Full-size pickups and SUVs once defined basic automotive utility. Trucks were ranch hands on wheels. Early sport utility vehicles carried cargo and outdoor equipment. There was nothing better to help get the job done. Versatility and ruggedness mattered, comfort and convenience did not.

But increased competition brought luxury to the segments. The industry’s biggest trucks have the interior designs of plush studio apartments. A purist’s concern might be: “What happened to pickup trucks?”

Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce all now sell SUVs. The industry isn’t going back. But several manufacturers in recent years have marketed new trims as if there’s still a connection to the past, including the 2025 Toyota Sequoia 1794 Hybrid.

Ford debuted the King Ranch in 2003. It’s named after one of the country’s biggest ranches. Chevrolet introduced the High Country in 2014 as the most upscale Silverado trim. Toyota’s addition to the Western-themed collection began with the Tundra. This year it added the Sequoia’s second most expensive offering in the fourth year of its second generation. The Sequoia’s numeric 1794 signage is an homage to the founding year of the iconic and once larger ranch in San Antonio, Texas. It’s where the Tundra and Sequoia are manufactured. Toyota purchased part of the acreage in 2003.

Including hybrids, Toyota offers 16 SUVs. The 1794’s distinction is its Western motif. It’s slotted in the Sequoia lineup above the SR5, Limited, Platinum and TRD Pro variants and one price level shy of the signature Capstone.

All 2025 Sequoias are equipped with twin-turbo V6 hybrid powertrains, producing 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. 

The 1794 trim features a 10-speed automatic transmission and part-time four-wheel drive. Despite its hybrid setup, the large SUV achieves only 19 miles per gallon in city driving and 22 mpg on the highway. The three-row beast weighs 7,560 pounds and has a towing capacity of 9,520 pounds. Acceleration from 0-to-60 miles per hour takes 5.6 seconds.

The 1794 doesn’t have what was expected, a commanding road presence. The cabin is noisy, braking is soft and overall responsiveness is lackluster. At highway cruising speed, the SUV is satisfactory. But getting to its best occurs as if the vehicle is waking up from a long nap.

Like several competitors, the Sequoia 1794 Hybrid offers extreme comfort. Three rows of seating are presented in quality leather and spacious configurations. The seating capacity is seven, with captain’s chairs for second-row occupants. The second-row seats recline and have heating and cooling functions. Rear seat occupants aren’t shunned as often occurs but have individual climate control settings, USB and USB-C ports and a 120-volt power outlet.

Strong technology complements the comfort. A 14-inch infotainment screen operates the 14-speaker JBL stereo, navigation system, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, SiriusXM and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The center console features a straight-forward efficient gear shifter, a drive mode selector, a button to engage the four-wheel system and a wireless phone charger. Drive modes — Eco, Normal, Sport and Sport S — are easy to operate as is the tow/haul mode button.

Attributes also include a panoramic moon roof, sign recognition, keyless entry, dual power seats, a rearview camera mirror, a power tilt steering wheel and a trailer hitch.

The designer’s touch interior is framed with a hefty supply of handsome, open-pore wood trim. The long strip above the glovebox bearing the 1794 logo is the most prominent. Wood also extends across the dash and in the door panels, console and shift lever. It’s all a collective nod to the vehicle’s Western theme.

Purchasing a Sequoia 1794 because it’s novel and aligns itself with the good ol’ days of Texas is a buyer’s prerogative. But the $85,630 price doesn’t seem warranted. https://www.toyota.com/