The problem is, those decade old BOF Toyotas just refuse to die. They are selling too well to be redesigned.
I don't really get your logic here. Toyota traditionally has quicker product cycles for its biggest sellers. The bread and butter products like Camry, Corolla always get timely redesigns.
Traditionally, Toyota is slower to redesign vehicles that are lower sellers. The Tundra and Tacoma sell fairly well in North America. The Land Cruiser USA sales are small, but international sales are huge. The 4Runner has been selling very well last few years. Same thing with the Hilux, which we don't get in North America. The Toyota Sequoia, since the 2nd generation redesign, has been a fairly slow seller, and even in the current hot market for SUVs and crossovers, Sequoia sales haven't picked up that much.
Now during the last few years the Tundra, Tacoma, Land Cruiser, and 4Runner have all received moderate-to-significant refreshes. The Sequoia since the 2008 redesign, was left virtually untouched until the current 2018 refresh occurred, which is a very, very small refresh.
I personally know plenty of people that refuse to buy the current 2nd gen Sequoia because of the mediocre exterior styling and low quality interior. Now this is just myself speaking personally; I am sure there are many more people out there other than those that I know who also refuse to buy the current Sequoia for similar reasons. It becomes a chicken and egg or catch 22 situation. The Tundra received a much-needed significant refresh for 2014, but the Sequoia did not even though they are significantly similar products. Toyota cannot reasonably blame low sales because of lack of demand for the product. Toyota must understand they are losing a significant chunk of sales for the Sequoia due to many consumers being unsatisfied with the current exterior and interior.
The irony is that the 1st gen Sequoia had much stronger sales throughout its life cycle than the 2nd gen Sequoia.
Now for consumers that want a large Toyota body-on-frame SUV in North America, this becomes a problem. For this segment of buyers, the 4Runner is too small, the Tundra is not a suitable product and neither is the Tacoma, and the Land Cruiser most people cannot afford. Furthermore, the Land Cruiser is not available in Canada. So for consumers that want a reasonably-priced large BOF Toyota SUV, the only option is the Sequoia. Except of course, a big chunk of these buyers are put off by the current Sequoia's exterior and interior.
Many North American dealers for years and years have been pleading with Toyota for a new Sequoia. If dealers are asking Toyota for it, that is further proof that many potential consumers and buyers are unsatisfied with what the current Sequoia offers. Yes it's otherwise a comfortable, solid, reliable product. That's not enough though when the current interior and exterior puts off quite a few consumers.
Given the sales of the noted products here, Toyota's body-on-frame products are typically on long product cycles, for reasons of quality, durability, and toughness (largely regardless of sales in this case). The Land Cruiser being the best example, as one of Toyota's top models in terms of durability and quality. Likewise with the Tundra and Sequoia, and to a lesser extent the 4Runner and Tacoma. All strong sellers with the exception of the Sequoia, but all on long product cycles. All the mentioned products at least have received some attention over the years with decent refreshes while the Sequoia has not.
In terms of the largest overall market for large SUVs, it is North America (USA mostly). I am excluding specific Land Cruiser markets where that product sells in big numbers. The American automakers sell many, many large SUVs in North America. Yet Toyota has been ignoring the Sequoia for many years now. The 2018 refresh is so small as to be almost inconsequential. Speaking of 2018, the Tundra also received a very minor refresh for 2018 as well. That is on top of the significant refresh the Tundra got in 2014. Tundra trims have also expanded over the years to include the TRD Pro model. No such trim expansions have occurred for the Sequoia.
By ignoring the Sequoia for whatever reasons, Toyota is losing a lot of potential profit and some consumer goodwill here.
Also in a broader sense the Land Cruiser, 4Runner, Tundra, and Tacoma are all due for full redesigns as well.
