1st Gen Sequoias and Tundras are renowned for their longevity and robustness. As a 20+year old rig with 375,000 miles, my Sequoia and many others have stayed on the road many times longer than the average vehicle. Yet I had no second thoughts about climbing in and taking a 6000+ mile road trip. In a world full of engines eating themselves, spontaneous vehicle combustion, vehicle hacking, and software bricking, how does a 22 year old dinosaur fair?
Let's get the bad out of the way first.
Anonymity. No one knows what these cars are, and you will not get any second glances as you drive by. If anything, most people will think it's just another 4Runner. There is no curb appeal, and valets will not compliment you on your Japanese-built paragon of off-roading...because it was made in Indiana. Sequoia contains all of the vowels of the alphabet, but people still have trouble spelling it, let alone pronouncing its name correctly.
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Selfie.
The MPG is not the greatest. Averaging 17.5 mpg for the whole trip isn't exactly saving the planet, but it's not the worst either (cough Wagoneer cough). 2nd Gen Sequoias with the 5.7L usually average worse than that. Even 4Runners laden down with stuff don't do much better. And the 3rd Gen, weighing in 1000lbs heavier than my rig, struggle for 20 mpg.
Old school tech is not for new tech drivers. There are no driver assistive technologies on this rig. The only thing keeping this 5600lb brick in the lane is the driver. There's no mood lighting or fragrances (barring a visit to Taco Bell which will definitely produce a mood!). There's one driving mode: On. Eco mode is not crushing Priuses in your way. If you want a USB charging port, 12V adapters are sold at the nearest gas station. There's no entry cinematics, theme music, or automated dash panels to greet you. No exterior light shows or power-folding running boards. No plaid mode. No pre-installed games. No touch-sensitive door handles. Not even push-button start. If you demand those things in your car, this vehicle is not for you.
Headlights are not the best. The old halogens just don't cut it anymore. Upgrading the headlights are a must.
Sophistication was not a thing when this was designed. Toyota pretty much copied the F-150 in it's interior and exterior design. Ford offered better a better ride with independent rear suspension. GM led the tech wars with adjustable pedals, heated & cooled memory front seats, tri-zone auto climate control, parking sensors, etc. (Granted, all of those things are broken 20 years down the line.) The Sequoia rides like a truck, looks like a truck, drives like a truck, and lacks luxury amenities like a truck. Well, it does have some: power folding mirrors, heated front seats, auto climate.
![Image]()
Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg, MS -- Union Ironclad USS Cairo.
Okay, so what are it's good qualities?
There's small item storage everywhere! From the driver's seat, you can access six cup holders! The center bin is deep and square. There are pockets on the backs of both front seats. All the doors have pockets. Even the 3rd row gets four cup holders and covered bins over the rear wheel arches. There are two rear 12V outlets in the rear and three in the front. Double sun visors are helpful.
The price is right. I'm not going to get into why Sequoias are so cheap. I think we all know why. I will say that the money saved on not getting the alternatives can be spent on refurbishment, maintenance, mods and fuel so you can get out there and enjoy life, not worry about depreciation, paint scratches, and lease mileage.
1Gen Sequoia lives in a Goldilocks Zone. It's exterior dimensions aren't that much bigger than a newer 4Runner, but it provides more space. With the removable 3rd row, it has even more cargo space than a 2nd Gen. While the 4.7L is down on power and towing weight against the 5.7L, it's more refined and less stressed than the V6 in the 4Runner, especially laden down with stuff. It's also more maneuverable in parking lots than you might think and fits in any parking space or garage. And if you need to three-point turn, the column shifter makes it a cinch, unlike some vehicles with push button or rotary selectors.
Windows everywhere! You can see pretty much everywhere with the Sequoia's big windows and low belt line. Even the view over the hood is pretty good, and the dashboard is in my lap. The moonroof is quite big as well. With no tech on board, odds are your kids will be looking out of the windows at the passing country-side.
