We first drove the refreshed 2019 Toyota Sequoia TRD Sport last April as part of our 2019 Toyota SUV rundown. A little over a year ago, we decided the Sequoia lived up to its namesake, a large and ancient thing. But the new front end updates and LED lighting were enough to breath a bit of modernity back into a model that was new in 2007. This time, however, we have the new TRD Pro model, which has a number of changes and upgrades compared to the more pedestrian versions of the Sequoia.

The biggest change here is the suspension. Fox dampers fitted to the TRD Pro model provide a supple ride quality on the road. To be honest, this off-road focused model is more comfortable than a  regular Sequoia. The issue is that this particular TRD Pro model arrives with no additional ground clearance like the Tundra TRD Pro or Tacoma TRD Pro, so it may not be ideal for your off-road, family-toting needs in that regard. If Toyota and off-road ground clearance are your purchasing criteria, we’d go with the Land Cruiser. Front skid plates, a substantial roof rack, TRD running boards, black BBS wheels, and Rigid fog lights round out the package.

The last change in the Sequoia TRD Pro lies with the four wheel drive system itself. In the TRD Pro, the Sequoia gains an option for locking the differential when using the knob to select 2WD, 4HI, or 4LO. The differential locker allows the power gets sent forward or back depending on traction necessity. This allows the V8 to play well with all the power and torque on tap, in this case, 381 and 406 respectively. For sticky situations or crawling over loose terrain, the differential locker will help keep the wheels rotating. We did practice some socially-distant off-road trail driving along with with Chris’ personal Toyota FJ Cruiser acting as a camera car. The big Sequoia can scramble over rocky surfaces and wade through moderate pools of water, but the big body isn’t ideal for tight forestry trails.

Inside, there are large knobs and buttons which are great for usage with gloves. That being said, the 13 years of interior material developments reflect poorly on the Sequoia as a new car. There are last-generation hard plastics throughout, and for $65,000+ that seems like an oversight, especially when the top trim in 2008 was right around $50,000.

Age has caught up with the Sequoia and we definitely think its time for a redesign. That being said, it’s cheaper than its competitors and still sells around 10,000 units a year. If it isn’t broke, why fix it when you can just add trim levels? This isn’t the typical Pro version we’re used to from Toyota, but it works with all its utility just the same.

-Scott Villeneuve

Related: 2019 Toyota SUV Rundown