Move from a GX460 to a 2nd Gen Sequoia?

[bryan8252]

Currently in a '23 GX and want more room, so I am considering looking at 2nd Gen Sequoias (2020-2022). Other brands have too many issues with engines, designs, and reliability. Any of you 2nd Gen Sequoia owners care to share your loves and hates about the Sequoia? And bonus points if you have experience going from a GX to a Sequoia and share that.

Thanks.

 

[kbahus]

Went from a GX470 to a 2g Sequoia as the family grew. Excellent platform for hauling the family around with the captains chairs in the back, it's like a minivan. The 3rd row seats are actually elevated and not on the ground, feels like real seats back there. Plenty of creature comforts, plenty of power, air suspension in the back is excellent, and I wouldn't buy one without it. I am up to 350k miles on it with regular maintenance, the only major issue was the valley plate coolant leak but that wasn't a terrible job. It's thirsty though!

 

[bryan8252]

Thanks for that info.

I found a ‘21 Nightshade edition. It doesn’t have air suspension… at least it’s not listed on the dealer’s site. But it has less than 30k miles. Dealer got it Friday and listed it. I reached out to them asking about it. Last night they raised the listed price $3,000… so I’m out on it. I don’t play dealer games. But your info will help as I continue to look. If the 3rd Gen would have a non-hybrid V8 option, I’d just buy new.

 

[vtl]

We sold wife's Volvo XC60 (piece of junk) and got her a last year of V8 Sequoia, in TRD PRO.

I regret I didn't get a Platinum, with air suspension. Rear wheels camber is not 0 even on fully unloaded rig. Get it ready for family trip and it looks real pity. Put Timbren SES to offset the problem a bit, but air suspension would be perfect. Self-leveling shocks like Nivomats in my old Volvo would also do it, if only Toyota had them. TRD PRO roof rail is also nearly useless, can be done better. PRO interior is based on Limited trim. FOX shocks are quite good. Wife misses her heated steering wheel. Trunk space with the third row upright is good for two twelve-packs only

Now, get over this pity whine The rest is awesome. Plenty of power, good MPG (wife gets 22 on highway), super spacious for five of us. I've added a wireless Android Auto adapter and wireless charging pod to console lid (https://leatherseats.com/shop/inter...-console-lids/toyota-sequoia-sanctum-console/), wife is happy. Reliability is unearthly. I still added an aux transmission cooler, though cooler-less Sequoia kept ATF much cooler than my cooler-less Tundra did. 5w30 oil, too. While the frame was brand new, coated it with Noxudol 1600 outside and 700 inside.

Cargo space is largely solved by Yakima EXO and one/two boxes. I even put a refrigerator + battery on the hitch basket.

Would totally buy a Sequoia again, but this time either a Platinum with air suspension or SR5 with second row bench, not captain seats. Sequoia is wide enough to fit 3 kids on the bench, have the third row lowered and have a huge cargo space. It would also make 3 full length sleeping places, not just 2

 

[bryan8252]

“Now, get over this pit whine.”

Good info. Thanks. The Sequoia looks like it handles cargo carriers better than my GX did over the summer. Might not look too bad but I was nervous and babied it during that trip. Thankfully the cargo on back was only going one way.

 

[vtl]

I'm actually thinking that a CrewCab V8 Tundra is best for family camping trips. Adequate space for kids, plus 5.5 ft bed + cap is still a very good cargo volume. My Tundra is DoubleCab, which makes it a confined torture device on longer trips.

 

[bryan8252]

Prior to my 460 I drove F150 supercrews for 12 years. Loved the spacious interior room, especially on trips. But as time went on, all that empty space in the 6.5' bed would catch my eye in the rearview mirror and I'd think "man, a big SUV would be so much better." I had a tonneau cover, but still, I considered a lot of the bed wasted space. I held out for the 3rd Gen Sequoia redesign and when I saw the first photo, I fell in love. I'm like "THAT is what I am getting!" And then I found out it was only hybrid and no V8 option. Major disappointment. I had already sold my F150 and needed something, so I picked up one of the last Lexus SUV V8s. And now, the lack of space is eating at me. I feel like Goldilocks... too much space, too little space.... But I completely understand where you are coming from. I do miss that interior space. The 3rd Gen Sequoia feels spacious in the first 2 rows like my F150 felt. Its just that 3rd row and cargo area....

 

[vtl]

5-10/200 lbs me sits comfortably in the third row of 2G Sequoia. The seat even reclines, there's a good blowing air vent and beer holder, too. I can even stretch my legs (captain's second row). Unlike modern vehicles, the rear quarter glass is of full size, I don't feel like I'm in coffin at all. Heck, the third row is more comfortable than second row in a mid-size car. What can you wish for more?

 

[VentoGT]

As the owner of both a 2018 GX Base and 2021 Sequoia TRD Pro I say the Sequoia is fantastic. If you need to use the third row cargo is a bit tight (but the seats can genuinely fit full sized adults no problem) - we have 3 kids so small seat up in the back and the rest is cargo - it basically is the same cargo space with the single seat in use in the back as the GX has. Much better turning radius, better response from the engine, seems like it eats gas at the same rate, the part time 4WD is inferior to the GX's full time but it's a great vehicle and I'm very glad we got it.

