2009 4x4 Of The Year Participants

Toyota Sequoia Platinum
Weighing in at 6,000 pounds (fattest of the test) with a 381hp 5.7L V-8 engine for an overall power-to-weight ratio of 1 hp to every 15.7 pounds, in this corner is the '09 Toyota Sequoia Platinum. A year ago a similarly sized and equally powered Toyota Land Cruiser won our 4x4 of the Year. Can this bigger brother follow in the family footsteps?

In the rest of the world, it's the Land Cruiser that is king of the Toyotas, but Toyota figured we want everything bigger in America so it brought us the Sequoia. Similar in size and styling to the latest Tundra, the Sequoia was the troop carrier of our test, with three rows of seats, a plush IFS/IRS suspension, and plenty of power. It was the short bus of choice when judges had to load up for trips to the steakhouse. Toyota also touts its Sequoia's 10,000-pound towing capacity, E85 flex-fuel availability, and Adaptive Variable Suspension, which adjusts for three driving modes: comfort, normal, and sport.

Up on the rack we noticed some of the well-known Toyota skidplates attached directly to components like the transfer case rather than to crossmembers like other makes, and the useful tow hooks, but there were also low-hanging mufflers and running boards. When will the OEMs realize that running boards on 4x4 of the Year are like ducks on a bicycle? One feature we like about the independent rear suspension is the well-protected rear driveshaft.

The interior is a mix of Land Cruiser luxury and Tundra obesity. The seats, levers, buttons, and dials are all big, but sometimes they feel mockingly big, as though they're making fun of the "Americans like big cars" stereotype. The interior feels nice but less comfortable than the Dodge, though we do appreciate the abundance of grab handles, cup holders, and cubbies.

On the road the Sequoia feels the way it looks-big. Though powerful and very manageable, the girth of this truck isn't lost in translation and can be felt wallowing no matter what mode the suspension is in. A canyon carver it's not. But for a long haul with every kid in the Cub Scout troop and with your boat in tow, it fits the bill.

The dirt didn't diminish the overall dimensions of the truck. On tight trails it felt even bigger, but the one saving grace was the excellent steering, which could spin the truck around in amazingly tight spaces. Of course, steering doesn't equal ground clearance, and those darn rock slider-err, step boards-didn't always win the granite wrestling match. To add to that fact, many of these newer Toyotas have giant rear bumpers that wrap around and over the whole back side like a baby's giant diaper, and many times that diaper can snag on trail obstacles.

The hillclimb found the brake-based traction control working, but the street tires on 20-inch rims not so much. Toyota deviously calls the traction control "limited slip," though the diffs are actually open. The sand revealed that if you shut off all the nannies (stability control, active traction control, and so on), you could have a good time in this brute. One judge was able to turn the nannies back on, while another literally had the rear tires smoking in the sand with a 381hp burnout.

The Sequoia has may great features for the family looking for a big people-mover. It can get power to the ground, weave through tight turns, and be more fun than a gasoline bonfire in the sand, but does this lumbering giant have what it takes to win off road?

The Goods
* Big engine power
* Tight steering
* Nice family wagon

The Bads
* Lack of traction
* Lack of clearance
* Overabundant body