Safety
The 2008 Sequoia employs active and passive safety features to help provide protection for vehicle occupants. Sequoia is equipped with Toyota's STAR Safety System, which includes VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), and TRAC (Traction Control) (2WD models) or A-TRAC (Active-Traction Control) (4WD models), ABS (antilock braking) with EBD (electronic brake force distribution) and Brake Assist.
Sequoia's collision safety performance is enhanced by driver and passenger seat-mounted side- and side- curtain airbags that are included as standard equipment; and roll-sensing side curtain airbags that extend from the front seat to the third-row seat.
Standard Features and Options
The 2008 Sequoia is available in three grades - SR5, Limited and Platinum.
The list of standard items on the SR5 and Limited grades, includes the 276 hp 4.7L V8 engine and automatic transmission, Toyota's STAR Safety System, Electronic Brake Distribution with Brake Assist, side curtain airbag with rollover sensor, engine immobilizer with alarm, direct tire pressure monitoring system, seating for eight passengers, eight-way manually adjustable driver's seat, four-way manually adjustable front passenger's seat, fold-flat feature for second- and third-row seats, auto tri-zone air conditioning, power windows, locks, back window, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD eight-speaker audio system with a mini-plug for iPod compatibility, rear wiper and defogger, tilt/telescope steering wheel, cruise control, spare tire and mud guards.
To that, the Limited grade adds front and rear parking sonar, fog lamps, heated leather-trimmed seats, 10-way-adjustable driver's seat, leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear shift knob, Optitron gauges, multi-information display, electrochromatic rear-view mirror, roof rack, running boards and JBL Synthesis audio system with Bluetooth capability.
The Platinum grade includes all of the above, and also adds the 5.7L V8 engine and six-speed transmission, 20-inch diamond cut-finish alloy wheels, rear load-leveling air suspension, power seat memory package, heated and air-conditioned front seats (driver and first-row passenger), second-row heated seats, rear spoiler, power back door, sunroof, headlamp cleaner, and navigation system with a backup camera.
A wide range of options is available on the SR5 and Limited Grades, including the 5.7L V8 engine and six-speed transmission, four-wheel drive, a towing package, rear-seat entertainment system, heated leather-trimmed seat packages, load-leveling rear air suspension, sunroof, 20-inch alloy wheels, power back door, and more. Laser cruise control is an option exclusive to the Platinum grade.
Interesting Details
The Sequoia's designers and engineers went to extraordinary lengths to make sure the vehicle is as comfortable to ride in and convenient to use as possible. As an example of the conveniences they specified, an available electrically driven full-flat tilting mechanism was developed for the third-row seat. When the seat is folded into its flat position, large baggage or cargo can be loaded without removing the seat.
Every small detail was carefully planned in the effort to ensure concerns of quality were attended to. For instance, engineers worked to improve the operational feel of the Sequoia's switches. They specified large door handles that would be easy to use, and located the handles at an optimum height.
Closing the back door requires less force than was required on previous models, and the back-door glass can be opened and closed for easy loading or ventilation with the turn of a key. Also included are handy hooks in the cargo section from which to hang grocery bags.
The rear door opening angle is 10 degrees wider than the previous model, providing easier passenger ingress/egress and child seat installation.An intuitive parking assist system is optionally available. This uses sensors and an audible warning to alert the driver of the position of solid objects, and their distance from the vehicle.
As a final interesting touch, the Sequoia's towing hitch is integrated into the frame as a single unit.
Source: Toyota Motor Co. >/i>