Alright, let’s talk about Toyota’s new body-on-frame SUVs. First, the Sequoia:
They took away the independent rear suspension right when American brands added it to their SUVs. Bad move. Now the third row is cramped, the cargo floor isn’t flat, and it drives all over the highway. I’d pick the previous gen over this one any day. The Tahoe and Yukon are way better for practicality. Besides reliability (which isn’t proven yet with these new engines), I see no reason to pick the Sequoia over its competitors.
Now, the 4Runner and Land Cruiser:
Land Cruiser: Starts at $57,900, and you don’t even get leather seats. The trim Car and Driver recommends costs around $63,900.
4Runner: The SR5 pricing is okay, but once you look at higher trims, prices shoot into the $60k range. If you’re spending that much, why not just get the Lexus GX? It’s almost like Toyota is nudging people toward the GX, and it seems to be working since I see way more new GX models than Land Cruisers on the road.
Toyota had years to redesign the Sequoia, 4Runner, and Land Cruiser, and I think they missed the mark on all three. If I had to choose today, I’d stick with the current-gen 4Runner or maybe grab a leftover GX from a dealer.
Doesn’t look like Toyota is losing sleep over these complaints. Their sales numbers say otherwise. They sold almost 30k Land Cruisers this year, with over 5k in December alone. People are clearly buying.
It feels like Toyota is trying to push 4Runner owners into spending more. The new GX is very similar to the current 4Runner but feels designed to attract the same buyers with higher prices. Meanwhile, the new 4Runner is clearly aimed at younger folks. Honestly, I’d take a GX over the Tahoe, but the premium fuel and poor gas mileage are rough.