Talkin' Cars With the Boss: Toyota Prius Prime and Toyota Sequoia

The Toyota Prius is arguably the most well-known hybrid vehicle in the world, and its Prime-badged plug-in hybrid is right there with it. Launched at the start of the new millennium, the Toyota Prius has helped push hybrid powertrains to the forefront of American consumers. The plug-in Prius Prime joined the Prius nameplate in 2012 and entered its current generation in 2016. Powering the current Prius Prime is a 1.8-liter inline-four-cylinder engine that feeds Toyota’s Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. Combining the engine with the electric motor, the Prius Prime throws 121 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. Just down from the Prius Prime at your local Toyota dealer is the Toyota Sequoia: a V8-powered, body-on-frame SUV. The Sequoia launched its second-generation effort all the way back in 2007 and hasn’t changed significantly in the last 15 years. While Toyota has announced and shown the next-generation Sequoia, it’s still waiting to head into production. That next-generation Sequoia will ditch the 381 hp and 401 hp 5.7-liter V8 and replace it with a turbocharged V6. Still, the second-generation Sequoia offers off-road capability and bold styling, if you can’t wait for its replacement. On this bonus episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren sits down with Autoweek’s Editor in Chief Natalie Neff to talk about her time with this unlikely pair of Toyotas. They talk about the driving dynamics and experiences with both of these Toyotas and show where both shine and both falter. The pair also break down the constantly changing SUV and small car landscape and the growing new car crisis.