Opinion/reviews of the sequoia?

I've been looking online to get a feeling for the sequoia and I'm not finding the usual thoroughness I'm used to getting from tw!

My family is growing, and I'd like to get a vehicle with the 3rd row for seating, have 4x4, and be able to tow a camper. The sequoia seems to check these boxes, and I've had nothing but good luck with toyota since my first tacoma I bought used in 2010. I'd be ok with buying used and I think I'd set my price max at 40k. I'd like to stay as new and as lower miles as possible.

Any sequoia users out there that can tell me your experience? Any thing to look out for or recommendations for buying used? Any forums that have a good buyers guide or a good for sale? Worth buying from a dealer or a certified pre owned?

Thanks for any advice you can give me!

 

I have a 04 first gen sequoia with the 4.7. As a family hauler it’s great, pulled or camper with ease. Just pulled a 3000lb horse trailer across country with 500lbs of goats in it. Plus loaded down. Did fine. Do your maintenance and will last forever.

 

This is great to hear! Thank you for the input!

 

I love my first generation Sequoia it’s feels very luxurious compared to my 04 Tacoma. I like the fact the third 3rd row seats can be easily removed to create a huge load floor.

 

How about the present generation?

 

I had an 09 for awhile (I never keep vehicles very long) and enjoyed it quite a bit. Other than an odd transmission quirk, which these weren't known for, it was a good vehicle. My advice would be to hold out until you find one with the 5.7 and the 6 speed trans just for the extra HP and 1 MPG it gives.

If you check out @steelman_built on Instagram he did a build a while back of a 2nd Gen like mine that was pushing the limits of what you can do with a Sequoia. He's currently building a 3rd gen (2.5 gen?) but I haven't kept up with it much. Aftermarket support is better now than when I had mine. Dobinsons makes a nice suspension upgrade, some of the Tundra parts will cross over, but there's a fairly large difference in the frames. Tundra's are boxed only part way vs the Sequoia has a fully boxed frame.



If I'd kept mine the next step was going to be to do a front end swap to the newer style Tundra front end. It's how Toyota should build them from the factory:





My build thread is over here if you're interested: https://americanadventurist.com/forum/threads/木-2009-toyota-sequoia-build-thread-木.4902/

Other than the transmission quirk I really had no reason to part with the Sequoia, it did everything I asked of it. Like I said, I just don't keep vehicles long. I've had a Jeep, a F250 and a Tacoma since parting with the Sequoia 18 months ago.

The newest generation (2018+ I think) is exactly the same as the second Gens only they updated the headlights and grill. The TRD Pro version added an inch of suspension height, but other than that there were no changes to the vehicles of note.

 

I test drove a few current gen sequoias as a replacement for our 08 tahoe. I loved them, wife didn’t. The interior is very Toyota like. Solid, well made, plain. The center stack is awkward for the driver, really far away. The 5.7 is incredible. Ride is great, they are well equipped, and hold up. Make sure the air bags don’t leak if it’s a platinum. Let it sit for 10 min or so after being shut off and see if it has sagged.

 

I really like the 2nd gen (current) Sequoia. I have a 2011 SR5. Personally I would avoid the limited trim with the air suspension, but otherwise they seem rock solid. The looks are a bit polarizing especially in typical stock trims but it has grown on me. I still like the look fo the 1st gen more but love the 5.7.

 

Saw one with the tundra TRD pro front end on it...why oh why didn't toyota update the sheetmetal, it looked awesome.

edit: hur-dur....guess it was in this thread I saw it...haha!

 

The TRD front is overdone for me at this point but I get the appeal. I think more aggressive tires with normal size wheels (ie 17” max) make the biggest difference in looks personally.

 

I have a 2020 TRD Pro and I love it. Mother of 3 girls and 2 dogs, space was one of the selling points for me. There’s plenty of room for us all!

 

After months of searching finally got one of these beast , a 2012 platinum 4x4 . Funny thing is even though it weighs about 2000 pounds more than my taco , they get about the same gas mileage.....

 

How do you like your Sequoia? I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a 2013 Sequoia SR5

 

Thank you @Daria ! Here's the Sequoia I'll be getting, 2013 single owner - 4x4 Texas truck with 119k miles, 28k out the door but comes with a 36 month 31k mile warranty. I test drove it Saturday and agree with you on the power, it is no slouch for its size. I also plan on using this thing for road trips.

The back window and rear wiper were a little wonky on my test drive otherwise I would have drove home with it that day. They are gonna check it out for me and I should be able to pick it up in a couple days!

 

Congrats that one looks nice ! That warranty is really nice too. The rear window problem might be the window lifts that are on either side they are prone to rust apart . There’s a sequoia thread of a guy detailing how to fix it , I think it was on Ihatemud . Anyway let the dealership worry about fixing that …

 

Yeah, the price is a bit high but I think some of that is the mark up that Carmax puts on all their cars, at least it comes with the piece of mind that they'll fix just about anything that's wrong with it and I have the option to return or exchange it in the first 30 days if it comes down to it.

and thanks @Scorchedtaco!

 

Im looking for a second gen myself. Really want a 5.7 though, just havent found one to pull the trigger on as of yet.

Any years or trouble issues I should stay away from when searching?

 

The cam towers can leak oil on the 5.7 its about a 10 hour job at toyota to rebuild the gaskets…$$$.some of the early e-85 flex fuels had an issue but there was a TSB flash that fixed it. Same as tacomas the secondary air injection system (sais)gets corroded .TSB for that as well . The platinum has air suspension in the rear those can fail ….Otherwise solid toyota truck!