Half a century ago, the term sport utility vehicle didn't really exist in most people's vernacular. The automotive industry's idea of an off-road vehicle did resemble what we know today as an SUV, but they were primarily designed to go off-road and not do much else. Sure, they were larger, more capable, and more spacious inside, but the moment you drove them on some actual tarmac, all of their talents completely dissolved.
Over time, the concept of a soft roader slowly started to grab the attention of automakers, eventually leading to the SUV's absolute dominance. There isn't a single automaker left that doesn't offer some type of SUV, of all sizes and shapes. Some automakers even have far too many SUVs in their lineup, making the choice for most consumers a bit more difficult than it needs to be.
With so many soft roaders and crossovers dominating streets everywhere, many wonder: are there any modern SUVs left that can genuinely display some talent when the tarmac stops? Thankfully, there are still a few, and they're better off-road than you might expect. To the dismay of many a car enthusiast, Toyota completely axed the full-size Land Cruiser after MY2021. While there is a new Land Cruiser that's built on the same platform, it's not quite the same 300 Series Cruiser that Japan and the Middle East get to enjoy.
For those who want the closest thing to the full-size Land Cruiser without spending Lexus money, the Sequoia is here to save the day. The latest Sequoia arrived for M.