For my birthday getaway, we hit the road to Point Clear, Alabama in 2018 Toyota Sequoia 4X4 TRD Sport. This heavy-duty SUV is made for towing and driving around families seeking adventure.
Toyota Sequoia is the 2nd biggest SUV in Toyota's lineup, seating seven-passengers comfortably due to its massive frame.
I was told that the Toyota Sequoia is similar to the Tundra, look-wise on the inside interior, however, I never drove a Tundra so I can't compare. But both models are built for towing, so I can understand the resemblance.
I want to say that I loved my time with the Sequoia, but to me, it was just an okay vehicle. There are some pluses and minuses. Today, I want to share with you the Pros and Cons of 2018 Toyota Sequoia.
Pros
1. The dark shade of gray for the exterior and all black interior made the SUV look inferior! (See there, I rhymed!) The Sequoia has a toughness to it, giving a rough and rugged look. Also, it seemed like this SUV can be used as an executive car as well.
2. Plenty of space inside to seat a family of 7. The second row both have their own large seating with armrest being able to maneuver around the back seat with ease. Even the third-row seating has a lot of legroom, enough space like a regular sedan.
3. With me being short in height, it's hard for me to see around the car while driving, so the safety features were excellent to have to keep me safe on the road like blindspot monitoring, back up camera, lane departure alert, and the pre-collision system.
4. Not only is the Sequoia best vehicle for towing, but also it's excellent SUV for tailgating offering a plug outlet on the outside trunk.
5. You know how it can be hard to pull up and fold down the third-row seating? Well, not with the Sequoia! You can use several buttons located around the car to power recline and fold flat the 3rd row. Super helpful feature!
6. The sound system inside the Sequoia is incredible! It's like sitting in your own concert inside the car. The sound is powerful, even with the music turned down low. Michelle was inside the house while I was waiting for her in the car to come outside and hop in, and she told me she could hear my music indoors.
7. The navigation system is very user-friendly. It was self-explanatory, not needing to read a manual for guidance.
Cons
1. Goodness, the Sequoia is a gas guzzler!!! It drank gas like it was water; thirsty on a hot day or something! When I was driving around town and seen how quickly the gas gauge was going down, I knew then this SUV fuel economy was terrible. And my thoughts were right; the fuel economy rating is a 1 out of 10. By far the worst score I have ever seen!
2. Speaking of gas! Due to having a large engine, it cost a lot to fill up too. I paid $50 per fill up, and been to the gas station five times of having it for a week! Not economical at all! My poor wallet hates me right now!
3. Being a 2018 model, you'd think that this SUV has USB ports. Nope, none at all, only 12V ports for charging. This was a bummer for my daughters who don't have 12V chargers for their phones. I had to purchase 12V chargers for them since I road trip to Alabama was 5 hours, and they were using their phones to watch Netflix for the whole time we were on the road.
4. The Sequoia is bulky! Hard to see over the hood if I'm parking correctly. Parking assistance is needed for this SUV. What would be good is a panoramic camera so I can see the front of the car and not just the back.
5. The take off is sluggish when driving the Sequoia; it takes a bit of time to pick up speed as if it takes a moment to shift gears.
Although the Pros outweigh the Cons, a car that is not economical is a deal breaker for me. With gas prices on the rise, I would be paying more than $50 per fill up, and that's too expensive for me. (Fuel Economy 14 MPG, 13 City, 17 Highway)
The price for this fully loaded big boy is $59,840. I think the price is reasonable for being the most massive SUV, and the features it offers. And remember, Toyota's vehicle last for a very long time as long as you keep up with the maintenance. I have a 2010 Toyota myself, and it still driving around like it's brand new.
Although I love Toyota, with it being my top favorite brand, they missed the mark on this one. Hopefully, the 2019 model will have improvements.
Disclosure: I was loaned this vehicle to do a review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Follow Product Review Mom on Google News!
Now this is how I would want to do a road trip. I need lots of personal space. It does look bulky though.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's a bulky SUV. But it has a lot of space and hidden compartments everywhere!
Delete