An HONEST Review Of The 2025 Toyota Sequoia Capstone

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Transcript:

Hi, I’m Jana, and this is a real mom car tour of the 2025 Toyota Sequoia Capstone—and I have strong feelings about this one.

When Toyota redesigned the Sequoia a couple of years ago, I went straight to my local dealer and put my name on the list. I really thought I was going to buy one. I didn’t—and in this tour, I’ll show you the inside and outside, tell you what I liked, what you need to know, and what ultimately became the deal-breaker for me.

So buckle up—let’s do it.

Powertrain and Specs

Every new Sequoia comes with the same powertrain, no matter which trim you choose. All Sequoias are standard hybrids and standard all-wheel drive.

Under the hood is Toyota’s 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 i-Force Max hybrid, paired with an electric motor. Combined output is 437 horsepower and over 580 lb-ft of torque.

There are three drive modes, which I’ll show you inside, but the bottom line is this: it has serious get-up-and-go. In Normal mode it moves, and in Sport it’ll genuinely push you back in your seat.

Exterior Walkaround

The Capstone trim is all about presence—and Toyota makes sure you know it. There’s chrome everywhere, and it works. The highlight, though, is the 22-inch wheels. They look sporty and really pull the whole side profile together.

Capstone also adds premium touches like auto-leveling LED headlights, and from every angle, this thing looks expensive—because it is.

This one is priced as-tested at $86,500.

Towing and Fuel Economy

If towing matters, the Sequoia is a strong player. It’s rated to tow up to 9,500 pounds, which puts it in “real boat, real camper, real trailer” territory.

Fuel economy is rated at 19 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, 20 mpg combined. For a full-size SUV with this much power, I don’t think that’s bad.

This week, with mostly around-town driving, I averaged 16.6 mpg.

And here’s my take: if you’re shopping an $80,000–$90,000 SUV, you’re not going to be shocked by fuel costs. It comes with the territory.

Driving Impressions

Driving the Sequoia is genuinely fun—especially if you like trucks. To me, it feels a lot like driving a Tundra, and I mean that in the best way. This is a body-on-frame SUV, so it feels more planted, more solid, and more “truck-like” than something like my Palisade, which drives more like a big car.

The core competitors, in my opinion, are:

Chevy Tahoe

GMC Yukon

Ford Expedition

And then you’ve got the other contenders people cross-shop, like the Armada and QX80, plus Toyota’s own options depending on what you need (more on that later).

My favorite surprise? Even though it’s big, it turns and parks incredibly well. It honestly feels like it turns on a dime. U-turns are easy. Parking is easy. Backing into a space is smooth and confident. Toyota’s done something special with the steering and turning radius here.

Ride and drive feel: I give it a 9 out of 10.

The hybrid powertrain can sound a little loud and rumbly, but I don’t mean that as a negative. It has a tough, truck-like sound—honestly, it fits the vibe.

Interior and Premium Features

Toyota makes the Capstone feel genuinely upscale.

Up front you get:

Heated and ventilated front seats

Wireless charging

Upgraded 14-speaker JBL sound system

Huge panoramic roof with a full power shade (which matters when summer turns your cabin into an oven)

Wood trim

Ambient lighting

Capstone badging throughout

And I have to say: Toyota truck steering wheels just feel good. This one is thick, substantial, and solid in your hands.

Also, the power running boards are a big deal if you’ve got kids. They pop out automatically when you open the door, and it makes getting in and out so much easier.

The Third-Row Reality (and the Deal-Breaker)

Here’s the honest mom part.

To me, this is not an everyday third row. It’s a “in a pinch” third row—or a third row for older kids who aren’t in car seats.

The reason is access.

The second-row seat uses a tumble mechanism to let you climb into the third row, but if you’ve got a booster or a car seat installed, you can’t tumble the seat the same way. Your kids might be agile enough to climb through or over the console, but it’s not ideal—and it’s something families need to know before buying.

Another key point: the second-row seats are not on tracks, so they don’t slide forward and back. The third-row seats do slide, though, which helps with either legroom or cargo space.

Second-Row Highlights

The second row is comfortable and well-equipped:

Big center console with cupholders and storage

Removable liner (thank you, Toyota—because kids will destroy this area)

Vents up top and vents on the rear console

Extra cupholders on the back of the console

Rear climate controls

Heated and ventilated second-row seats

Sunshades (at this price, I expect them—and I’m glad they’re here)

Charging options: USB-A, USB-C, and a household plug

One note for dog owners: that console isn’t really a flat “dog-friendly” space, and it doesn’t appear easily removable.

Cargo Space and Luggage Test

With the third row up, packing for a trip takes some planning. The third-row sliding function helps, but you’re still working around the reality of the space behind that third row.

I managed to get luggage in and close the hatch—but it’s not effortless, and there isn’t a perfect, clean way to pack it if you’re carrying people and bags.

Tech and Safety

Toyota’s infotainment system is one of my favorites.

You get:

A 14-inch touchscreen

Wireless Apple CarPlay

Wireless Android Auto

Simple, intuitive menus (no digging through nonsense)

Voice control: just say “Hey, Toyota”

Toyota app features like remote start and service scheduling

Safety-wise, Toyota Safety Sense is standard, including:

Adaptive cruise control

Lane keep assist

Automatic emergency braking

Blind spot monitoring

Rear cross-traffic alert

And the 360-degree camera is a game changer—especially with the “see-through” view that helps you spot curbs, bikes, or the random soccer ball that somehow ended up in your driveway.

What I’d Buy Instead (Depending on Your Life)

This is where the Sequoia gets tricky—because it’s excellent, but it’s not perfect for every family.

If you need giant cargo space and smoother highway cruising, I’d look at a Tahoe High Country—especially if you want features like Super Cruise.

If you want more off-road adventure, you might consider the 4Runner, but the new powertrain change could be a deal-breaker for some people.

If you need better third-row usability, better family packaging, strong MPG, and a great all-around experience, I’d point most families toward the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max. For many family setups, it simply works better than the Sequoia.

But if you want luxury, muscle, presence, hybrid fuel economy, and that big, boxy full-size SUV feel—this is absolutely it.

Final Thoughts

I know it sounds like I’m pointing out a lot of negatives, but I’m not. I’m passionate about this Sequoia because I wanted it to work for my life—and right now, it doesn’t.

I love how it looks. I love how it drives. I love how premium the Capstone feels. I can’t believe the seats even massage—honestly, that feels like a Lexus move. And I love the way I feel driving it.

But the third-row access and cargo reality is what kept me from buying one.

So what do you think of the 2025 Toyota Sequoia Capstone? Would you choose this over the Tahoe, Yukon, or Expedition—or would you go with the Grand Highlander instead for the third row and cargo space?

Let me know in the comments, and if you have questions, drop them below—I’ll do my best to help.

If you can handle this brand of chaos and real mom life, you can find me on TikTok and Instagram, and at realmomcartours.com.

For me and this big beast, that’s all I’ve got. Thanks for watching.

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