2024 Sequoia to LC 250 (1 Viewer)

[NinjahGoose]

I am probably crazy for thinking this, but I'm debating on switching from a 2024 Sequoia (4x4, Limited, add A/T tires) to a Land Cruiser (Land Cruiser trim).

Before my Sequoia, I had a 2012 4Runner I bought new and put on 175K miles. I made the jump to the Sequoia because we have a boat (3000lbs boat/trailer loaded) that we tow from Raleigh, NC to the NC coast. The 4Runner towed the boat "OK", but the stability and power was severely lacking. The Sequoia is an incredible tow rig but the 3rd row/cargo space, 3.4L recall, fuel economy (with the 18 gal tank I only get about 260 miles of range, Rivian EV's have more), and the sheer size is starting to bug me. My wife's Bronco (full size, not the horrendous sport model) is more enjoyable to drive and manage for day to day tasks.

Has anyone switched from a Sequoia, Tundra, or other larger vehicle to the LC?

Pic's of Sequoia and Bronco attached.

 

[MaxJr]

The LC will likely tow somewhat like your 4Runner, but with more low end power from the hybrid. The LC is heavier, but the wheelbase is about the same.

Your are basically comparing full size trucks with mid size. A full size Sequoia/Tundra will tow better than a midsize LC/4Runner/Tacoma. But I'm surprised you found that towing a fairly modest 3000lb boat a problem with 4runner.

 

[NinjahGoose]

The LC will likely tow somewhat like your 4Runner, but with more low end power from the hybrid. The LC is heavier, but the wheelbase is about the same.

Your are basically comparing full size trucks with mid size. A full size Sequoia/Tundra will tow better than a midsize LC/4Runner/Tacoma. But I'm surprised you found that towing a fairly modest 3000lb boat a problem with 4runner.

Oh I agree with you, you're making the same points my wife and I discussed when making the jump from the 4Runner to the Sequoia.

I wouldn't say it was a problem, that implies something detrimental occurring. The 4Runner would get pushed around by even a small crossover passing by at highway speeds, any type of incline and I would have to put the throttle to the floor to keep speed up, on the highway I hardly ever saw 5th gear. While we go to the in-laws beach house at the coast pretty frequently, once we're there we stay for several days to several weeks depending on the time of year. Just another perk of working remotely.

My primary sticking points are the range, size, and horrendous 3rd row design of the Sequoia. Here's an example, we took my 4 year olds little electric car to the beach house during our last trip a few weeks ago (it's a town house complex with this huge grassy courtyard a lot of kids run around in). Before we made the trip I thought no problem, I will just put the car in the back of the Sequoia and load our luggage in the boat. Well, come to find out, the stupid 3rd row and battery bump in the Sequoia created some kind of Tetris box that prevented the car from fitting in the back. Lo and behold, it fit just fine in the Bronco.

 

[stridertexas]

One of the reasons we left a Tahoe is it’s too damn big and drove “too big also”. Cruiser is a better size and more “nimble” for day to day driving. Our kids are teens now, & one is driving. So that factored in also.

 

[MaxJr]

You might also want to consider the GX550 and avoid the hybrid in the LC. The hybrid adds a lot of complexity and annoyingly raises the cargo floor.

I question the value of the hybrid unless one places significant importance in the 2400W inverter.

 

[NinjahGoose]

You might also want to consider the GX550 and avoid the hybrid in the LC. The hybrid adds a lot of complexity and annoyingly raises the cargo floor.

I question the value of the hybrid unless one places significant importance in the 2400W inverter.

I thought about the GX550, I love the grunt of the 3.4 in my Sequoia right now. With that said, I do really like the 2.4KW inverter and the added range of the LC though. The inverter would be able to charge my boat cranking and TM batteries when I do trips to other locations, the 400W in my Sequoia doesn't have the power required for the on-board charger.

 

[Jetboy]

It might be worth waiting for the 6th gen 4Runner to see how it does. I don't know if interior volume specs are available yet. Toyota seemed to do whatever the inverse of optimize for space is called by making the interior smaller on all of its new fleet of BOF models. Don't know yet if the 4Runner also shrunk significantly inside. I think that'll be available in awd without the hybrid battery bump in the back that the LC250 has. That might do what you want minus the inverter and still have a lot of range with the better mpg from the 4cyl. I suspect it'll tow very comparably to the hybrid LC250. I don't think the hybrid does much to benefit towing.

