This was major 1st world problems for us. My wife loves the way the TRD PRO looks, but as I researched this more and more, I found that there are just to many negatives to justify the 80k price tag. We bought a few year old LX570 and I'm very happy with that purchase for less money then the Sequoia. I'm a Toyota fan, but there are some major oversights for this one that could all be corrected with with a refresh after a few model years. They also need to reduce the price to 65-70k for the TRD PRO.
Nice honest review. As a Toyota fan I found all these last generation Tacomas, Tundras and Sequoias are not what I expected from Toyota. What they have in common? the chief engineer, Mike Sweers. The 4 Runner still been built in Japan, that is the difference. is solid, well built vehicle.
@@floppypancake2439 3rd Gen Tacoma was the worst truck I ever owned, sold it. Terrible seating position, absolutely no low end torque, causing transmission to hunt gears constantly. At 70K broke plastic cooling by pass behind heads
@@floppypancake2439 tacomas not that much I had one 2018 and I couldn’t like the transmission. Hunting gears all the time it was embarrassing with people in my truck asking why my truck was doing that gear change so often
If they eliminate the rear window roll down there's no need to get a 4runner. But some usa or Korean crap for 35 pet cent less. Especially if u are a dog person
@TRDJon you are SPOT ON. These rants are exactly what we need to make a qualified decision on these models and trims. You said it, I was thinking it, for $80K this top end trim Sequoia should feel premium, have clever storage, fuel efficiency and appropriate software details for this price point. We saw the TRD PRO at our local car show and was disappointed. Loved a lot of things, but it fell short of expectations. ESP. for price. Enjoy the heck out of your reviews. One of my favs.
I don't blame them for making money, I blame them for horrible decisions and designs. This sequoia is the worst design of the 3 generations. Lack of interior space, lack of fuel efficiency, and a useless cargo space. They should have just kept building the 2nd gen.
John I have had 2022 TRD pro tundra since October of last year best gas mileage I can get is 19MPG at about 65mph average. Have 6000 miles on the truck I thought would get better after break in but nope.
How come all you RU-vidrs have all these problems with your Toyotas. I don’t have any problems. Other then then the Roof Rack makes a bunch of wind noise and kills the MPG oh yah and it’s so low that it would high center on a bottle cap and the factory running boards are so abrasive that if your wear shorts and low socks you are going to cut the a k side of your leg getting out. Ok so maybe I was wrong and there are a couple of problems🤣. Thank goodness we came up with fixes for all of them. Thank goodness for little companies with big ideas or should I say good ideas😉. Keep up the good work!👍
@@jackson6745 yeah I went in yesterday for pro pricing black on black 95k, black on red 96k… that’s without TTL. I left quickly. They took 10 seconds to reject my 4K over offer. I currently have a 2017 4runner, 2018 Camry, 2020 Avalon. I’m going to shop at gmc for a yukon.
Overall I’m looking forward to the new 4Runner whenever that will be, hopefully they will make it a better over lander, as mentioned above rear bench and 3rd row delete making this into a XL 4Runner would be awesome but I feel they missed the mark and stuck to family wagon, which is a shame as it has the potential for a great rig… although with heavy bumpers, bigger tyres, full kit etc gas may be down to 8mpg or less!
I have one child and two dogs and I’m tall. I was willing to sacrifice some things I hated about the sequoia to get into that truck like build with a comfy big seat. Your review pointed out things that are completely non starters for me. So I guess I’ll keep my eye out on that grandhighlander, ugh.
This is one of my favourite videos Jon! You hit those points spot on. I did start laughing at the first world problems with the infotainment graphics of the Sequoia. Your damn straight I wanna see a TRD Pro on the screen if I paid $80k+ ! Toyota needs to hire you to sort this all out. Keep up the great work!
What’s not to like? Except for the $80,000 hole in your pocket! There were a lot of negatives but I’m glad he likes driving it. Good and honest new Sequoia review, thanks. But thank you, very little Toyota😂
I finally cancelled my Pro order. Since your recent vids with the newly purchased tundra, I might switch back to tundra hunting. The choices now are hybrid or not powerplant, and Limited + TRD Off-road vs Platinum 4x4. The more vids I saw about how the Pro isn't worth the asking price, I more I feel comfortable with cancelling it. Keep up with great contents.
