Gamers have long been familiar with the feeling of intrigue and mystery associated with searching for and finding hidden trophies and now automakers seem to have caught on, burying gems in random places in their products for customers to discover for themselves. We know these sorts of secret trophies as Easter eggs, and they are just as invariably fun as they are a clandestine reward for achievement, just like in video games.

The concept of Easter eggs in automobiles allows the customer and the engineers to appreciate the machine with one voice, as exemplified in the new Easter egg that comes with the all-new 2023 Toyota Sequoia. Tundra enthusiasts aren't left out of the intrigue either, as both models come with slyly hidden trophies. The egg is hidden in plain sight, perhaps because Toyota experienced a dilemma about hiding cool stuff.

But gamers know trophies are hidden because they're like crystal balls looking into the future. Hence, they're called spoilers. Spoilers tell the game's story, and Sequoia's Easter egg is a "spoiler" for the badass machine that it really is. As you will soon see, the Easter egg is just the icing on the cake for what the all-new Sequoia is bringing to the table.

Related: Why It’s Worth Waiting For The Sixth-Generation 2023 Toyota 4Runner

The New Sequoia Easter Egg Hides In Plain Sight

2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro
via: YouTube

As much as we’d love to see you meander around and inside your new Sequoia searching for the hidden egg, we’re going to tell you where to find it because, after all, the quest doesn’t exactly end with finding the thing. Yes, that’s because at the base of the 2023 Toyota Sequoia windshield is printed an unassuming string of dots and dashes, apparently a morse code for something yet unknown.

To heck with it; might as well let the cat out of the bag.

When translated, the morse code says, “BADASS TRUCKS.” That’s right. Without further ado, let’s see what makes the new Sequoia a badass truck.

Based on the new Tundra platform, both models are coming with major updates, a befitting goodbye to the models that came before them. To be clear, Sequoia may be based on Tundra’s platform, but it has significant differentiating features from the Tundra, starting from the body-on-frame fully-boxed chassis to the rear independent suspension featuring double wishbones with coil springs and a locking center differential on the SUV’s 4-wheel drive variants.

2023-Toyota-Sequoia
Via: Pinterest

Toyota equally rid the Tundra of the usual leaf-spring suspension, replacing it with modern coil springs. The new Tundra is propelled by a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 motor, while Sequoia cradles an i-FORCE MAX hybridized variant of the same V6 motor capable of making 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. What's badass about this torque is that it’s handy with the new Sequoia’s 9000 lbs max load capacity. The outgoing Sequoia model is sadly not as badass, with a 25% less payload capacity.

But the badassery neither starts nor ends with the payload capacity. Sequoia now comes in 5 trim levels, namely; SR5, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, and the new Capstone model. As Capstone is the highest trim, it offers extra premium features such as an updated leather interior and sound-reducing front glass.

Considering the size of this SUV, it certainly lives up to the reputation of its coastal redwoods namesake. The name, as Toyota affirms, equally speaks to the toughness of the species of tree that isn't just the largest in the world but also one of the strongest, stout, and longest living. The size makes a larger-than-life impression from the outside while also offering, as standard, a roomy, luxurious 3-row interior seating configuration.

2023-toyota-sequoia
via: Toyota

That means the new Sequoia can seat 7 passengers super-comfortable, 8 without the second-row bench setup. The spacious cabin is enhanced by an impressive audio technology, including a new 8-inch or 14-inch (depending on the trim) touchscreen that controls the SUV’s cutting-edge multimedia system.

Imagine waking up your car with a voice-activated command like "Hey Toyota," like Siri or Google Assistant. Toyota's new and improved multimedia system is a feature-rich technology that we can't list all of its components here.

2023_toyota_sequoia
 via: Toyota

However, all five Sequoia trims come with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, an upgraded all-inclusive active safety feature providing a range of pre-collision and pedestrian detection features. Additionally, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), with a range of features such as steering assist and lane tracing assist, is present in the new Sequoia.

It's almost like Sequoia is built large to cram it with as many features as possible. However, the powerful i-FORCE MAX powertrain featuring a motor-generator within the bell housing between the twin-turbo motor and mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission spells the most badassery about this new SUV. This powertrain setup delivers an above-average performance, efficiency, and heavy-duty capacity.

Related: The 10 Most Badass Trucks That Were Ever Produced In The Last 50 Years

How Much Is The 2023 Toyota Sequoia?

2023_Toyota_Sequoia_TRD-Pro
via: Toyota USA Newsroom

When the completely redesigned 3rd-gen Toyota Sequoia hit dealerships sometime this year, you can expect a $50,000 to $70,000 price point for the highest Capstone trim level. Yes, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia along with the Tundra, will go on sale this summer. The SUVs will be sold with 2WD as standard and an available 4WD, although the TRD trim will be sold with a 4WD drivetrain only.

The available 4WD is a part-time 4-wheel-drive system based on a transfer case that works via a selectable 2, 4 high, or 4 low control levers on the center console. We don’t know if there are more Easter eggs spirited away in the Sequoia because Toyota won’t say. Just as well because, apparently, we can’t keep a secret. Who knows, the morse code we found is just one of several Easter eggs left for customers to find.