The Toyota Sequoia, the manufacturer's newest entry into the full-size SUV market, is a winner in many ways. Although each of the three trucks in our comparison has something of value to offer those shopping for a new SUV, it's the Toyota that turns in the winning score with its refined road manners and pleasant cabin accommodations. Even so, the Sequoia is an underdog of sorts. Full-size SUVs have typically been domestic automakers' bread and butter, and it's something they've been doing long before the term "sport-utility vehicle" was even coined. Sure, Toyota has had the Land Cruiser since the 1970s, but that has grown into a rather pricey and luxurious truck. Clearly, it's the family-friendly Sequoia that Toyota intends to run head to head with the likes of Ford and Chevy, and in our view, it has succeeded.

First, let's talk about everything the Toyota Sequoia does right. Without debate, the iForce V8 earned high praise for its silky-smooth character and terrific use of the available power. The Toyota's 4.7-liter V8 is the smallest engine of the three test vehicles, and as a result, it offers the least amount of power. However, more than one editor commented that it felt more powerful than its 240-hp rating suggested and more than adequate for everyday driving.

The Sequoia's transmission scored high, and it offers the best low-range for off-roading and has near perfect street manners — it rarely gets confused and offers smooth but solid shifts. Off-road, the Sequoia feels the most competent thanks to very short low-range gearing. The Sequoia provided the best engine braking and left us feeling completely in control. The powertrain is clearly a reason to love the Sequoia and there is little doubt in our minds that if Toyota ups the power on this wonderfully refined motor, the Sequoia would far outclass its Ford and Chevy competition.

But there's more to a great SUV than a decent engine and transmission. Our editors unanimously agreed that the Sequoia achieves such a high level of on-road refinement, it makes the others feel more like the trucks they really are. Bumps and ruts barely upset the Sequoia's Lexuslike ride quality and it's this kind of refinement that makes the big Toyota very easy to live with on a daily basis. On the other hand, we found both the Tahoe and Expedition to be more fun to drive. One editor summed it up this way; "Totally refined but not as much personality as the Tahoe or Expedition — perfect for the average buyer."

Should Sequoia owners decide to break from the mini-mall routine of everyday life and venture off-road they will not be disappointed. The same civility and refinement we found in the Sequoia on-road translates well to off-road situations. Rough terrain is effectively smoothed out by the Sequoia's suspension, and Toyota's rock solid build quality makes for a rattle-free ride even off-road. With nine inches of ground clearance (Toyota claims 10.6 inches of ground clearance, but that measurement is not taken from the lowest point on the vehicle) from the rear differential, the Toyota easily climbs hills that had the Expedition scraping its belly on the ground.

Inside, the Sequoia offers plush, almost luxury carlike leather, whereas the Ford and Chevy have hides that seem more suited to an affordable family sedan than a $40,000 SUV. We also found the Sequoia's seats to be the most comfortable. The second- and third-row seats offer ample room, and even adults can expect a trip in the third row to be bearable. The Sequoia's interior material quality ranked very high as well, and even though one editor said the interior lacked enough "soft touch" surfaces, it still earned 28 out of a possible 30 points in that area. Buttons and switches feel durable and tactilely pleasing in the Toyota, and the one-touch driver and front-passenger windows were appreciated.

We all agree that the Toyota is up to par with regard to the materials used inside, but the way all that plastic, metal and leather come together is another matter. The faux metallic surfaces work well, but some of the switchgear is placed in odd or unfriendly locations. The seat warmer buttons are both located on the passenger's side of the console, for example, and the recessed center stack was difficult to reach while driving. Next to the Expedition, we found the Sequoia's interior to be somewhat lackluster in style, one editor even went so far as to use the word "dull."

One major drawback we noticed on the Sequoia is how difficult the rear seats are to fold and remove. The third-row seats are just too bulky, heavy and cumbersome to take out and install quickly or easily. Expedition has raised the bar with its terrifically simple and convenient fold-flat third-row seats, which eliminates the need to remove or carry bulky seats altogether.

So the Sequoia isn't perfect. But even with its few drawbacks, this is the full-size SUV that we think most buyers will be most happy with in the long run. The Sequoia offers a near luxury cabin, Lexuslike ride quality and an ultrarefined drivetrain. Add to this Toyota's reputation for reliability, high resale value and the standard 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and it's easy to see why the Toyota Sequoia is our top pick among full-size SUVs.

Second Opinions:

Road Test Editor John DiPietro says:
A few years ago, my brother Joe was in the market for a large SUV (because he actually needed one, having a family of six as well as a horse and trailer). Knowing that Toyotas are about as reliable as the sun coming up, he was interested in either a used current-generation (1998 and up) Land Cruiser or the then-new Sequoia. Knowing that the Sequoia shared the same creamy-smooth and willing 4.7-liter V8 with the much more expensive Land Cruiser (at that time rated at 10 more horsepower in the Sequoia) and had considerably more passenger and cargo space, it was a no-brainer to go with it. Sure, the Land Cruiser would be more adept off-road, but that's not what he needed an SUV for. Long story short, Joe bought the Sequoia, a loaded-up SR5 (he didn't want the leather seats that came standard on the Limited), and has enjoyed its comfortable ride and trouble-free service ever since.

OK, so what does his little brother who makes his living evaluating cars and trucks think? Well, one needn't be an automotive expert to appreciate a vehicle that performs effortlessly, provides plenty of space and comfort and has a nearly bulletproof record for overall quality and long-term reliability. Toyota continues to have a level of refinement that the domestics still can't match. Everything from the cabin materials to the ease of maneuverability makes the Sequoia the most likable choice in this comparison. Even when subjected to the off-road portion of our test, the Sequoia handled it with dispatch, feeling solid as a rock the whole time. Yes, the Tahoe boasts the best performance and the Ford has that nifty fold-flat third seat, but the Sequoia is the most well-rounded truck in the class and the one I'd put in my driveway, comforted by the knowledge that the only time I'd have to bring it to the shop would be for oil changes and normal maintenance.

Road Test Editor Erin Riches says:
As full-size SUVs go, the Toyota Sequoia is my favorite — it's the one I would put in my own parking spot and it's the one I would recommend without hesitation to friends and neighbors. No, it doesn't have the Expedition's roomy third-row seat or the Tahoe's torque-rich V8, but it splits the difference nicely in both areas: Its third-row bench is fully usable for kids (more so than the Chevy's) and its V8 makes up for its modest power with unparalleled refinement.

Moreover, the Toyota is strong in almost all areas. It steers, rides and brakes so smoothly and easily whether you're in town, on the highway or doing a little off-roading. The materials used in the cabin are generally of solid quality (on par with what you'd find in a midsize sedan), and most of them are carefully put together. Most of the controls are easy to use, and the Sequoia is the only SUV in this group that gives you one-touch up-and-down front windows. My only real complaints about the Sequoia involve its non-fold-flat third-row seats — which I found quite heavy when I tried to remove them — and the high price of our Limited-trim test vehicle. It cost over $6,000 more than the Expedition, and that's big money when you're shopping for family transportation. To make the Toyota Sequoia a good deal, you're going to have to give up the leather and stick with the SR5.