade Special Edition, TRD Pro, and Platinum. Both the SR5 and Limited come standard with a second-row bench, giving them an eight-passenger capacity. All other trims have second-row captain’s chairs instead, dropping capacity to seven.

All Sequoias get standard rear-wheel drive, with four-wheel drive available, except for the strictly-AWD TRD Pro. Their powertrain consists of a 5.7-liter V-8 engine (381 horsepower and 401 lb.-ft. of torque) and a six-speed automatic transmission with modes for sequential shifting and towing. The official EPA-estimated fuel economy for all trims is 13 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway.

Standard and Optional Features

The standard equipment on the base SR5 includes three-zone automatic climate control, an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a moonroof, keyless entry, push-button start, LED headlights, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The optional Premium Package includes leather seating, a 10-way power driver’s seat, a six-way power front passenger seat, heated front seats, a power reclining and fold-flat third-row bench seat. It also gets some advanced driver aids and premium audio with navigation (see the following sections for details).

The trail-oriented TRD Sport adds trim-specific 20-inch wheels, Bilstein shock absorbers, upgraded anti-roll bars, and a roof rack and exterior trim in black. The Premium Package is available. The Limited adds an upscale touch with unique 20-inch wheels, chrome exterior accents, a power liftgate, and the contents of the Premium Package. The available Premium JBL Audio and Convenience Package includes an upgraded audio system, and a position memory system for the driver’s seat and outside mirrors. The pair of captain’s chairs can be ordered to replace the standard second-row bench seat.

In the Nightshade Special Edition, the Limited’s chrome trim is swapped out for blacked-out accents and 20-inch wheels. The second-row captain’s chairs are standard, too, along with the same equipment and options listed for the Limited. The TRD Pro starts with the same standard features as the TRD Sport trim, but adds all of the features of the Premium Package as standard, along with 18-inch black BBS wheels, black running boards, a power liftgate, Fox dampers, skid plates, Rigid Industries LED fog lights, trim-exclusive leather seating, and a JBL audio system.

The Platinum combines all of the best amenities and options (except for the blacked-out accents and off-road gear) into one top-tier trim. Its extra standard-issue goodies include power-folding and heated sideview mirrors, electronically controlled shocks and adaptive suspension, perforated leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a rear-seat entertainment system with Blu-ray player. The only option is TRD Pro black cat-back exhaust system (which is available on all trims).

Safety and Technology

All 2021 Sequoias are equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, the automaker’s suite of advanced-technology driver aids. These features include a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, automatic high beams, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is also standard, as is front/rear parking assist sonar.

Every Sequoia gets a feature-filled infotainment system that can be controlled by voice recognition or the 7-inch touchscreen. The base version has AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, a USB media port, two USB charging ports, voice recognition, Bluetooth for phone use and audio streaming, Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Wi-Fi hotspot access, and eight speakers. Touchscreen-controlled navigation is included in the optional Premium Package and standard on the Limited and higher trims. The Limited and Nightshade Special Edition add two more pairs of speakers and are eligible to upgrade to the version of the system that has a premium JBL sound system and 14 speakers; the Platinum and TRD Pro get that version standard. The Platinum has a standard Blu-ray Disc player with a 9-inch screen, wireless remote control, and two sets of wireless headphones; this feature is optional on the Nightshade Special Edition. All 2021 Sequoias provide telematics for emergency assistance (Safety Connect) and remote vehicle diagnostics (Service Connect).