2023 Toyota Sequoia Could Get Same Improvements as Tundra

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Toyota is set to reveal the all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra, followed by news about the three-row 2023 Toyota Sequoia. The full-size SUV uses the same engine and platform as the Tundra pickup. So presumably, if one is getting an overhaul the other must be too. As for what’s coming to the new Sequoia, we’re unsure but can find potential options from new features for the Tundra. Anonymous sources leaked the 2022 Tundra months ahead of the scheduled reveal in September. This September we can expect the full details on the Tundra, and soon thereafter the official word on the Sequoia.

Potential new 2023 Toyota Sequoia upgrades

2022 Toyota Tundra | Toyota

From photos shared by Toyota of the new Tundra, we assume it may share the twin-turbo V6 and improved interior with its SUV counterpart. For the past two generations of Tundra and Sequoia, they’ve shared many features which will likely continue. The new generation will give an updated platform, new six-cylinder powertrains, and could even include a hybrid option. The new Toyota Land Cruiser also uses a twin-turbo 3.4 liter V6. The Sequoia may replace the Land Cruiser, which ceases availability in the US after the 2021 model year.

On the interior of the Tundra, it’s receiving a much larger 12.0-inch touch screen infotainment center. This will provide Apple CarPlay capability along with a JBL sound system. It is very likely the same equipment will be available in the Sequoia whenever it becomes available. The 2023 Toyota Sequoia will likely get wireless charging as well since it is visible in early Tundra photos. The Tundra is also receiving an optional panoramic sunroof with a sliding rear window as well as an expanded grille.

2022 toyota tundra panoramic sunroof open at night
2022 Toyota Tundra Sunroof | Toyota

The panoramic sunroof would be the perfect addition to the third-row seating Toyota Sequoia. It also seems like a no-brainer that the exterior changes will apply to both vehicles. Seen with a newly expanded grille and TRD Pro wheels, the Tundra photos from Toyota reveal everything we know about the 2022 model. These features coming to the 2023 Sequoia is not unlikely.

A full-size SUV that could use improvement

A 2021 Toyota Sequoia drives down an empty road at night.
2021 Toyota Sequoia | Toyota

Since becoming available in 2001, the Toyota Sequoia has only had 2 generations. Since the 2008 model year up until the present time, the Sequoia has been, for the most part, the same. Toyota is one of the most popular brands in the world but has not beaten the competition in the full-size SUV or pickup categories. With Ford making updates to its Expedition as well as Chevy to its Tahoe, Toyota needs to make changes. Toyota will be heading in the right direction if the Tundra and Sequoia share these upgrades. The updated front end, wheels, and lights are enough to make anyone pay attention. Additionally, the snazzy new interior and technology are exactly what a family in need of a full-size SUV is looking for.

It is expected that the official details on the 2023 Sequoia will be revealed soon. The 2022 Tundra becomes available soon, and after that, it is expected the 2023 Sequoia will be revealed. Most likely, it’ll be available toward the end of 2022.

RELATED: 2022 Toyota Tundra Specs: What We Know So Far

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How Much Should You Pay For a 2021 Toyota Tacoma?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It’s a crazy time to be buying a car or truck right now. Used prices are often more than new, and you may find yourself in the unexpected position of being in the market for a new pickup truck. Yet if you do find yourself wandering into a Toyota dealer with your checkbook, how do you know how much to pay for a 2021 Toyota Tacoma? You don’t want to get ripped off, but you want to be realistic. Let’s look at what new Tacomas are going for right now. 

2021 Toyota Tacoma | Toyota

How much you pay for a 2021 Toyota Tacoma depends on what you get in it

It’s probably not a surprise to learn that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all price for a new Toyota Tacoma. As with any vehicle, how much you pay for it will depend at least partly on what you get in it. 

For example, you can get an entry-level 2021 Toyota Tacoma with a 4-cylinder engine for $26,150. (Don’t forget that destination fee, which will cost you an extra $1,175.) Kelley Blue Book notes that you can go in the complete opposite direction and get a high-end, 4-wheel-drive 2021 Toyota Tacoma for $46,780. Clearly there’s a whole lot of options in between those two staggeringly different prices. 

There are options that can increase the price of your 2021 Toyota Tacoma

Customizing your 2021 Toyota Tacoma may drive the price up, but you’ll definitely get exactly the pickup truck that you want. One of the features which can increase the price of your Tacoma include the engine. Obviously the 4-cylinder Tacoma will be cheaper than the V6. Still, Kelley Blue Book notes that the V6 may be the better option, especially if you’ll be towing things regularly with your Tacoma.

Unsurprisingly, the size of your cab can also increase the cost of your Tacoma. The Double Cab adds a bench seat to the rear of the Tacoma cab. This allows you to carry an additional three passengers.