Good stuff man, I agree these are kind of disappointing. I was extremely excited about the new Sequoia ever since I saw the solid rear axle. But the pricing turned out way out of my range. It's pretty much overlapping with the 200 series. At this price I'm also expecting more.
The Sequoia and the LC were never cheap. They are always priced at mid level luxury prices because of their size. Same thing for cars like suburban and Yukon, etc.
Appreciate you for showcasing us the pros and cons on your cars or rather cars that us, consumers desire to buy, but can’t. Looking forward to more of your videos
Great review ! i totally agreed with your comments , especially the cargo space sucks for such a huge SUV+ cheap interior feels for a 76k , now i am thinking twice if i wanna get one
Lots of cost cutting for profit margins. Toyota and Lexus can’t get seat backs/lumbar right, my lexus would squeak and pop when barely moving in the seat. Good honest review of the negative things that aren’t a surprise actually.
That cargo area was a huge deal breaker for me. With 2 kids and a dog it doesn't work. The price increase over the 2nd generation is crazy as well. Staying with my 4runner.
This is a great honest video. As far as the software bit you mentioned, that is pure laziness. They’re cutting corners on what’s supposed to be the new flagship SUV. If you’re in a Denali, you know damn well it’s a Denali. I don’t think it’s a small thing to overlook because it really starts to add up when you compare it to it’s competitors.
Those are all valid points! My closest dealer notified me they had a Sequoia TRD Pro listed it at 93,095 on 3/11/23 and it’s gone. For those prices unless you absolutely are set on getting the hybrid for the power, trying to find a LX 600 at MRSP my be a better option. I like the tech upgrades and the exterior of the new Sequoia, for the average person those prices keep me locked in my current one. One thing I feel on the Sequoias all trims should come with Premium lights and the option for captains or bench seats since the second row is locked in place now.
Me in 2020, 2021, 2022: yes yes yes a new sequoia Me in the end of 2022: 😢 Bought my 2008 RWD sr5 premium (leather and JBL) with 83k miles in summer of 2012…..currently at 211k miles. Zero issues except the stupid AUX port doesn’t work - and I don’t ever use it. I use it as a family vehicle. Four kids. German Shepherd. Loaded with 50+ bags of mulch last year twice in one day. Loaded full of 4x8 sheets before. Put thirty 16 footer deck boards from the rear window up the the dash board. My interior is still phenomenal. Still solid. Nothing broken. Leather is great except a very very minor tear in driver seat. It is still EXTREMELY comfortable. I average 16.5 mpg at 75 mph fully loaded. I average 17.5-19 mpg at 60 mph. Completely stock except mufflers are removed. Sounds better than a TRD or borla or magnaflow exhaust IMO. Only considering to replace my sequoia with a 2018-2022. Slightly considering the grand highlander….but I’m nearly debt free (except my house). There is a beautiful 2019 TRD sport sequoia I am looking at with around 70k miles for $44k but….mine works perfectly at 15 years old and 211k miles so….I may buy a Tacoma and make it a camping vehicle. Cheers my brother. God bless.
Thanks JON for posting this video. I was thinking of buying Sequoia also, but the back of head was not, and wait what people complain about their Sequoia. What you said in the video make a lot of sense ..... like side mirrors create big blind spot which it is true other people complained about the side mirrors too. And cargo area is too small for the Sequoia. Thanks for the video.
I agree on all points... Its frustrating bc they could.have made this an absolute homerun on all fronts. Idk why they chose to do a few of the things theyve chosen to do with this truck.
So true! Maybe getting the platinum tundra just brought to light what they could have done lol. Not gonna lie id chose the platinum tundra any day over this.
You absolutely went off and I love it. Between the Sequoia and the Tundra, Toyota really dropped the ball with their releases. And this is common with any new generation of vehicle. That’s why I will never by the first couple of years from a new generation of any vehicle ever.
Every single one of those points seem like an oversight to me. Especially the cup holder situation. Another thing that bothers me is the light tan headliner and upper half trim. Should be black or match the interior. Just looks tacky and gets smudges really easily.
good video, john. i think if the sequoia was built in Japan, it would probably would have been a better build, I have to agree with you, it's those little details that matter.
