But, why so big?

My problem is simply this: why did they build it so big when there was no logical reason to do so? Take this for example... if you look out through the front, the hood appears to be much higher than the bottom edge of the windscreen. Why is that? After all, when you lift the hood, the engine actually sits considerably lower.

At first, I thought that was because my tester was fitted with the 4.7L V8, rather than the bigger 5.7L V8 which the Tundra pickup that I'm currently reviewing carries (That, by the way, will be an interesting review for you to read, because I see the Tundra under a totally different light). But no, that wasn't the reason, because even the larger engine sits much lower.

Then there are the huge voids under the bulbous wheel arches, which appear to be there for no other reason than to make the vehicle look, well, bulbous!

My only conclusion is that Toyota bought into the American idea that "big is beautiful", at a time when fuel costs and the problems of global warming are making these types of vehicles social outcasts.

Speaking of fuel costs, I also had a slight issue with the fuel consumption on my tester. The manufacturer's handout gave the figures as 16.1L/100 km city, and 12.3 highway. Yet, to be honest, during my week in the Sequoia, I couldn't even get close to that. In fact, I appear to be getting better mileage out of the 5.7L V8 Tundra this week.


How do you view it?

I also struggle with the fact that many 7-passenger vehicles are looked upon as family vehicles nowadays, and are driven by mothers. How many of them will want the problems of trying to park such a beast in the local shopping plaza?

In fact, to give you an idea of how some women view the Sequoia, during my test week, I happened to slowly pass by three of them with my window down, and I overheard one say to the others "Do you think he could have found a bigger truck, even if he'd wanted to"!

I was a little embarrassed by that comment to say the least, and what made it even worse, was the fact that it didn't take place on a downtown city street It happened in a small country town where farm trucks and SUVs are the normal mode of transportation.

I just think that Toyota has got its timing all wrong with this vehicle. Yes, a few years ago, big SUVs were perhaps beautiful, but now, many are viewing them as purely wasteful gas guzzlers.

Pickup trucks somehow manage to avoid that label, as most see them as good honest work vehicles, and therefore I can buy into the Tundra, but as a passenger vehicle, I find the 2008 Sequoia way OTT (over the top).

I believe that the day of the super-size SUVs are gone now forever, so unless Toyota plans to bring out a hybrid/diesel version of the Sequoia in the very near future, and put it on a diet, I believe that this vehicle will eventually go the way of the Dodo bird.