04:13 02-01-2026

Toyota Sequoia TRD Performance package tested: quicker, same mpg

Toyota quietly rolled out the TRD Performance package for the Tundra and Sequoia. On the Sequoia—which is offered only with the i-Force Max hybrid powertrain—the option costs $2,299 and brings TRD cone air filters, a revised exhaust, and new engine calibration. The result is an increase for the 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 from 389 to 421 hp at the same rpm, while peak torque remains unchanged but arrives earlier. The SUV also gets a TRD Performance badge and a reminder to use 91-octane-or-higher fuel.

The big question is whether this makes a difference in a hefty, nearly 2.8-ton SUV. Instrumented testing suggests it does. Versus a previously tested Sequoia in a similar spec (same wheel and tire sizes, comparable weight), 0–97 km/h dropped by 0.1 second to 5.5 s. The quarter-mile is 0.2 s quicker at 14.1 s, and trap speed is up by 6.4 km/h to nearly 157 km/h. More telling for daily driving are the roll-on figures: 8–97 km/h improves by 0.4 s to 5.9, and the 80–115 km/h passing run shrinks from 4.3 to 3.9 s. In other words, the package makes the Sequoia noticeably more composed where it matters most—during passes and highway merges.

And there are few trade-offs: cabin noise under full throttle and at a cruise remains the same, and the official efficiency rating is unchanged (the EPA combined figure carries over). In real-world measurements, the testers saw roughly the same average fuel consumption in mixed driving. That balance—more shove without the usual penalties—feels like the right kind of upgrade for a family-size SUV.