An SUV of a Different Color: The 2026 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro
- Mike Hagerty
- May 6
- 3 min read
About that headline:
This year's is Wave Maker.
Wave Maker, as with the 11 TRD exclusive colors before it, is controversial. My wife posted a picture of the Sequoia TRD Pro to Facebook while we had it and the responses included "Wow, that is a bold color" and "That color is AWFUL".
Several of her friends loved Wave Maker, though, and this is my favorite:
"I would buy a car that color. My main purpose for car colors is having it stand out in a parking lot so that I can find it".
Me?
I don't know why, but it makes me---thirsty.
Oh---yeah:
The good news is that for a beast of its size and power, the 2026 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro is not especially thirsty. It comes standard with the i-FORCE MAX twin-turbo V6 hybrid, which the EPA says is good for 19 miles per gallon city/22 highway (I only saw 18.7 in about 300 miles, but I did some fairly serious mountain driving (up to 7,377 feet).
The i-FORCE MAX puts out 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, using a ten-speed automatic transmission, part-time four-wheel drive and selectable drive and terrain modes. That's enough power to move this big, heavy rig with enthusiasm. Toyota doesn't cite a figure, but Motor Trend cites 0-60 times as low as 5.6 seconds. Not only can you go fast, but you can go pretty much anywhere. TRD Pro is Toyota's no-excuses off-road trim level. It has the ground clearance (9.1 inches) and the hardware (including a TRD Pro off-road suspension with FOX shock absorbers) to go where many other vehicles cannot.
There's only 11.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row of seats. They do slide forward, giving you 22 cubic feet, but folding them gets you more---49.0. They don't fold flat, however, so you're dealing with a tiered cargo bay. If you can do without both the second and third row, there's a massive 86.9 cubic feet behind the front seats.
Legroom in the sliding third row is tight---from 28.1 to 33.7 inches, depending on which way and how far you slide. Second-row passengers can stretch out, with 39.2 inches of legroom, and a cool design for the backside of the center console, with climate controls and vents, USB and AC power jacks and secure cupholders.
The base price of the 2026 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro is $81,565---$83,660 including destination. That money buys a remarkable list of standard equipment involving top-notch off-roading components and creature comforts (see the window sticker at the end of the review).
Our test vehicle did have some extra-cost options: $2,290 for the TRD Performance Package (Dual air intake boxes, TRD cat-back exhaust, TRD Performance badges, TRD Performance premium fuel sticker), $850 for a towing package with wireless trailer camera system and another $87 for a ball mount, $695 for the Wave Maker paint, $500 for a power tilt/slide panoramic roof with power sunshade, and $105 for wheel locks.
Bottom line on the window sticker: $88,196.
Some of you may have turned a shade not unlike Wave Maker when you read that as-tested price, but the fact is that's the ballpark for full-size, three-row SUVs these days, and there aren't many that can match the Sequoia TRD Pro's power, fuel economy, off-road capability and reputation for reliability.
2026 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro at a glance:
Price: $81,565 base/$88,196 as tested
Engine: 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 hybrid
Horsepower: 437
Torque: 583 lb-ft
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 6,140 lbs
0-60 Acceleration (Motor Trend): 5.6-6.2 seconds
EPA Fuel Economy Estimate: 19 mpg city/22 mpg highway
Fuel tank capacity: 22.5 gallons
EPA Range Estimate: 450 miles