I can totally relate to the cheep feel. Bought a Ford raptor, and I don’t know why it takes a while to notice it, but after a couple months, I was thinking man, this is really a crap interior. plastic everything, I think I had a better stereo that came stock with my 1983 Camaro. These prices are downright ridiculous for what the manufacturers are using as far as materials and electronics. very disappointing.
Except when you are in fact towing. They are great. I had to tow a trailer last week with my Tundra and had no issues. The little lights on them actually help at night and look better extended than cheap strap on ones. I’ll agree without a trailer on 24/7 they can be overkill. 😅
I agree with the cheap feel, in the tundra too. Was appaled at the quality of these newer trucks, I paid 48k otd for my 16 limited tundra and it feels like a better truck than 64k 22 limited
Great video, i heard it was an EPA issue with rear roll window due to exhaust gases being sucked into the cabin at driving speeds. BS in my mind. Gas mileage is terrible, my 2021 V8 suburban does much better. Toyota should hire you as a consultant so they stop making these errors. Good looking vehicle overall but it is a new model and they all have issues first year. Toyota will fix them eventually. If it were made in Japan it would be a better quality machine IMO. Keep up the great work!
Even compared to my 20 year old 1st gen Sequoia, the new one doesn't feel "better." Sure it looks better and the tech is more up-to-date, but after that I feel as if my rig is just as capable or better for the exact reasons outlined in this vid.
The first gen is the best gen! I've had one since 2002 and will keep it until the frame finally rusts away. It is the perfect size too (7/8 of full size ). I don't understand or like the behemoth sizing of these new vehicles.
My biggest gripe is they don’t offer an ‘XL’ or ‘Max’ version like the longer Suburban/Expedition Max. The moveable 3rd row is a great feature but in order to carry 7/8 people and all their stuff, you need a long version especially with the hybrid power train.
That's exactly what we were hoping for. We have a 2022 suburban which is a lemon, so we're going to switch to expedition max. That's the only comparable option.
Have you had Bluetooth connection problems? I had an issue with both the Tundra and Sequoia where it would connect/disconnect Bluetooth about 15 times before it starts playing audio. It did this every time I started the vehicle. I agree the mirrors and storage are a problem. Cargo lighting sucks too.
I'm a yota man myself but you nailed the key points. The mirrors are horrible. They should give you the option to have the tow mirrors or not. The seating arrangement is seal breaker for me. I utilize all my spaces
I believe that all auto makers to include Toyota are building all of the new models cheaper and asking more money for them, I also believe long term reliability will not be as good as the old models.
Just bought a limited with the TRD OR package. No complaints so far except that the automatic seat doesn’t work sometimes when you use the remote start. The door seal also squeaks sometimes. I get the same mpg, but my 22 explorer with the turbo 4 got the same mpg as my sequoia.
Appreciate you coming strong against the Sequoia, but more importantly highlighting the features you don't wanna compromise. Hard to argue against buying Tundra over Sequoia for that 20K+ difference.
I think it's gorgeous inside, looks sporty and luxurious, we test drove it. Love all the room for people, we have a Rav hybrid and it's nice but with a dog and family, not everyone fits for travel. This is style.
Great information. Definitely get that seat fixed under warranty. Agree 100% regarding the mirrors and your other beefs. Talking BIG money, Toyota should do better.
Smaller boosted engines, with lots of HP,😮 when on boost will have similar MPG to the bigger NA engines they replace. One has to learn to drive them to get the better MPG. So in real life world MPG, they can and tend to get less MPG as people aren’t patient and go on full boost quite often.
Great review! A lot of these things would have went right over my head but it sounds like most of these things Toyota can fix in later model years. I'm still waiting for a new 4Runner though.
Jon, I have been away but curious how you were enjoying the Sequoia. I think your list is really valid. You wonder sometimes what these designers discuss during the R&D. 80K and all that plastic... shame on you Toyota!
