In Wheel Time

2017 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4x4 — a right choice for a challenging situation

2017 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4x4 — a right choice for a challenging situation
The 2017 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4x4 SUV. In Wheel Time

Many of us will remember our parents telling us that the secret to making short work of a tough job was to always have the right tool at hand to do the job. Always mindful of that advice, we found our ride and drive-tested 2017 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4x4 SUV to be just the right tool to get us safely to the Austin airport during a very ugly storm situation early one morning.

As we answered the alarm clock at 4:45 am to load up for our “normal” 35-minute run to catch an early morning flight, it was dark — not just dark but seriously dark such that we could not see across the street. Very quickly we realized that the dark was going to be the least of our problem, as an unseasonably ugly storm had engulfed us, bringing high winds, wicked lightning and rain — lots and lots of rain — making the dark night even darker. A quick check of the Weather Channel radar showed us that the storm stretched all the way to the airport and was expected to be stalled over the area for a while.  

Now out where we live, lots and lots of rain means heavy water on road surfaces that can run fast across and fill low spots along our country roads making them dangerous. Adding the early morning dark factor, a trip to the airport was going to be a major challenge.  

Given those conditions, we might have considered not going if we were going to drive our small convertible coupe. However, with the test Sequoia available in the driveway, we opted for the SUV knowing it was the "right tool" with an ideal set of features and equipment that would turn the very nasty morning journey into nearly a cakewalk.

Driver convenience factors

Getting into the Sequoia in the dark with the driving rain was the first challenge. Clicking the key fob, we turned on the approach lighting as we remotely unlocked the doors and opened the rear hatch for quick access. The puddle lights under the mirrors allowed us to see — and avoid stepping in — the rushing waters in the gutters as we stepped onto the side rails to get in.

At any time, and especially in severe weather situations, visibility of other vehicles and the road condition by the driver is critical to safe operation of the vehicle. As it turned out, our trip to the airport under severe conditions highlighted how well Sequoia meets the visibility challenge in multiple ways:

  • As a full-size body-on-frame SUV, the driver eight-way adjustable seating is easily adjusted to a "command position" height for good visibility.  

  • The Sequoia’s windows, windshield, side windows (all three rows) and rear hatch are expansive without obstruction and give plenty of visibility in all directions.  

  • The design and placement of the rear hatch window with spoiler above — unlike other competing SUVs — keep the rear glass clean at all times without the need to use the rear wiper.

  • The front intermittent and variable speed windshield wipers keep an optimal amount of front glass cleanly swept with ease.

  • The generously sized towing mirrors provide a clear look at the side of the Sequoia and, coupled with the Blindside Warning indicators in the mirror, present a clear picture of traffic alongside.

  • Large and boldly lit taillights augmented with the LED rear spoiler-mounted stop light keep Sequoia fully visible to traffic following.

  • And, lastly, the multi-reflector halogen headlamps with integrated fog lights give good visibility to the road surface to the front.

Mechanically the right tool

We found the 6,000-pound 2017 Sequoia Platinum 4x4 to be mechanically up to the task and well powered by the solid performing 5.7L i-Force V8 that delivers 381 horsepower and 401 lb.-ft. of torque. Mated to a 6-speed Electronic Controlled Automatic transmission, its gearing is well-suited to push this full-size SUV through — and not over — wet road surfaces.

Other features enhancing its mechanical capability as a right tool include:

  • Standard road clearance height of the Sequoia is a full 9.6-inches keeping rushing water on the road surface safely away from the cabin and powertrain elements.

  • Sequoia runs on 20-inch diamond-cut alloy finish wheels mounted with P275/55R20 M&S rated tires that cut solidly through water while holding the road surface well.

  • Engine speed-sensing Variable Flow Control power-assisted rack and pinion steering easily controls direction.

  • ABS Brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution featuring 13.9-inch front and 13.6-inch ventilated brake discs, give solid stopping power in wet conditions.

More serious weather conditions, like more than a couple inches of water and/or mud on the road, would have been short work for the four-wheel-drive-equipped Sequoia by, if needed, by shifting to four-wheel high, engaging all four wheels for additional traction and pushing power.

Lastly, Sequoia is also equipped with the Electronically Modulated Air Suspension (high/normal/low) that, when presented with deeper water or mud, the driver can shift the ride height to high, adding 1.2-inches to ground clearance, making it 10.8-inches if needed.

From a safety perspective, please note we were not doing the "cowboy: thing that morning. We know these roads well and in an abundance of caution, kept our speed down and watched carefully along the route for low spots with rushing water or mud that could have been trouble. Keeping in mind the “turn around and don’t drown” mantra, flash-flooding had not been forecast, but we remained vigilant the entire journey, taking nearly 75-minutes to get safely to the airport.

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Christian Walker got on base twice in the opener. Composite Getty Image.

The Houston Astros return to action Wednesday night with a chance to get back on track and even their three-game set against the visiting Chicago White Sox.

White Sox continue to have Houston's number

After falling 4–2 in Tuesday’s opener, the Astros now trail the season series 3–1 and will turn to Ryan Gusto (3-3, 4.78 ERA) in hopes of steadying the ship and reinforcing their grip on first place in the AL West.

Houston enters the matchup at 36–30 overall and 22–13 at home, a mark that reflects just how comfortable they've been playing in front of their fans. Though the offense has been inconsistent at times, the Astros are an impressive 19–4 when they manage to keep the ball in the yard — a stat that will be key with Gusto on the mound. The young right-hander has had an up-and-down season, but he'll be tasked with limiting a White Sox offense that did just enough to sneak away with a win in the opener.

Chicago, meanwhile, continues to play with a bit of unexpected edge despite sitting in last place in the AL Central. At 23–44, the White Sox have struggled most of the season — particularly on the road, where they’re just 7–26. Still, they've now won four of their last five games and will hand the ball to Sean Burke (3-6, 4.03 ERA), a righty who’s shown flashes of command and competitiveness in his rookie campaign.

The Astros will once again lean on their veterans to lead the way at the plate. Jose Altuve continues to be a consistent presence at the top of the lineup with nine home runs and 24 RBIs on the year. Yainer Diaz, who’s 10-for-39 with three home runs over his last 10 games, has started to find his swing again and could be a factor in the middle of the order. Houston will need more of that timely hitting if they want to avoid dropping their second straight at home — something that hasn’t happened often this year.

On the other side, Chase Meidroth has quietly become one of Chicago’s more reliable bats. Hitting .293 with five doubles and a pair of homers, Meidroth’s emergence adds some much-needed spark to a lineup that’s lacked consistency. Andrew Benintendi, hitting .257 over his last 10 games with four doubles, has also begun to warm up at the plate.

Both teams come in with nearly identical offensive production over their last 10 games — the Astros hitting .227 to the White Sox’s .226 — but Houston holds the edge in ERA at 3.44 compared to Chicago’s 4.04. That said, the Astros have been outscored by five runs over that stretch, and will need to clean up a few things on both sides of the ball to avoid falling into a mini-slide during this six-game homestand.

First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET from Daikin Park, with Houston looking to reassert itself against a team it hasn’t solved yet this season. A win would not only even the series — it would also be a reminder that the Astros remain very much in control of their own narrative heading into the summer grind.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -181, White Sox +150; over/under is 8 1/2 runs.

Here's an early look at Houston's lineup for Game 2

Jacob Melton is hitting last and remains the left fielder with Altuve back at second base. Diaz is once again in the cleanup spot as Walker is hitting fifth. Victor Caratini will hit behind Walker and serve as the DH. Otherwise, a pretty typical lineup for Joe Espada's club.


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