Is the 3rd Gen Sequoia's 3rd row / trunk really that bad?

For those of you that have a 3rd gen Sequoia.... is the 3rd row / trunk really as bad as most of the journalists and YouTubers say it is? I can see how the whole vehicle isn't great for kid car seats because of the lack of latches and anchors - and that's why we ended up with an Atlas for now - but if that's not on the table, is the back half of the Sequoia and that cargo shelf livable?

Sure, it's not as much utility as the Tahoe / Suburban, but at what point is good enough, good enough?

 

Lack of latches and anchors for car seats? Please explain.

 

Space-wise it looks not worse than 2nd Gen Sequoia, where third row comfortably fits a couple of sub-6' adults. Trunk (imitation of) looks similar or bigger.

 

It depends, IMHO. If I were shopping for a similar SUV, I wouldn't be comparing it to, say, the 4Runner, or what have you. It's technically a full-size SUV, and as such, it's compared to the Jeep Wagoneer, Chevy Suburban, GMC Tahoe, etc. When compared to those, literally almost *all* of them provide more interior storage space. If storage space is a major concern, then yes, it's 'bad.' When my wife's 2022 4Runner - a mid-size SUV - has more interior storage space than the Sequoia - a full-size SUV - IMHO, they missed the mark if they're trying to market it to families concerned about storage space.

But like I said, it depends. For me, I'd be equally concerned about reliability/longevity. From that aspect, the Sequoia wins handily. My gut feeling is that they're not at all trying to market the Sequoia to the same segment as those who buy a Tahoe/Suburban, etc....just like they're not exactly trying to market the Tundra to the exact same segment as those who will buy an F150 all day long.

 

New engine is not reliable. Toyota plays in the same league with big three now.

 

The 3rd row only has a tether anchor in the middle seat. Can’t put a kid in a jumbo car seat front or rear facing, or a baby basket, in the 3rd row

vs the Tahoe has latches and tether anchors in all 6 rear seats

 

How many people legit put a rear facing car seat in the third row? Obviously you have a need I’m guessing, so they’re out there, but even when we had 2 kids in car seats, we never put them in the third row. Also had car seats before the latch / anchors were a thing and never had trouble securing a car seat without them.

 

Not arguing that; but in general, from a reliability perspective, Toyota > others. And I kind of alluded to your second statement. I mentioned that I don't think they're 'trying' to market to the exact same segment of buyers...but I also mentioned that people looking at a Sequoia are likely the same people looking at a Tahoe, Suburban, etc., and those buyers are generally not going to buy a Sequoia for the purposes of storage when a Suburban, Tahoe, etc., can be had for cheaper.

 

Not much cheaper

 

True. 5 or so years ago there was a much greater price differential than there is now; but 'twin turbo' so Toyota is charging more. LOL

 

My family was in the "going to wilderness and back" segment. Going to a no cell coverage area with 3 kids, youngest is 1 y.o., and having your vehicle broken down is very unpleasant experience. 2nd gen Sequoia was way above the competition in that respect. It is ugly, thirsty, cheap, outdated, but it goes there and back, every time. It seems there's no such market segment now as there's no family SUV with extra stress on longevity and reliability. Perhaps people don't event need that segment to be.

People are still looking at Tundra and Sequoia for reliability, because of 3UR+AB60 15+ years of undisputed rein. Give it a couple more years of unresolved no oil pressure engine failures and the reputation is gone.

 

and that’s what I’m getting at - compared to our Atlas, it’s only ~10% less cargo space behind the 2nd row seats. Compared to the Tahoe, it’s ~33% less. The Atlas is huge, so I think we could live with 10% less than huge. We only use the 3rd row occasionally but we definitely need it - the Tahoe’s space would obviously be great, but I’d rather have a Toyota that’s good enough vs a Chevy.

 

I’d love to know why they didn’t go with the Tundra’s non-hybrid V6 powertrain in the Sequoia. Seems like if you were going to pick only one, that would have solved the 3rd row dance right there.

 

i dug into this a bit since my wiener is making the decisions around the house. when we found out we were pregnant with #4, i had to get another vehicle....in came in 2021 sequoia. we have a 5th due in 2 weeks now. for a simple reference, my oldest is still 7 (yes, they're close together...see wiener comment above).
i have to make things work with the sequoia, but now when a new vehicle is on the horizon for me, it will be the yukon xl/suburban for me/us. Wife is in a honda odyssey now which is fine and all and has more rear storage than my sequoia (drops down further and is deeper from bumper to rear seat). if toyota offers an "XL" version of the sequoia in the future, i'll be looking at that. that seems like wishful thinking tho. i feel like toyota isn't too worried about the full size SUV market. they feel like you can utilize the sienna, or the sequoia, but not need the room for a big family in the sequoia. they almost fully eliminated it anyway according to mike sweers in the video they posted a year or 2 ago talking about the sequoia/land cruiser.
so in the next 5 years, i'll be looking at the GM products. unless my wiener decides something else somehow.

 

You need a family truckster with roof luggage rack for storage.

edit: and a “family planning” counseling session.

 

EPA/CAFE most likely.

 

I would convert to 2nd row bench and add Yakima EXO. 2 sit fine in third row for long hours. No way I put 5 kids in GM.

 

And performance / towing.

 

I doubt a battery powered electric motor is of any help while towing. Turbo engine with its wide flat max torque shelf would not need any aid on a highway.

 

That’s exactly why they added the hybrid technology to the platform

 

nice double hitch boxes

 

They turned out to be very handy. 10 cu.ft of rain proof storage each, easy to swing out, can be removed easily when not needed and you again have a city-friendly shorter SUV.

P.S.: there was a 69 qt fridge/freezer, too =)

 

boom there's my missing 10% haha

 

You can compare these 25 reports only to a number of registered forum members with 3 gen truck. But as you said it does really matter, because any number is way up.

 

I'm still convinced a second gen Sequoia is the best family SUV Toyota made up to the day. With the kids you simply have no time to deal with broken cars. Even dropping it off at the dealer for repair is a problem, since you need to move your schedule and often someone's else schedule. I have my share of stories like replacing a starter under the dark skies the night before we've had our first baby. Family car must be a tank

 

Wife had a last year first gen Volvo XC60, we call it Ford Edge over here in US, he-he. Ford never again. Fixed it, sold and went on a hunt for a last year V8 Sequoia. It is not perfect neither and has been at the dealer for warranty repair already (sunroof assembly rusted after the first winter). But I offroad in my Tundra and know wife's Sequoia is as tough as my Tundra. Wish I could replace any of them with a reliable Toyota when time comes.

 

Dude, not telling you how to do you, but vasotomy is a good option. LOL

 

getting kids into the back would be making them jump over seats to get to the back with 2 car seats in the 2nd row won't work.

 

Same.

2002 Ram 1500: *EIGHTEEN* shop visits in 17 months.
2013 F150: 8 shop visits and 3 recalls in 7 years. 5 of the 8 visits ended with no action taken as it was 'characteristic of the vehicle.' I really liked how the driver's rear door could open itself in freezing weather.
2020 Tundra: One recall (that took 15 minutes to fix) and one visit (to replace a solenoid) in 3 years.

 

Time for lemon law