Reviewed: The 2025 Toyota Sequoia Capstone – Why is a Utility Vehicle that Lacks Utility so Endearing?

by Greg Karpinski

The Toyota Sequoia Capstone is one of those vehicles that impresses you immediately… until you start asking it difficult questions.  Our tester, finished in Blueprint, might be the best-looking full-size SUV in the segment, blending style and presence with a level of polish that finally makes the Sequoia feel truly premium.  Underneath that handsome skin is the best powertrain you can buy in this class – a twin-turbo V6 hybrid setup that delivers real performance and surprising efficiency in a space traditionally dominated by thirsty V8s.  And yet, the longer you live with it, the more its compromises reveal themselves.  The Sequoia is a vehicle that feels incredibly advanced and capable, but also occasionally frustrating in ways that are hard to ignore.

The Fine Print: Toyota wanted to see what we thought of their Sequoia so badly, they dropped off a top-of-the-line Capstone finished in Blueprint with a full tank of gas and said make it do SUV things, so we hauled around kids, friends and all their trappings in supreme comfort.

From the outside, the Toyota Sequoia Capstone absolutely looks the part and may be the most handsome full-size SUV Toyota has ever screwed together.  Measuring roughly 208.1 inches long, 79.8 inches wide and 74.9 inches tall, riding on a 122-inch wheelbase, it’s undeniably massive, yet the proportions are so well managed that it never looks or feels cartoonish.  The upright stance, strong shoulder lines and bold grille give it serious presence without drifting into excess and there’s a maturity to the design that makes rivals feel bland by comparison.  This is a Sequoia that is finally elevated over its rivals instead of lagging behind.

The Capstone trim dials things up with unique detailing that sets it apart from lesser Sequoias.  You get stylish 22-inch wheels wrapped in meaty 265 section-width rubber, an exclusive grille treatment and tasteful exterior accents that lean upscale rather than aggressive.  Full LED lighting front and rear sharpens the look, especially at night, while the overall surfacing keeps things clean and refined.  Despite the fact that it’s a behemoth, the visual restraint plays into the experience of the Sequoia – it doesn’t feel bulky or awkward, it looks expensive, intentional and every bit like a flagship SUV, which makes some of the compromises living underneath its muscular skin all the more surprising.

Inside, the Sequoia makes a strong first impression.  The cabin is spacious up front with about 41 inches of legroom and wide, supportive seats that make long drives easy.  The second row is similarly comfortable, offering roughly 39 inches of legroom, solid headroom and a commanding view out – this is a genuinely nice place for adult passengers to spend time.  The Capstone trim layers on two-tone semi-aniline leather, open pore wood trim and plenty of comfort features, reinforcing that this is Toyota’s flagship SUV.  From a seating and driving-position perspective, it feels big, confident and relaxed, which is exactly what you want in a vehicle this size.

Where things start to unravel is the packaging, and it’s impossible to ignore.  The hybrid battery pack lives under the rear cargo area, which forces the load floor higher than the rear opening, compromising usability.  With the battery occupying that space, the third row can’t fold flat into the floor, which results in an awkward double stack of battery and seats and, with the third row up, the space behind is shockingly small.  At just over 10 cubic feet, it’s barely enough for a few grocery bags, let alone camera gear for your favorite YouTubers.  Even with the third row folded, the stepped load floor is a constant reminder that the efficiency came at a cost.  For a vehicle this large, the cargo situation is genuinely disappointing. 

On the tech front, the Sequoia Capstone delivers where you expect it to.  A 14-inch central touchscreen anchors the dash, paired with a fully digital gauge cluster and the system is responsive, intuitive and packed with modern features.  Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a heads-up display, crisp surround view cameras and a full suite of driver assistance tech are all standard, making the Sequoia feel properly modern.  Toyota’s interface may not be flashy, but it’s clear, functional and easy to learn quickly and live with – which almost makes the interior packaging missteps more frustrating, because the tech itself gets so much right.

Under the hood of all Sequoias sits the excellent i-Force MAX twin-turbo V6 hybrid, which is a 3.4L V6, breathed on by two turbos paired with an electric motor that delivers a combined output of 437hp and a trunk-pulling 583lb-ft of torque, all sent through a smooth 10-speed automatic transmission.  That’s serious grunt for a three row SUV and the performance backs it up: this setup hits 60mph in the mid five second range and lug all 6100 pounds through the quarter mile in the low 14 second range, numbers most full-size SUVs can only dream about.  The big Sequoia doesn’t feel ponderous – it feels eager, confident and surprisingly quick for something that carries passengers and gear like it does.  Toyota’s adaptive variable suspension keeps the ride composed, soaking up highway imperfections while still controlling body motion through twisty bits, giving it a balanced feel that far more refined than what you’d expect from a truck-based SUV.

On the efficiency side, the hybrid turbo V6 brings real gains over traditional big V8 engines.  EPA estimates land around 19mpg in the city and 22mpg highway for the AWD Capstone, which certainly doesn’t make it Prius, but lands it at the top of the pile for the segment.  Even with all that efficiency, capability doesn’t disappoint in this big girl – when properly equipped, the Sequoia can tow up to 9500 pounds, making it an excellent option for trailers, boats, racecars, or whatever else you need to haul.  The hybrid system’s torque delivery feels strong and linear under load and the rig never seems fazed by a full cabin – it just gets on with the job.  In short, the Sequoia delivers performance that surprises, efficiency that’s welcome and capability that reminds you this isn’t a soft luxury SUV, it’s a seriously able full-size machine.

That’s the Sequoia Capstone paradox – on paper, it’s a utility vehicle that fumbles the most basic utility tasks, yet behind the wheel it’s incredibly easy to fall for.  The powertrain is genuinely class-leading, the ride is confident and refined, and the way it shrinks around you on the road makes this massive SUV feel far more manageable than it has any right to.  Add in its striking, muscular design, effortless performance and Toyota’s reputation for long-term durability and you start to understand the appeal.  Yes, the packaging is frustrating and hard to ignore, especially at nearly $85,000 as tested, but the Capstone wins you over not only with its practicality but by being one of the most satisfying to drive.