The GX gets a bit worse mpg than the Sequoia and has the smaller tank so it will end up worse than the Sequoia in the fuel range department. 150ish miles per tank towing a travel trailer would get real old real fast for me. The 4R might have decent interior volume and good highway range. Otherwise - Grand Highlander?

 

[NinjahGoose]

It might be worth waiting for the 6th gen 4Runner to see how it does. I don't know if interior volume specs are available yet. Toyota seemed to do whatever the inverse of optimize for space is called by making the interior smaller on all of its new fleet of BOF models. Don't know yet if the 4Runner also shrunk significantly inside. I think that'll be available in awd without the hybrid battery bump in the back that the LC250 has. That might do what you want minus the inverter and still have a lot of range with the better mpg from the 4cyl. I suspect it'll tow very comparably to the hybrid LC250. I don't think the hybrid does much to benefit towing.

The GX gets a bit worse mpg than the Sequoia and has the smaller tank so it will end up worse than the Sequoia in the fuel range department. 150ish miles per tank towing a travel trailer would get real old real fast for me. The 4R might have decent interior volume and good highway range. Otherwise - Grand Highlander?

I understand what you're saying but I really don't like the styling Toyota went with in the new 4Runner. That alone is a no go for me.

Believe it or not, the hybrid is a HUGE benefit for towing at anything below highway speeds where maintaining constant speed/rate is easy to achieve. When pulling away from the a red-light, climbing a hill at low speeds, or pulling up the steep boat ramps I will often see the "Max" gauge go full blue indicating it's in full assist mode.

I'm not interested in the Grand Highlander at all. I like to take my vehicles on Forest Roads and drive on the beach. Besides, the hybrid Grand Highlander is only rated for 3500lbs towing. I'm of the opinion that if I have to do GVWR math when hooking up the trailer and loading in luggage then I have the wrong vehicle.

 

[Jetboy]

I understand what you're saying but I really don't like the styling Toyota went with in the new 4Runner. That alone is a no go for me.

Believe it or not, the hybrid is a HUGE benefit for towing at anything below highway speeds where maintaining constant speed/rate is easy to achieve. When pulling away from the a red-light, climbing a hill at low speeds, or pulling up the steep boat ramps I will often see the "Max" gauge go full blue indicating it's in full assist mode.

I'm not interested in the Grand Highlander at all. I like to take my vehicles on Forest Roads and drive on the beach. Besides, the hybrid Grand Highlander is only rated for 3500lbs towing. I'm of the opinion that if I have to do GVWR math when hooking up the trailer and loading in luggage then I have the wrong vehicle.

I don't like the new 4Runner styling either. And it is also probably a deal breaker for me as well. What happened?? TBH - I probably won't buy any of the GA-F SUVs unless they make significant changes - either the Sequoia has to offer a non-hybrid with full cargo volume or a GX would need to be offered with a fuel tank that is useable for towing. Neither one seems likely. LC250 is pretty solid but not enough towing capacity for what I need right now. Good luck!

 

[APIOQM]

You can't trade the Sequoia in because the paint matches your Bronco!

 

[NinjahGoose]

I don't like the new 4Runner styling either. And it is also probably a deal breaker for me as well. What happened?? TBH - I probably won't buy any of the GA-F SUVs unless they make significant changes - either the Sequoia has to offer a non-hybrid with full cargo volume or a GX would need to be offered with a fuel tank that is useable for towing. Neither one seems likely. LC250 is pretty solid but not enough towing capacity for what I need right now. Good luck!

I get it. If Toyota had just put the battery under the 2nd row so we could easily remove the 3rd row, I would deal with the rest of it. It's just compounding right now. Not to mention there's the 3.4L total engine replacement protocol in place.

I feel like the LC 250 has real potential for me. The tow capacity is well over the weight of my boat, family, and luggage for road trips. It's just very weird for me since I usually keep vehicles for about 10 years. It's not that I really "dislike" the Sequoia, it's a cool truck. I really wanted to see if anyone had moved from a full size down to the LC.

You can't trade the Sequoia in because the paint matches your Bronco!

Lol. She wanted Area 51 but we couldn't find one with a 2.7L and without Sasquatch package. With X-Plan we got a pretty decent deal on it.

