The first thing you notice about the Sequoia's interior is the attention to detail embedded in its design. For example, we appreciated the extra front seat visors; while the primary visor is deployed above the side window, an additional visor can be extended down from the headliner to block the sun streaming into the windshield. Plus, there's a terrifically large bin between the front seats, which is split into two levels. The top level has a notepad holder and a place for coins. The bottom level has a molded, bookshelf-like CD holder to keep up to eight CDs from rattling around. There's also enough room left over to hold a six-pack or a moderately sized purse. Further, there's an overhead console that holds sunglasses and an information center that gives readouts for vehicle direction (compass), outside temperature, and fuel economy statistics, such as miles until empty, and overall and instant mpg.Limited is very luxurious, almost like a Lexus in that regard, with sumptuous leather seats, automatic climate control, and a killer JBL stereo that had an in-dash 6-CD changer. Our Limited model was fitted with comfortable (and heated) leather seats, an enormous moonroof, and every power-operated convenience feature you could imagine. Other items make family outings a snap: multiple cupholders and storage bins scattered throughout the cabin; large openings for the rear doors which make installing child safety seats a breeze; front and rear air conditioning controls; and flexible seating arrangements. The third-row seats are easy to tumble forward (or remove, as they only weigh 52 pounds each) to expand the cargo area. In doing this, we could fit both a jogging stroller and a baby backpack, plus all the rest of the gear you need for a day's worth of hiking, in the cargo area with ease. For maximum cargo carrying, you remove the third-row seats and fold and tumble the second-row seats behind the two front seats. There's enough space back there to clean out Toys 'R Us during a clearance sale. However, all is not perfect. Toyota has a tendency to make its adjustable intermittent windshield wiper controls the opposite of what we would call intuitive. You'd think that if you want to turn up the tempo of the wipers' frequency, you'd twist the wheel on the wiper control stalk up (as in "turn it up"). But it's the other way around, a minor nit, we admit. Also, the clock is mounted far too low in center of the dash and is obscured by the climate control switches. And not all of us are enamored with the Hammertone trim in the Limited model.
|