Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Toyota is a household name for two simple reasons: reliability and off-road capability. That pedigree made legends out of the 4Runner, Land Cruiser, and the V8-powered Sequoia. But while the Land Cruiser briefly vanished from America, the Sequoia stayed put because it nailed its assignment: giving adventurous families real three-row utility with legitimate towing and trail chops. Its only real drawbacks were steep pricing and poor gas mileage—two traits that haven't disappeared in 2026.Jared Rosenholtz/AutoblogNow powered by the modern 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid borrowed from the Tundra, the Sequoia keeps that heavy-duty spirit alive. With prices stretching from $65,725 to over $86,000, it's a substantial investment. The dedicated TRD Pro model starts at $82,465, and my heavily optioned tester topped out at $88,196. So, after living with it as a family rig, can it justify its $88K window sticker? Absolutely, for the right family.AdvertisementAdvertisementRelated: Road Ethos Launches: The New Automotive Lifestyle Site You Should ReadThe TRD Pro is bursting with factory off-road soft and hardwareJared Rosenholtz/AutoblogLike the TRD Pro trims on the 4Runner, Tacoma, and Tundra, the TRD Pro trim comes with some respectable soft and hardware to make it truly trail-ready the second you sign on the dotted line. With the Sequoia, only the SR5 and Limited come standard with rear-wheel drive and offer 4WD as an option—everything else is 4WD only. Aside from the company's excellent part-time system, here's what else comes on the TRD Pro trim:Factory-installed FOX coil-overs up front and remote-reservoir rear shocks, paired with red-painted TRD coil springs and a thicker TRD Pro front stabilizer bar. A roughly 1.1-inch factory front leveling lift that levels out the rake and provides 9.1 inches of ground clearance. 18-inch matte-black forged-aluminum BBS wheels with TRD center caps wrapped in 33-inch Falken Wildpeak A/T tires.Blacked-out mesh grille featuring bold block lettering, an integrated central LED light bar, and three amber marker lights. Black chrome, dual-outlet cat-back exhaust tuned with a deeper, more aggressive engine note. 1/4-inch thick aluminum TRD Pro front skid plate with stamped red TRD lettering. Technical camo pattern molded into the exterior fender flares and front/rear bumper valances.Black low-profile aluminum roof rack and fixed cast-aluminum TRD side steps. Trim-exclusive Wave Maker color (ironically only available for 2026; next year is Honeycomb).Standard 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia screen and 14-speaker JBL premium audio system.On the software front, the Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro comes with the company's Multi-Terrain Monitoring system, which is a very welcome asset off-road. It uses the car's exterior cameras (on the side mirrors, front grille, and rear tailgate) to show obstacles that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to see. You can choose a screen that shows multiple angles, or you can pick an individual view, depending on what you're doing. There's a tire placement prediction tool, too, so you can see where your tires would land to ensure you'll make it over that log or rock that's in your path. But you can turn that off if you don't want it, too. It also has a pitch and roll monitor, the car's incline and side-to-side tilt, too. Kristen BrownUnlike most full-size 4WD SUVs, the Sequoia TRD Pro has a two-speed electronically controlled transfer case and an e-locking differential in the rear. So, in combination with the tires, suspension, underbody protection, and the camera system, there's very little you'd need to modify to be able to christen it off-road. Because it comes with a roof rack, you can strap your camping gear or other outdoorsy equipment on top if you need to. When put under a microscope, its capabilities make the price feel more reasonable. Especially since it can fit the family, too.It can handle family duty just fineClimbing into the 2026 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro, the cabin immediately makes a strong case for its nearly $88K sticker price by blending heavy-duty durability with clever, intuitive tech. You get comfortable SofTex-trimmed seats with exclusive technical camo inserts, a massive 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen, and a wonderful 14-speaker JBL sound system. But where the cabin truly justifies its price point for active families is