 

[MaxJr]

It might be worth waiting for the 6th gen 4Runner to see how it does. I don't know if interior volume specs are available yet. Toyota seemed to do whatever the inverse of optimize for space is called by making the interior smaller on all of its new fleet of BOF models. Don't know yet if the 4Runner also shrunk significantly inside. I think that'll be available in awd without the hybrid battery bump in the back that the LC250 has. That might do what you want minus the inverter and still have a lot of range with the better mpg from the 4cyl. I suspect it'll tow very comparably to the hybrid LC250. I don't think the hybrid does much to benefit towing.

The GX gets a bit worse mpg than the Sequoia and has the smaller tank so it will end up worse than the Sequoia in the fuel range department. 150ish miles per tank towing a travel trailer would get real old real fast for me. The 4R might have decent interior volume and good highway range. Otherwise - Grand Highlander?

The new LC and the upcoming 4Runner hybrid are simply variants of the same vehicle. You can see that in Doug DeMuro's comparison from earlier this year.

The hybrid motor provides torque while the turbo spins up, just like in supercars.

 

[Jetboy]

The new LC and the upcoming 4Runner hybrid are simply variants of the same vehicle. You can see that in Doug DeMuro's comparison from earlier this year.

The hybrid motor provides torque while the turbo spins up, just like in supercars.

They have different bodies and powertrain options. Among the differences is that the 4Runner will come with a non-hybrid powertrain and presumably that also means it will not have the cargo area hump that the LC250 does. I'm not sure how they compare overall though as the LC250 has a taller roof. LC might still have more cargo volume. And the 4R will have a 3 row option that the LC does not. Of course the LC250 has a non-hybrid powertrain in global markets and a 3rd row as well, but not for the USA. I think that would be the high volume model if sold in the USA, but Toyota seems to be reserving that for the 4Runner.

It'll be interesting to see how the hybrid 4R vs non hybrid compare. Eventually someone will do a side by side with the Tacoma hybrid vs non-hybrid in mpg and towing tests. In the tundra it's 0.4 seconds quicker 0-60 for the hybrid, but doesn't seem to improve towing mpg in any of the tests I've seen. I haven't seen any side by side towing tests that directly compare the tundra hybrid vs non-hybrid though in a true apples to apples comparison. I'd love to see it.

I think the hybrid is great in concept. Just not the location of the battery in the cargo area or the volume required to have a nimh chemistry battery. Lithium battery fit under the middle row would be a better design for the SUVs. Especially if combined with a more creative middle row seating design to lay flat.

 

[Jetboy]

I get it. If Toyota had just put the battery under the 2nd row so we could easily remove the 3rd row, I would deal with the rest of it. It's just compounding right now. Not to mention there's the 3.4L total engine replacement protocol in place.

I feel like the LC 250 has real potential for me. The tow capacity is well over the weight of my boat, family, and luggage for road trips. It's just very weird for me since I usually keep vehicles for about 10 years. It's not that I really "dislike" the Sequoia, it's a cool truck. I really wanted to see if anyone had moved from a full size down to the LC.

Lol. She wanted Area 51 but we couldn't find one with a 2.7L and without Sasquatch package. With X-Plan we got a pretty decent deal on it.

I'd go check one out. If it makes sense you can probably swap to an LC250 at no cost or with cash in your pocket on the trade. LC might have more cargo volume or at least more useable cargo volume. And it saves a ton of cash on maintenance over time. Think about how much you'll save by only changing one air filter at a time!!

It's interesting that it's using the hybrid power while towing. That's encouraging to me. The heavy tow tests I've seen show it being idle most of the time, but I've never driven a hybrid version or towed with one.

 

[NinjahGoose]

I'd go check one out. If it makes sense you can probably swap to an LC250 at no cost or with cash in your pocket on the trade. LC might have more cargo volume or at least more useable cargo volume. And it saves a ton of cash on maintenance over time. Think about how much you'll save by only changing one air filter at a time!!

It's interesting that it's using the hybrid power while towing. That's encouraging to me. The heavy tow tests I've seen show it being idle most of the time, but I've never driven a hybrid version or towed with one.

Funny you should mention that, I actually took a drive in one a few weeks ago. The salesman I worked with for the Sequoia called me about coming in to check out a few they had in. Honestly, the build quality of the Japanese vs. American is pretty noticeable between the two. The LC250 seats are more comfortable, the ride quality is about the same (the Sequoia is prob a bit more stable due to the wheelbase), and the Sequoia has much more power.

