Toyota’s 2018 Tundra and Sequoia gain TRD Sport upgrades, new safety tech

By Stephen Edelstein February 10, 2017

When shopping for a big pickup truck or SUV, it’s easy to overlook the Toyota Tundra and Toyota Sequoia. Both models have been on sale for several years without any major changes, while most competitors have completely redesigned their big trucks. So Toyota used the 2017 Chicago Auto Show to give the Tundra and Sequoia a shot of Botox.

The 2018 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia both feature minor style updates and new safety tech, as well as new optional TRD Sport packages from Toyota Racing Development, the Japanese automaker’s performance arm. The packages add some model-specific styling elements, as well as Bilstein shocks and TRD front and rear anti-sway bars to improve handling.

Toyota continues to offer the Tundra and Sequoia with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, and six-speed automatic transmissions. A 5.7-liter V8 with 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque is standard on the Sequoia and optional on the Tundra. Base models of the pickup get a 4.6-liter V8, producing 310 hp and 327 lb-ft. The TRD Sport package is only available on models equipped with the 5.7-liter V8, so Tundra buyers will have to upgrade to get it.

Both models also get some styling tweaks for 2018, including LED headlights and daytime running lights for certain trim levels, and new grille designs. Those grilles adopt the more squared-off appearance of the smaller Toyota Tacoma midsize pickup truck. On the inside, new instrument panels accommodate a 4.2-inch digital display, which is nestled between the speedometer and tachometer.

The 2018 Tundra and Sequoia also get the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver aids as standard equipment. Already available on other Toyota models, it includes a precollision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2018 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia go on sale in the U.S. later this year. Pricing will be announced closer to the launch date.

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Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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