Upping the exterior of your Tacoma can also up the cost of your Tacoma

You can get the 2021 Toyota Tacoma in its base trim, or you may wish to spend a little more for the extras that are important to you. Want a Tacoma with leather seats? A moonroof? They’ll cost you extra. The TRD Off-Road trim is the most expensive, and even without any options the least expensive model you can get will likely cost you upwards of $35,000. This trim option only comes with a V6, 3.5-liter engine. Add $770 if you want the technology package that will give you safety features like blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert. 

Meanwhile, you can get the for about $25,000 with a four-cylinder, 2.7-liter engine. It’ll cost an extra $5,000 if you go for the V6, 3.5-liter engine. 

There are so many factors that come into play when you’re looking for a new pickup truck and determining how much you should pay. If you see a truck you like but the price isn’t right, take a look at what options are included that you could live without. Similarly, make sure any truck that you’re interested in comes with the features you want. You can use Kelley Blue Book to get a better sense of what a fair price to pay for your new Tacoma is.

RELATED: Made In America: the Top 10 Most American Cars

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Ford Lightning Platinum VS Cybertruck Tri-Motor: Which Fully Loaded EV Offers More?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Electric trucks are shaping up to be the most powerful and capable vehicles around. One of the most exciting matchups is the Ford F-150 Lightning versus the Tesla Cybertruck. The entry-level Ford Lightning offers more value than the base-model Cybertruck. But most owners will opt for a higher trim level: The Ford Lightning Platinum and the Tesla Cybertruck Tri-Motor. Find out which of these fully-loaded electric trucks offers a better package.

Self-Driving, Tesla Cybertruck Tri-Motor Price: $79,900

Tesla Cybertruck | Tesla

The Cybertruck is a statement. Its bare-metal exoskeleton is impossible to ignore. The angular body panels look more like a spaceship a hardboiled detective would fly around the Bladerunner universe than a modern car. The interior is just as memorable, with an imposing monolithic dash and leather seating for six passengers.

Every trim level of Tesla Cybertruck features an upgraded drivetrain. The entry-level Cybertuck is a single-motor, RWD model. The next tier is the two-motor, AWD version. The top-trim Cybertruck boasts three motors and more battery capacity. So while a fully-loaded Cybertruck may look just like the entry-level pickup, it will be significantly more capable.

The top trim Cybertruck is the tri-motor AWD model. It costs $69,900 and comes with an improved battery pack as well. This Cybertruck can accelerate to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. It has a 14,000-pound towing capacity. And its range will be 500 miles.

For $10,000 more (totaling $79,900) a fully loaded Cybertruck Tri-Motor also comes with all the sensors required for Tesla’s full self-driving system. Tesla stipulates that it cannot control local regulations, which may limit the deployment of its self-driving software.

Elon Musk offers significant value with each trim level. His customers trust that upgrading is worth the money; most Cybertruck reservations are for well-optioned trucks.

Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum Price: $89,874

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum Value. Pre-production model with available features shown. Available starting spring 2022. Competitive price with the Tesla Cybertruck tri-motor.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum | Ford

Ford loves to remind us that the F-150 is America’s favorite truck, but it is the king for a reason. The F-150 Lightning is a highly anticipated EV. In the spring of 2021, Ford sent its 2022 F-150 Lightning reservation holders a survey with a rough outline of each model to gauge their interest in upgrades. The sales team listed the Ford F-150 Platinum Lightning at $89,874.

The top-trim F-150 Lightning offers no drivetrain upgrades unavailable at lower levels. Mid and low trim Lightning buyers will have to dish out $10,000 to upgrade their range from 250 miles to 300 miles. Meanwhile, this bigger battery pack will be standard on the Lariat and Platinum. Upgrade or none, the Lightning Platinum will leave you stranded hundreds of miles before the cheaper top-trim Cybertruck.

The Lariat and Platinum Ford Lightnings will also come standard with the 563 horsepower dual-engine option. But again, they will still lag behind the cheaper Cybertruck by over a hundred horsepower–and an entire motor. These Lightnings will also have Ford’s BlueCruise “self-driving” technology. But unlike Tesla’s planned self-driving mode, BlueCruise only works on divided highways.

When customers pay nearly $90K for the Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum, what they are paying for the value of 22″ rims, chrome grille, Nirvana leather seats, wood interior, and Bang and Olufsen sound system. 