At a steady state, the hybrid motor doesn't do anything, towing or not. When you mash the throttle you will see the Max gauge go to full and you will get a sudden kick in the ass that will push you along. If you keep the throttle floored the electric motor will continue to give you full power. When pulling away from a stop or if you roll into the throttle, say to climb a steep grade (like a boat ramp or a hill on a back road), the electric motor will kick in and fill in the low end torque.

If you deactivate the traction control, brake boost, and drop the brake it will spin the rear tires for a while.

 

[krice118]

I think the argument that hybrids are complicated and avoid it is really really dumb. Hybrids are nothing new and Toyota builds great ones. For towing that instant torque help of the battery would be very helpful.

Split the difference and buy an LX570

 

[NinjahGoose]

I think the argument that hybrids are complicated and avoid it is really really dumb. Hybrids are nothing new and Toyota builds great ones. For towing that instant torque help of the battery would be very helpful.

Split the difference and buy an LX570

I have nothing against hybrids. In fact, I would rather get an EV, but a Rivian Max pack R1T is way too expensive.

I would have rather kept my 4Runner than get a LX570. Technology in those machines were dated when new.

 

[krice118]

LXs tow very well and are much more comfortable than a runner. Either way it’s your $$ and you like tech - LC 250 would serve you well - probably a lot like you sequoia but smaller.

 

[Jetboy]

From my perspective - I like the hybrid, I'm just not a fan of Toyota's execution in the current line of GA-F models. It feels like an afterthought in some ways. It's not the type of bespoke hybrid powertrain I'd expect if I had Toyota's full engineering and manufacturing prowess at my disposal. The battery is too large, in the wrong spot, and also too small capacity. I wish Toyota would lean into the hybrid more. Make it a PHEV with a 20kwh lithium battery mounted in the spare tire space and move the tire to the rear door (that would need to swing sideways). Or go with a ramcharger style setup. I think PHEV is pretty close to a must have for me to swap my Tundra for a new one. I've taken a look at adding a Ford Lightning to the garage as a daily driver. They're dirt cheap right now and as odd as it sounds it would complement my Tundra and functionally be like having a PHEV truck.

 

[NinjahGoose]

LXs tow very well and are much more comfortable than a runner. Either way it’s your $$ and you like tech - LC 250 would serve you well - probably a lot like you sequoia but smaller.

For me, I don't like the LX570 styling as much. I'm not a "luxury" car person and not a fan of the interior or exterior. It's not that I "like tech", I'm more of a hardware over software type person. I the LX570 and Land Cruiser 200 were long in the tooth and had dated screens, cameras, and design when sold new. I like my Sequoia for the most part, I'm just trying to find out if I'm insane for thinking about making this switch.

From my perspective - I like the hybrid, I'm just not a fan of Toyota's execution in the current line of GA-F models. It feels like an afterthought in some ways. It's not the type of bespoke hybrid powertrain I'd expect if I had Toyota's full engineering and manufacturing prowess at my disposal. The battery is too large, in the wrong spot, and also too small capacity. I wish Toyota would lean into the hybrid more. Make it a PHEV with a 20kwh lithium battery mounted in the spare tire space and move the tire to the rear door (that would need to swing sideways). Or go with a ramcharger style setup. I think PHEV is pretty close to a must have for me to swap my Tundra for a new one. I've taken a look at adding a Ford Lightning to the garage as a daily driver. They're dirt cheap right now and as odd as it sounds it would complement my Tundra and functionally be like having a PHEV truck.

Completely agree with this. I really like Toyota's, but these iterations feel half-assed. They don't need to be revolutionaries in the market, on the whole Toyota is a very conservative company. BUT, if they had pushed the market a bit and made a PHEV or even a generator hybrid (Ramcharger or BYD Shark style) I feel like they would have won the market. The Lexus LFA was a huge money loss, but they learned so much from that car. Plus, it's still considered one of the best vehicles of all time.

I'm also holding off making any decisions until I learn more about the Scout EV during the unveiling taking place the end of October.

As a side note, I'm dumbfounded on why Toyota didn't shrink the 4Runner down and flair the fenders to be a Jeep/Bronco competitor. My wife and I have said it several times, the FJ Cruiser was ahead of its time.