Toyota Sequoia Luggage Test: How a lot suits behind the third row? | Autoblog

As the above picture will attest, Autoblog’s Advanced Institute for Luggage Testing has moved, pricey readers. No longer will I want to fret about capturing within the rain or worrying about my frozen fingers being smashed by luggage throughout the winter in Portland. Instead, I’ll want to fret about blazing warmth at 8:30 within the morning or catching on fireplace, as we have relocated to Southern California. This is not the everlasting spot (the brand new home, I imply Institute, is being renovated), however don’t be concerned, I made positive that the trusty assortment of baggage stayed with me. Priorities, eh?

Anyway, let’s speak in regards to the 2023 Toyota Sequoia, as a result of it positive is an fascinating check case. All-new for the primary time since George W. Bush was president, the Sequoia’s cargo state of affairs is actually distinctive, and never essentially in a great way. The specs say there’s between 11.5 and 22.3 cubic-feet of house behind the raised third row. What’s up with the vary quite than a single quantity? The Sequoia uniquely has a sliding third-row seat, which is a commendable characteristic in concept. Trouble is, you must slide all of it the way in which ahead to realize that most 22.3 quantity. You need to do no such factor within the Sequoia’s American rivals to realize comparable on-paper cargo volumes: Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon (25.5), Ford Expedition (19.3) and Jeep Wagoneer (27.4). The Sequoia’s minimal quantity, 11.5 cubic-feet, would theoretically be worse than a Kia Sorento, which might be pathetic.

Alas, the Advanced Institute for Luggage Testing exists for a purpose: Numbers do not actually inform the entire story. And not often has that been extra true than with the 2023 Toyota Sequoia.

This is what you are working with when the third row is slid all the way in which again. You’ll want to do that to realize respectable, adult-OK legroom within the third-row. All of the above American rivals nonetheless have extra room, although, together with way more headroom. 

Above is the vary of movement for the sliding third-row seat. Keep in thoughts that the second-row captain’s chairs don’t slide, that means you may’t transfer them as much as counter the misplaced third-row legroom. 

I set the third row to a distance the place a small-to-average-sized particular person might comfortably sit there. You can see the distinction above between that distance in addition to the utmost rearward place. I examined with each seats at this center distance in addition to with the seats absolutely rearward. 

Now, much more housekeeping, as a result of once more, this factor is bizarre. There is a detachable flooring that may be positioned at 4 ranges: backside, decrease, center and higher.

There are additionally three movable plastic dividers that slot into the, um, basement, to safe groceries and such. It’s a pleasant characteristic, truly.

To maximize house, I removed them, although. I additionally ejected the ground to release just a few treasured centimeters of house I knew I’d want. All of the next baggage testing was carried out with out this flooring in place on the backside. The luggage sat on the plastic basement. 

As in each baggage check I do, I exploit two midsize curler suitcases that might should be checked in on the airport (26 inches lengthy, 16 extensive, 11 deep), two roll-aboard suitcases that simply barely match within the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller roll-aboard that matches simply (23L x 15W x 10D). I additionally embody my spouse’s fancy in a single day bag simply to spruce issues up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D).

This is with the third row at its rearmost and the reclining seatback at an upright-yet-still-comfortable angle.

Can’t say I’ve give you this Tetris formation earlier than. This could be the three greatest luggage, which is a helluva lot higher than a Kia Sorento and a number of different three-row crossovers. The Sequoia’s tall, boxy form is the rationale right here, because it counteracts the cargo space’s minimal size by permitting the luggage to face up. 

However! We aren’t evaluating a Toyota Sequoia to a Kia Sorento.

Chevy Tahoe: All luggage however the smallest fancy bag.

Ford Expedition: All luggage however the largest check-in bag.

Jeep Wagoneer: All the luggage

Now, right here is the Sequoia with the third row scooted up as beforehand mentioned. This could be the 4 greatest luggage with the small curler and fancy bag left behind. This is comparable to some larger crossovers, however once more, it depends upon the Sequoia’s tall peak to make up for the dearth of size … and due to this fact this bizarre lateral stacking association. 

Despite how excessive this association is, there is not any difficulty seeing out the again. Of course, this Tundra Capstone had the rearview digicam mirror, which is nice characteristic for this very purpose.

Now, again to the luggage. You might actually slide the third row all the way in which ahead, however then I’m undecided who might slot in it for very lengthy. Or, maybe, slide one aspect ahead, slide one again, put one up, put one down … I do not know, there are undoubtedly potentialities. The third-row’s versatility shouldn’t be in query. It’s only a disgrace that it is successfully a workaround for an uncompetitive quantity of normal house.

This shouldn’t be the tip of the story, nevertheless. Part of the issue whereas loading is the everlasting “stage” that the third-row sits upon. It impedes loading luggage behind the third row when it is slid ahead to any diploma because it creates a bizarre double-tiered house. True, I might put the ground again inside on the identical degree because the stage, however then I’d be decreasing general peak, which might due to this fact cut back the quantity of baggage potential.

Also …

The third row doesn’t fold flat into the ground as within the Expedition, Wagoneer and, since its full redesign, the Tahoe/Yukon. The Sequoia’s simply sits atop that stage. 

And notice: The third-row seats aren’t detachable, as a result of Toyota says it wished to keep up safety for what’s under: the hybrid battery pack. 

Above left, you may see what that appears like with luggage. 

Above proper is with the ground in place to bridge the hole between the folded seatbacks and liftgate, thereby making a contiguous flooring with some storage beneath.

That house beneath is sufficient to match a squished fancy bag. The smallest curler wouldn’t match. 

Moving on. Like the Expedition and Tahoe, the Sequoia has a pop-up window in its liftgate. This is certainly not a nasty factor, however sadly, it means the Sequoia has misplaced the 4Runner-style energy roll-down window it had for its first two generations (pictured under). You might drive round with it rolled down, which is nice. This? Not advisable.

It also needs to be famous that the last-generation Sequoia didn’t have the third-row stage as a result of it undoubtedly was not a hybrid. It positive seems to be like there was extra size behind the third row, too. 

So yeah, whereas Toyota actually went to nice lengths to engineer intelligent workarounds, they’re nonetheless workarounds. The new Sequoia has much less cargo house than its predecessor, and much much less house than its rivals. Add in its smaller passenger lodging and you’ve got a full-size SUV that by way of inside packaging, simply is not aggressive.