Purchase decision: 4runner versus Sequoia

[Kinnick]

I have been researching the new 4runner and Sequoia and I was hoping to get some feedback from the experts here. I currently drive a stock (don’t laugh) ’97 4runner sr5 4wd with 150,000 miles. It has been an amazing truck. What I love about my t4r is the reliability, ability to travel adverse weather (snow) with ease, functionality, and I like driving a vehicle that is somewhat rare where I live. My wife and I now have two girls, ages 2.5 and 6 months, and the 3rd gen is getting a little cramped. I plan on keeping the 3rd gen, trading in my grand prix, and purchase a 5th gen with third row or slighty used Sequoia.

I recently test drove both vehicles for the first time. The t4r was a limited with Xreas and the Sequoia was the way overpriced platinum. First of all, I am envious of all the 5th gen owners. This is one sweet truck! I liked most things about it, I just question if for the next 10 years this will be a large enough vehicle to accommodate our needs. Enter the Sequoia. The interior space is wonderful, smooth V8, and suprisingly didn’t drive as big as it really is. Of course the main downfall is reduced mpg. I estimate I would spend $750 more per year in gas with the Sequoia. I would also have to buy a slightly used one (preferably an sr5 with leather) to fit in my budget.

So my question is this. Was anyone here in a similar situation? Why did you buy one versus the other? I realize most comments will favor the t4r, but I appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

Oh yeah, our family of four may turn into five, I envision towing a fishing boat and/or midsize travel trailer someday, and no, I will not buy a highlander or some other crossover.

 

[1000MPH]

My friend at work has a 4 year old Sequoia with only 30K miles on it. It's one of the few trucks I'm a little jealous of. I love that body style, the wheels, and of course that sweet V8. I would want bigger than the 4R for a family of 4 or 5.

 

[Ridin4Runner]

My Buddy got a crazy on the Platinum, but I can tell you I was under impressed with it. At that price point the faux wood was to fake and felt like cheap plastic. Yeah, it has cool bells and whistles, but I opted for the 4Runner because I liked it better. My lasting impression of the Platinum Sequoia was it just felt like Toyota cut corners on interior quality. Great ride no doubt, anyway...

 

[westwind77]

So my question is this. Was anyone here in a similar situation? Why did you buy one versus the other? I realize most comments will favor the t4r, but I appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

I was between a new 4R and a used Sequoia as well, but I wanted the last gen as I am not a fan of how they look now. I did want the v8 and the extra room but I searched for over a year and could not find what I wanted. It seemed that NOBODY wanted to trade in their Sequoia. I wanted one from the last year before the change and I wanted one with 20k or less, then of course the specific options I was looking for personally. The ones that did come up all had 60k + (no clue how they racked up miles like that so fast). Long story short I ended up with 4R, however, now with hindsight, I am happy with my decision. Now I only have one child, if I had 2 and possibly a 3rd coming, no way, I would be into something bigger ASAP! You can't go wrong with the new 4R's they really are great! Best of luck with your choice!

 

[SeattleMike]

Practicality favors the Sequoia over 4runner. When baby #3 comes along, your wife will learn to loathe the 4runner 3rd row.

My unsolicited advice: Keep the 3rd Gen, sell the GP, let her pick out the new car. Happy wife = happy life.

 

[lmoody003]

My unsolicited advice: Keep the 3rd Gen, sell the GP, let her pick out the new car. Happy wife = happy life.

wise you are. strong with the force. yes

 

[Antman]

Gotta tell ya, as hard as it is to admit, you cannot beat our Honda Odyssey when you have kids! Plenty of room for 7 or 8, even with carseats, and all their stuff. Easy access to the third row. Drives like an Accord with more room than the 4Runner or Sequoia. I loaded it to the gills for a trip to VA and got 24mpg running a comfy 80 mph. Test drive one- that sold me! Just gotta get over that Minivan thing... My .02

 

[philsey]

Practicality favors the Sequoia over 4runner. When baby #3 comes along, your wife will learn to loathe the 4runner 3rd row.

My unsolicited advice: Keep the 3rd Gen, sell the GP, let her pick out the new car. Happy wife = happy life.

This.

