We’re starting to look for a new SUV since our Chevy Suburban has 146k miles on it. I had high hopes for the new Sequoia, thinking it could be a solid option.
I checked out a 2024 Sequoia TRD Pro at a dealer—mainly because it was the only one they had. First impressions were mostly positive. The exterior looked great in TRD trim, though I wasn’t a fan of the Terra color (brownish-red depending on the light). The dash, driver position, and roof height all felt good.
But then I opened the tailgate. That’s where things went wrong.
The hybrid battery takes up a huge space across the rear axle. The third-row seats are positioned on top of this hump and aren’t removable. That alone eats up a lot of the storage space. Behind it, there’s only a small trunk-like area with very limited room.
In my Suburban, I can fold or remove seats and carry large items like 4’x8’ sheets of material. I’ve even slept in the back on an air mattress. The Sequoia? Forget about it. If you’ve got four or five people in the car, good luck fitting more than a few small suitcases in the back. A Costco run would be a serious challenge without a roof rack or hitch storage.
I was really hoping to like this SUV, but after seeing the design, I had to cross it off my list. I feel like Toyota missed a big opportunity here. Anyone else feel the same way?
The Sequoia isn’t in the same class as the Suburban. It competes with the Tahoe, Yukon, Expedition, and Wagoneer. If you’re used to Suburban-level space, Toyota just doesn’t have an SUV that big.
Page said:
The Sequoia isn’t in the same class as the Suburban. It competes with the Tahoe, Yukon, Expedition, and Wagoneer. If you’re used to Suburban-level space, Toyota just doesn’t have an SUV that big.
Yeah, I get that. My main issue isn’t the size itself, but how much space is lost due to the battery placement. It really limits what you can do with the back area.
So somehow the Sequoia, which is bigger, ends up with less storage than the 4Runner. And Toyota’s doing the same thing with the new Land Cruiser. The battery’s in the back, and even though it’s bigger than the 4Runner, it’ll have less cargo space. The second-row seats fold weirdly too, even though there’s no third row. Makes no sense.
I bought a 2024 Sequoia Platinum about a month ago. I was excited at first, but now I regret it. The acceleration is aggressive but jerky at low speeds. The interior looks nice at first glance, but once you start spending time in it, you notice how cheap the materials feel.
My power running boards stopped working on day two, and I’m still waiting for replacements. The rear Sequoia badge was crooked from the factory and also has to be replaced. Toyota really missed the mark here. I traded in a 2023 BMW X5 for this, and I’ve regretted it every day since.
Sully said:
The Grand Highlander is a better choice—better MPG, more usable space, smoother drive, and cheaper. We love ours.
A lot of people are recommending the Grand Highlander, which makes me think Toyota really miscalculated with the Sequoia. I’ll check it out this weekend.
@Blend
You should. If you need towing power, look at the Max engine. We have the regular hybrid, and it’s crazy to get mid-30s MPG in an SUV this size.
I test-drove a 2024 Sequoia and couldn’t get past the interior quality. The center console is a waste of space, and the materials feel cheap. Even the Toyota rep struggled to explain why certain design choices were made. Then I checked out the new Land Cruiser, and the rear seats are so cramped that three adults would be a tight fit. Toyota really cut corners on these new models.
I wasn’t comparing it directly to the Suburban, just pointing out how much the hybrid battery limits the storage space.
Also, Toyota dealers in my area only have the hybrid models, and the rep told me that’s the only way they’re making them. Could be wrong, but that’s what I was told.