Conclusion

This is a promotional photo of the interior of the Tesla Cybertruck like you will find in the top-trim tri-motor.
Tesla Cybertruck Interior | Tesla

The differences between the F-150 Lightning Platinum and the Tri-Motor Cybertruck highlight Ford and Tesla’s opposite approaches to the electric truck market. Ford is using the strategy it has used to upsell F-150s for decades. Every Ford Lightning has a comparable drivetrain, and upper trim trucks have premium interiors and lots of chrome to differentiate them from their workhorse cousins. But Ford’s strategy is dated: at the top of the price range, Tesla leaves Ford far behind.

Tesla, on the other hand, has established a jaw-dropping prototype. They will offer this truck at multiple trim models, adding significant value at each level, but without bedazzling the more expensive models. This strategy works, Tesla owners in the past have opted for higher-tech trims. This strategy will likely work again, and Tesla will sell many more Tri-Motor Cybertrucks per capita than Ford will sell F-150 Lightning Platinums.

RELATED: Watch Rivian R1T Electric Truck Review: ‘This Changes Everything’

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How Would You Spec the Ferrari SF90? Find Out With These Online Configurators

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re thinking of buying a new Ferrari, don’t just buy one off the showroom floor. Like many companies these days, Ferrari is leveraging online customization technology to allow consumers to build exactly what Ferrari they want to buy. And while the base model of the brand new Ferrari SF90 Stradale is expected to blow other similar sportscars out of the water, if you’ve got the money to afford one, take a moment to configure one just right for your tastes.

A look at the 2020 Ferrari SF90

Ferrari SF90 | Getty Images

In many ways, the 2020 Ferrari SF90 pushes the company forward. Not only is it a spectacular supercar, but it’s also Ferrari’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). It’s also the first AWD mid-engine sports car and the first Ferrari to feature an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. According to Motortrend, it also has the distinction of being the most powerful Ferrari the manufacturer has ever made.

How powerful is “most powerful?” Well, the SF90 produces a whopping 950 hp from a 4.0-liter V-8 engine. That engine is paired with three electric motors, two on the front axle and the last between the engine and the transmission. Those electric components allow drivers to hit about 15 miles at a speed of up to 83 mph without gas. But Ferrari owners are usually looking for speed, among other things. According to Car and Driver, the SF90 delivers, with a 0-60 acceleration time of just 2.5 seconds and speeds over 200 mph.

The SF90 also follows the trend of giant-sized touchscreens in EVs with its own 16-inch display cluster. Other technology features include a five-speaker sound system, a voice-activated navigation system, and smart card/key functionality, among other amenities.

The SF90 is a coupe, but Ferrari also built the SF90 Spider for those who’d prefer a convertible. For all this, you will be paying a substantial amount. The SF90 Stradale starts at a whopping $507,000 for the base model. And with that kind of price tag, you shouldn’t have any complaints about your purchase.

Customizing the SF90

The company has built an online tool that allows prospective buyers to customize the SF90 to ensure Ferrari purchasers have exactly the vehicle they want. Of course, you’re not going to be able to specify things outside the segment or brand’s scope, like boat-hauling equipment. But you can make sure that the SF90 looks the way you like, has the tech you want, and has the powertrain touches you’d like. 

Prospective buyers can check out the SF90’S Stradale Car Configurator or the Spider Configurator. By default, it starts in 2D mode, but by clicking on the icons for either “360° Exterior View” or “360° Interior View”, you can see your Stradale in 3D mode as well. Go beyond the traditional Ferrari red and consider colors like Nero Daytona (blue) or Grigio Alloy (gray). The Stradale has many different color options that help you make your half a million-dollar car look sharp.

Or soup up the rims or wheels with various color and material options. When you click on a feature at the top, specific choices will appear on the left, along with the option to select the “3D Experience” to see a full view of the feature you pick.

MotorTrend’s SF90 configurations

The reviewers at MotorTrend magazine had a field day with the configurator. Eleven reviewers played around with everything from the external paint to the interior trim to the brake calipers and wheels. Several avoided Ferrari’s conventional red paints and even the yellow or black options that Ferraris are often sold in. White, blue, gray, and green made for some of the more interesting choices and made the Stradale no less striking.

One of the more interesting choices came from Scott Evans, who tricked out an SF90 with Blu Pozzi (blue) exterior paint along with carbon-fiber wheels and red calipers for a bit of brightness. The interior was adorned with Cuoio (a brownish-orange that looks and feels natural) and overlaid with black Alcantara fabric for carpeting. Racing seats with Daytona stitching rounded out this custom job which would make for a striking SF90.

With the kinds of customizations MotorTrend reviewers made, the SF90 price tag could easily be six figures higher than its MSRP. And while most consumers will never see an SF90, much less have the cash to purchase one, the online customization tool Ferrari offers can provide a fun diversion for anybody who’s ever dreamed of owning a top-of-the-line sportscar.

RELATED: Prepare to Spend Over $500,000 for the Most Expensive 2021 Ferrari

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