Agree with @vtl that a bench would be ideal as it is WIDE and you could easily fit 3 people/kids in a bench and have the whole cargo area. If you want to get fancy I have seen that people have swapped captains chairs to bench and vice versa.

Flame alert: I saw the new Expedition Tremor and was like hmmmmm....hate the all digital dash, love the looks of the thing and the split tailgate, but it's new car money. If I was looking though I'd cross shop it. I do not like the new Sequoia for the motor or the packaging

 

[vtl]

2021 Sequoia TRD Pro ... the part time 4WD is inferior to the GX's full time

Gen 2 Sequoia is not part time! It has Torsen. 2HI, 4HI, 4LO, locked/unlocked. Gen 3 is part time, but Gen 2 is full time.

 

[VentoGT]

Gen 2 Sequoia is not part time! It has Torsen. 2HI, 4HI, 4LO, locked/unlocked. Gen 3 is part time, but Gen 2 is full time.

I know it has 4hi and a center diff but the stock Michelin AT/2 are absolute $hit in snow (Hi fellow masshole ) and the rears spin all day long unless you lock up or put in 4hi up even in light snow/ice in my driveway. The GX has full time 4wd without even thinking about it which maybe is what I was meaning to say. It is un-fun to have an overnight snowfall and not be able to easily back up and move the truck in the driveway, which has happened several times in the Sequoia and never in the GX. Thought I had a pic of both side by side but I'll have to go take one tomorrow

 

[kbahus]

I just leave mine in 4wd during the snowy months, then I don’t worry about my wife forgetting to engage it. It drives well in 4wd. I do wish I could do the same with the Tundra.

 

[vtl]

I know it has 4hi and a center diff but the stock Michelin AT/2 are absolute $hit in snow (Hi fellow masshole ) and the rears spin all day long unless you lock up or put in 4hi up even in light snow/ice in my driveway. The GX has full time 4wd without even thinking about it which maybe is what I was meaning to say. It is un-fun to have an overnight snowfall and not be able to easily back up and move the truck in the driveway, which has happened several times in the Sequoia and never in the GX. Thought I had a pic of both side by side but I'll have to go take one tomorrow

Wife drives in 4HI all the time. She is even unaware what this funky knob does.

LTX AT/2 are not the best, but I was offroading in Maine in winter with them in my Tundra. The key is to air them down well.

I absolutely love Vredestein tires. After buying the very first of their Quatracs I got rid of the dedicated winter tires. Yeah, they are worse than winter tires, but we don't get that much of winter around here. Wife's Sequoia and another car are on Pinza AT now, which is more than enough for any road condition she realistically meets. Wear-wise they are not champions, but no wear = no traction. I learned the importance of traction the hard way, so no more cutting costs down there.

They look beefier than Michelins in real life, too.

 

[VentoGT]

You make a good point I think I'll just run them low so there is better traction as I need to get rid of them sooner than later anyway

 

[VentoGT]

To follow up on my own post, I was in NH this weekend and almost slid backwards down a sloped driveway and it went sideways 3x on me in 4Hi locked. I'm getting rid of these tires ASAP and airing down to the 20s until they are replaced - they are downright hazardous in snow and ice

 

[vtl]

Down to 20s? Tire pressure should be under 30 in winter unless you have a deep discount in your favorite body shop I was under 20 whole last winter on my winter beater, for in-town driving. It cornered like crap and wore out significantly, but had enough grip even on ice.

 

[KRForum57]

A 2005 GX-470 was our family car from 2015 - 2025. Our three kids are now 11/9/9 so the GX was getting tight. In May of last year, at 200k miles, we picked up a 2014 Sequoia Limited 4WD and have zero regrets moving away from the GX. It rides almost as nice, has better AC, better wireless phone capability, selectable 4WD, monster V8 (more potential issues than the perfect 2UZ) and has so much more room- for everyone. It's also bare bones Toyota simple.

The problem with minivans is the kids sit too low. Sitting low in a moving vehicle leads to motion sickness. Sitting nice and high allows your kids to see where they're going and keep their little ear crystals from going out of whack, helping to prevent projectile vomit during the road trip. Just don't feed them eggs before hitting the mountain roads... The 2nd gen Sequoia places everyone up nice and high, and has great big windows for all to see the outdoors go flying by. And you get to go on Blu-ray hunts at the local thrift stores to watch tiny movies on the crappy flip down screen

 

[vtl]

Yep. Converting from a mid-sized car to Sequoia it is indeed became a problem of driving well over 90 MPH unintentionally, because body-on-frame isolates cabin from road noise much better, large V8 moves it effortlessly, your peripheral vision no longer registers all the road cracks zipping by, as you sit higher now, plus the kids lost it all to a mild, but awesome exhaust rumble and no longer generate cabin noise.