Hi Jon, nice video! I would say it’s not luxurious enough because it’s not the Capstone version as that one is the one meant to have upscale and premium touches everywhere. This one is supposed to have more rugged theme overall. And maybe that’s why it may feel cheap! Love your TRD PRO Sequoia
@@spizike9866 that’s because Raptors are the Apex of performance trucks The Iphones of phones The Teslas of EVs The Playstation of gaming consoles You get the point 😅😊💪🏼
@@expresscarreviews this is supposed to be Toyotas apex of performance SUV. Plus it costs as much as a a Raptor. Also hate that you can’t get a auto transfer case in a Tundra or especially a Sequoia.
My tundra seat rattled like that, felt like there was a plastic water bottle in the seat. Drove me nuts, even tried to take it in for warranty and they just laughed at me basically…but it drove me freaking nuts.
I have seen some people have removed the 3rd row it looks good, but I wonder if a refresh will do that from factory. Not being able to take them out easily does make turning the trd pro into an overlanding rig way more difficult, which kinda defeats the purpose of having a trd pro.
Great video. The Sequoia is disappointing considering what you get for the price. The Grand Highlander is a much better value and more practical as well.
All valid points. I do wish manufacturers would do the Mercedes design by having column shifter but just shortened up. Also pretty crazy the tundra seems more luxurious
We're Toyota fans, but we were very disappointed in the new Sequoia. SO glad we bought a beautiful Tahoe RST. Much nicer interior, great cargo area and 3rd row seats, 6.2 L V-8. Blows it away!
I bought a 2002 Secrappa. It was alright, but had un-toyota like problems. However, it had more room in the back with the 3rd row installed. Usually, the 3rd row seats sat in my garage. Sad to see they're wired in and can't be removed.
Not sure why everyone complains about the fuel mileage, my 4Runner gets worse mileage and has way less power which is one of the reasons i'm thinking of trading in for a Sequoia. But i agree, the build quality of the Sequoia is definitely not on par with the 4Runner. My biggest complaint was I found the seats arent as comfortable as the last gen were, maybe it is just the TrdPro. Can anyone confirm if the Platinum seats are better?
Was waiting for the Sequoia launch & all the reasons Jon mentioned is why I didn't pull the trigger on it. No flat folding rears & no rear window up & down option 👎🏽 Especially for that price. Now looking at Tundra but no V8 option SMH. Mike Sweers (chief engineer) sucks. I hear the new Tacoma & 4Runner might have only V4 options = no thanks Toyota
Thanks for the review. What were they thinking? Hybrid drivetrain is crazy complex for what, a couple of mpg? I don't see anything that is an improvement over the last gen, and lots of things that are not as good, the 4WD system for example. Toyota needs to fire everyone who was involved with the redesign. They had 15 years to work on it and this is the best they could do? There are a lot of better choices for $80,000. I will be very interested to see how many of these they sell. I still have a first gen and had a 2nd gen for several years (and miss it). I have no interest in this one.
Both the he tundra and sequoia should’ve had a new v8 with fuel management would’ve made it cheaper. Power output would be similar and immediate cause of no turbo lag. Plus it would sound better.
Yup, canceled my order based on alot of what you are mentioning. The white headliner is also an annoyance one a blacked out trim. Also only camo interior options? I'm not a boomer but do we all want camo seats???
The government is forcing Toyota to move to hybrid turbos and it is terrible. I believe Toyota has been on point favoring hybrid powerplants and not jumping into the ridiculous electric movement.
I was a hardcore Toyota fan boy and journeyman tech for Toyota but in the last 5 years I sold my Tundra and Tacoma for Nissan Titan and the wife drives a new Nissan Armada. Toyota is lost imo for building trucks in last 5 plus years.
Toyota and Lexus have been relying on their name and how it relates to reliability to get away with dropping the ball and raising prices . Yet they barley got back in the game with technology and meanwhile lost quality in the process . It’s a damn shame .
Now you understand why I don't like those mirrors. I think nobody check how they work they just installed . It's easy to get accident because you can't see anything.
I don’t know why tow mirrors is on this list when it is a $290 OPTION. YOU chose to buy a Sequoia with tow mirrors than you complain about the tow mirrors. Lol.
Thanks for this video now I’m NOT getting it,I used to have the 2001 Sequoia SR5 I’m I was motivated to get this 2023 limited waiting for all these long years something different but sorry Toyota it’s disappointed this TRD version for that high price imagine the SR5 I move on 😢
