2025 Toyota Sequoia 1794 Edition: Big, Bold, and Built for Texas

It’s not often that a review doubles as a road trip, but this one deserved it. My week with the 2025 Toyota Sequoia 1794 Edition lined up perfectly with two quintessentially Texan events — the State Fair of Texas and the Texas Truck Rodeo. So I loaded up Toyota’s biggest SUV, pointed it northwest from Dallas toward Decatur, and settled in for a few hours behind the wheel of what’s arguably Toyota’s most Texas-spirited vehicle.

The Sequoia’s been around long enough to have seen the rise and fall of full-size SUVs. The last generation stuck around for more than a decade, long after it should have retired, and it felt its age. But the new Sequoia — built right here in San Antonio — brings Toyota’s full-size SUV back into relevance with a truck-based platform, hybrid power, and a Texas-sized dose of refinement.

Looks That Stick

The Sequoia 1794 Edition makes an impression before you even touch the door handle. It’s not subtle — and that’s exactly the point. Dressed in Wind Chill Pearl and accented with chrome and brushed aluminum trim, it projects confidence without going overboard. The massive grille borrows its attitude from the Tundra, while the body lines are sharp but mature. It’s more composed than aggressive, like a cowboy who knows he doesn’t have to prove anything.

The 1794 trim adds unique styling touches that blend luxury and heritage: satin-chrome accents, 20-inch machined-finish wheels, and badging that nods to the JLC Ranch, the 18th-century property where Toyota’s Texas plant now stands. That historical tie gives this Sequoia more than just a fancy name — it gives it roots.

From the side, the proportions are clean and balanced. The roofline tapers just enough to avoid the school-bus look that plagues some big SUVs. Around back, bold taillights and a power liftgate round out a design that finally looks modern again.

Inside the Ranch

Step inside, and the Sequoia 1794 greets you with a mix of western-inspired luxury and modern Toyota practicality. There’s plenty of stitched leather, real wood trim, and soft-touch materials where they count. It’s rugged but refined — like a saddle that costs more than your first car.

The 1794’s interior color scheme leans warm and rich, and the seats are both heated and ventilated, with multi-way power adjustment and lumbar support that keeps long drives from feeling like endurance events. The 14-inch touchscreen sits proudly in the center stack, running Toyota’s latest multimedia system. It’s intuitive, fast, and fully integrated with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Ahead of the driver, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster gives you hybrid system info, trip data, and off-road displays — all crisp and easy to read. Add in a JBL 14-speaker audio system with subwoofer and amp, and you’ve got a cabin that feels more like a luxury lounge than a truck-based SUV.

If you’ve got family or gear to haul, the Sequoia’s three-row setup does the trick. The second-row captain’s chairs are wide and comfortable, and the power-folding third row makes it easy to transition from people to cargo. The hybrid battery sits beneath that third row, so cargo space isn’t quite as cavernous as some rivals — but it’s still plenty usable for weekend trips or family hauls.

Power, Meet Poise

Under the hood — or technically, beneath it and behind it — is Toyota’s i-FORCE MAX twin-turbo V6 hybrid. It’s a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 paired with an electric motor and a 10-speed automatic transmission. Together, they make 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, all sent to a 4WDemand part-time 4WD system with electronic transfer case and automatic limited-slip differential.

Translation: it’s quick. Not sports-car quick, but there’s an effortless surge of torque every time you dip into the throttle. The hybrid assist fills in the gaps beautifully, making the Sequoia feel both powerful and refined — a rare combo for a full-size SUV.

On the road, the Sequoia 1794 rides confidently. It’s still a body-on-frame vehicle, so you feel a bit of that truck DNA, but Toyota’s multi-link rear suspension smooths things out. Steering is light but predictable, and while this isn’t something you’ll want to toss into corners, it tracks cleanly down the highway.

Noise levels are impressively low, and at 75 mph on the way to Decatur, the cabin was quiet enough for a podcast and a conversation at normal volume — not something I could’ve said about the old Sequoia.

Fuel economy? The EPA rates it at 19 mpg city, 22 highway, and 20 combined. It’s not a hybrid miracle worker, but for a 6,000-pound three-row SUV with nearly 10,000 pounds of towing capacity, that’s respectable.

Everyday Use and Utility

Toyota didn’t forget that a Sequoia needs to earn its keep. The 1794 trim includes a tow hitch with a 7-pin connector, trailer backup assist, and Tow/Haul drive modes. With the available Tow Tech Package, you get a wireless trailer camera system that makes hooking up a breeze.

Around town, the Sequoia’s size is noticeable — this isn’t something you’re squeezing into compact parking spots. But the 360-degree camera system and parking sensors make it surprisingly easy to manage. And if you’re taking it off the pavement, the 4WDemand system and underbody strength make it capable enough for mild trails or muddy fields.

Family trips? The Sequoia handles them with ease. Plenty of charging ports, multiple climate zones, and storage compartments everywhere you look. It’s an SUV that feels equally comfortable hauling kids to school or towing a boat to the lake.

The Price of Power

At $86,055 as tested, the Sequoia 1794 sits near the top of Toyota’s SUV lineup — and squarely among its competitors. The GMC Yukon Denali, Chevy Suburban High Country, and Ford Expedition Platinum all play in this space, and all are capable, luxurious, and expensive.

But Toyota brings two things the others don’t: hybrid power as standard and a reputation for long-term reliability that’s tough to ignore. You can spend this much elsewhere, but few SUVs combine heritage, horsepower, and hybrid efficiency quite like this one.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Toyota Sequoia 1794 Edition isn’t just a new version of an old name — it’s a full-size SUV that finally feels modern again. It’s big, confident, and unapologetically Texan, with the refinement to match its muscle.

Driving from the State Fair of Texas to the Truck Rodeo, it struck me just how well this Sequoia fits the state it’s built in. It’s powerful on the highway, smooth when you need it to be, and dressed to impress whether you’re in the city or out at the ranch.

If you want to see it in action, check out our full video review on TXGarage’s YouTube channel, where I take the Sequoia 1794 on the road and talk about how it stacks up in the real world.

For me, this SUV hits the sweet spot between brawn and comfort. It’s everything the Sequoia needed to be — and exactly what you’d hope for from a Toyota wearing the 1794 badge.

Bottom line: The Sequoia 1794 isn’t trying to be flashy; it’s trying to be right. And for the first time in a long time, it absolutely is.