You Should Not Worry About the Solid Rear Axle On 2023 Toyota Sequoia

Part of the reason for owning a big SUV is you want a good ride quality. Mercedes SUVs feels like you are driving on a cloud and can’t feel anything the bumpy road has to offer. Even in South Carolina’s crappy roads, test driving a Mercedes GLS was one of the best feelings I ever felt. Every year there are new advancements in the suspension departments of major automakers. Things like air suspension and active air suspension.

These little things that help the driver and passengers feel more comfortable help vehicles sell better ultimately making them a better car to buy. The older Sequoias had independent rear axles which allowed for the wheels to contort to the given terrain. The 2023 Sequoia will have a solid rear axle which essentially means what the name says. However, because of this, it has some potential buyers worried that the new 2023 Toyota Sequoia will have a pretty bad ride quality.

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On Facebook’s 2023 Toyota Sequoia group, David Le asked, “Haven’t driven a solid axle on a SUV before, can anyone explain if the ride quality is going to be worse or better?” This is a pretty interesting question because a lot of current SUVs do not come with a solid rear axle. Most of the time this is only used for off-road oriented vehicles like Jeeps and such. Even some 4Runner guys install them. But can it make your ride quality bad?

Doug DH said, “It’s not the axel so much as the springs and shocks that determine ride. The tire and wheel combo obviously play a role as well.” This is important because even though the axle is a key part of the suspension, most of the ride quality comes from things like control arms and tire rods. Also, your tires play a big part as well.

Chase Battley said, “A solid rear axle does ride a little rougher, but you probably won't notice it. I'm sure Toyota has the suspension dialed in for the best ride possible while also being able to tow and handle payload.” The only thing a solid rear axle will do is lift your tire off the group if your other tire is crawling something or if the weight is heavy shift the entire car in that opposite direction.

I think that you shouldn’t worry about the ride quality. Most major Toyota SUVs like the older Sequoias had great ride quality. Granted you are not buying a Rolls Royce but at the end of the day your back won’t be sore.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.

Harutiun Hareyan is reporting Toyota news at Torque News. His automotive interests and vast experience test-riding new cars give his stories a sense of authenticity and unique insights. Follow Harutiun on Twitter at @HareyanHarutiun and on YouTube at Toyota Time for daily Toyota news.