its thoughtful spatial engineering. Up front and in the second-row captain's chairs, passenger comfort is generous, offering a spacious 39.2 inches of second-row legroom that easily accommodates bulky front-facing car seats, front-facing car seats, boosters, or tall adults without crowding those up front (which you can't do anyway, because the second row captain's chairs aren't on rails). Everyone, even in the third row, gets their own A/C air vent, access to climate controls (in the second row), cupholders, and USB-C charging ports. Each passenger gets their own sunshade, too, in case they want to feel like a vampire.Kristen BrownThe real party trick is in the third row, which makes up for the lack of sliding second-row seats. The third row seats sit on a 6-inch track, so instead of being stuck in a fixed position, third-row legroom can be adjusted from 28.1 inches up to a roomy 33.7 inches. In terms of cargo numbers, that slide functionality allows storage behind the third row to expand dynamically from 11.5 to 22.3 cubic feet. Fold that third row down, and cargo space opens up to 49.0 cubic feet, expanding to a massive 86.9 cubic feet with all rear rows collapsed. But the hybrid battery prevents the seats from folding flat into the floor, making the cargo floor tiered and uneven. Kristen BrownAdvertisementAdvertisementToyota thought about this, though, but implementing an adjustable cargo shelf system. Slotting the removable shelf into its upper position bridges that height gap to create a seamless, flat load floor. It doubles as a tiered storage solution, creating a hidden lower cubby underneath for muddy hiking boots or sports gear, and it's rated to hold up to a sturdy 220 pounds—meaning you can stack heavy coolers and luggage on top without hesitation. Related: Is The 2026 Toyota Sequoia The Ultimate "Mom Car"? Here Are My Thoughts After Putting My Family In OneThe power is plentiful, though it hurts MPGsLet's be clear: I definitely did not expect more than, say, 22 MPG from this thing. But I was quite shocked that the twin-turbo V6 struggled to get past 16 MPG in a combined setting, especially since Toyota rates it for 19 MPG. But then again, there's a lot more equipment on the TRD Pro, so I had to give it some grace there. But as the price of regular continues to creep closer to $6 per gallon where I live, I couldn't see many suburban families truly benefiting from that kind of mileage. The engine and hybrid system are engineered for pulling, and it's great at that, with a maximum towing rating of 9,520 lbs when properly equipped. It's meant to drag your boat, camper, trailer, ATVs, and dirt bikes with zero difficulty. If you want something specifically for the kids, you're better off shopping for a Toyota Grand Highlander.Jared Rosenholtz/AutoblogThe hybrid system certainly helps with acceleration, which gives people (including myself) the pretense that the TRD badge (which stands for Toyota Racing Division) helps make it fast off the line. It doesn't—and I shouldn't be that surprised, considering it weighs three tons. Most of the engine and transmission's torque is used to get the heifer moving when it's not towing, so she's no race car. And that's okay—no one's buying the TRD Pro for speed, anyway.Final thoughtsI'll be honest: I walked away from the Sequoia TRD Pro with a lot more affection for it than I anticipated. I expected a cumbersome, lumbering truck, but driving it was effortless. The hybrid twin-turbo V6 and 10-speed automatic work together so quietly and smoothly that driving this giant never feels like a chore. The kids were thrilled with their space in the back, and I kept finding myself charmed by how thoughtfully Toyota engineered solutions to every potential headache I found, right down to the sliding seats and heavy-duty cargo shelf.AdvertisementAdvertisementSo, is it worth an $88K price tag? Yes, with one major caveat: you have to use it like a truck. If it's just going to sit in your driveway and shuttle the kids between soccer practices, all that Fox shock magic and heavy-duty towing capability are essentially going to waste. That's a lot of money to leave on the table when several other crossovers can do the family commute for half the price. But hey—if you just want the ultimate head-turning rig for the school drop-off lane, I won't judge. Especially in that eye-searing Wave Maker paint, this beast makes sure nobody misses your arrival.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Reviews section. 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