 

[Kinnick]

Gotta tell ya, as hard as it is to admit, you cannot beat our Honda Odyssey when you have kids! Plenty of room for 7 or 8, even with carseats, and all their stuff. Easy access to the third row. Drives like an Accord with more room than the 4Runner or Sequoia. I loaded it to the gills for a trip to VA and got 24mpg running a comfy 80 mph. Test drive one- that sold me! Just gotta get over that Minivan thing... My .02

LOL! Antman you are 100% correct. Problem is, this new ride will be my wife's dd, and she hasn't gotten past the whole minivan thing. In fact, I just read her your reply and I got that same "death stare" she gave me when I sorta kinda forgot about mother's day (that one just snuck up on me). My biggest complaint about the minivan would be lack of true 4wd and ground clearance given our snowy winters. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[KCcarguy]

Since you are (smartly) keeping the 3rd gen. I'd go with the Sequoia. The 5th gen will seem small pretty quick. You might also want to consider a Highlander. My wife loves hers.....slightly more spacious and much more comfortable than the 4runner. MGP's are great too. The Highlander may be CUV, but it kicked-a$$ in the big blizzard we had last winter (30"+ of snow).
Also consider gas will likely climb over $5.00/ gallon and stay in the next few years.

I've gotta say, those sequoias would be awesome for road-trips though. I personally prefer the 1st gen.

 

[SeattleMike]

Yeah.. if it's gonna be her DD, then you definitely need to let her pick it out. It's about more than just styling; how well do three car seats fit in the second row?, can you get people into the third row without removing carseats?, how many diaper bags (and bags of diapers) fit into the back with third row up and down?, how about groceries?

We just went through all this with some friends who are planning babies... they ended up with a Honda CRV... but they are both under 5'5". They thought long and hard about a Subaru Forester though. What they found was the best help was to go through the motions of how they would actually use it; doing so helped them rule out a good number of options... some of which had them twisting like gymnasts just to reach the baby.

 

[Renegad44]

I seriously looked at the new Sequoias', but having 2 previous 4Runners, with excellent results, and the 5th Gen larger than the previous 2, I decided to buy the 5th Gen 4R-Limited. It's just me and the wife, so it's big enough for us. :thumb3:

 

[Ducmonsta]

4runner, built in Japan-good
Sequoia, built in US-bad

Don't get me wrong, I love the US of A, but we make crap cars!

 

[Net4n6]

I would get a Sequoia. With 3 kids, 4runner will be too small in couple years. 3rs bench in the 4runner will be "almost useless". You will need trunk space too.

 

[Ridin4Runner]

That is a big rig for day to day for most mom's. Face the facts a minivan is in your future :wow: They make the most practical sense, granted one will never be parked in my driveway. Three kids though, I would truly have to consider. Wonder how that would look with some 275/70/17's and 3 inch lift?

 

[robotkiller]

That is a big rig for day to day for most mom's. Face the facts a minivan is in your future :wow: They make the most practical sense, granted one will never be parked in my driveway. Three kids though, I would truly have to consider. Wonder how that would look with some 275/70/17's and 3 inch lift?

Could be worse...

 

[Ridin4Runner]

Could be worse...

I am so confused. Not sure if I should respect that or not? Very confused...

 

[Ivy Mike]

I have a 2005 Sequoia SR5 4wd and 2011 4runner SR5 4wd.....go w/ the Sequoia. I couldn't pry my wife out of the Sequoia if I had too. I have 3 kids and need every bit of the room. The 13-14 mpg that goes w/ running around town is just part of it and on trips we use all of the space plus a Yakima 21 box on top. 4runner gets cramped when you add the kids friends into the mix and as the kids grow up.

 

[Batang.Gapo]

Practicality favors the Sequoia over 4runner. When baby #3 comes along, your wife will learn to loathe the 4runner 3rd row.

My unsolicited advice: Keep the 3rd Gen, sell the GP, let her pick out the new car. Happy wife = happy life.

I second that... :bravo:

 

[Kinnick]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. While my wife will probably get two votes to my one with this decision, I feel I am leaning towards a slightly used Sequoia. Heck, I will be thrilled to be able to drive our 3rd gen instead of my grand prix as my dd.

Yes, our family of four may turn into five, but the odds are about the same as the Cubs winning the World Series. Regardless, as others have pointed out, when friends or family ride along with the kids the Sequoia's size will be appreciated. Practicality might suggust a minivan but the wife is dead set against one.

I am probably hesitant of the Sequoia's mpg, but if it gets the stated 18 hwy, that is not that much worse than our 3rd gen's 20.5 mpg. We are currently driving the 3rd gen for all family trips.

I have to admit my wife has not had the opportunity to drive the Sequoia, but when I did I felt it handled like a much smaller vehicle than it really is. The turning radius was ridiculously tight.

Anyway, enough rambling. All comments welcome.