Its 4x4 system isn't for scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro. I've owned this truck for seven years and have used it's 4x4 (some would argue AWD) system frequently, especially in adverse weather conditions. Driving through hurricane force wind and rain on this trip, it performed just fine as it pretty much negates hydroplaning. It's engage-on-the-move ability was very convenient. I haven't been in a situation to use low range, but the lever on the floor for it is still cool.
![Image]()
Not Florida.
MacGyver the crap out of it. Most mechanical items that may be troublesome on a road trip are easily accessible and fixable with basic hand tools. No fancy diagnostic computer needed. Maybe just a well calibrated elbow. I keep basic tools, an air pump, jump cables, and a scan tool onboard. All fit nicely into the storage bin in the back, just in case.
I hope this helps with someone wondering if a Sequoia is a good road trip car. The short answer is yes. High mileage and old age isn't something necessarily to be afraid of either. There are as many compelling reasons to get a Sequoia as there are not to. Its been a good ownership experience for me so far, and the truck is still ready for the next road trip! At least after I take it to the car wash.
Let's get the bad out of the way first.
Anonymity. No one knows what these cars are, and you will not get any second glances as you drive by. If anything, most people will think it's just another 4Runner. There is no curb appeal, and valets will not compliment you on your Japanese-built paragon of off-roading...because it was made in Indiana. Sequoia contains all of the vowels of the alphabet, but people still have trouble spelling it, let alone pronouncing its name correctly.
Selfie.
The MPG is not the greatest. Averaging 17.5 mpg for the whole trip isn't exactly saving the planet, but it's not the worst either (cough Wagoneer cough). 2nd Gen Sequoias with the 5.7L usually average worse than that. Even 4Runners laden down with stuff don't do much better. And the 3rd Gen, weighing in 1000lbs heavier than my rig, struggle for 20 mpg.
Old school tech is not for new tech drivers. There are no driver assistive technologies on this rig. The only thing keeping this 5600lb brick in the lane is the driver. There's no mood lighting or fragrances (barring a visit to Taco Bell which will definitely produce a mood!). There's one driving mode: On. Eco mode is not crushing Priuses in your way. If you want a USB charging port, 12V adapters are sold at the nearest gas station. There's no entry cinematics, theme music, or automated dash panels to greet you. No exterior light shows or power-folding running boards. No plaid mode. No pre-installed games. No touch-sensitive door handles. Not even push-button start. If you demand those things in your car, this vehicle is not for you.
Headlights are not the best. The old halogens just don't cut it anymore. Upgrading the headlights are a must.
Sophistication was not a thing when this was designed. Toyota pretty much copied the F-150 in it's interior and exterior design. Ford offered better a better ride with independent rear suspension. GM led the tech wars with adjustable pedals, heated & cooled memory front seats, tri-zone auto climate control, parking sensors, etc. (Granted, all of those things are broken 20 years down the line.) The Sequoia rides like a truck, looks like a truck, drives like a truck, and lacks luxury amenities like a truck. Well, it does have some: power folding mirrors, heated front seats, auto climate.
Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg, MS -- Union Ironclad USS Cairo.
Okay, so what are it's good qualities?
There's small item storage everywhere! From the driver's seat, you can access six cup holders! The center bin is deep and square. There are pockets on the backs of both front seats. All the doors have pockets. Even the 3rd row gets four cup holders and covered bins over the rear wheel arches. There are two rear 12V outlets in the rear and three in the front. Double sun visors are helpful.
The price is right. I'm not going to get into why Sequoias are so cheap. I think we all know why. I will say that the money saved on not getting the alternatives can be spent on refurbishment, maintenance, mods and fuel so you can get out there and enjoy life, not worry about depreciation, paint scratches, and lease mileage.
1Gen Sequoia lives in a Goldilocks Zone. It's exterior dimensions aren't that much bigger than a newer 4Runner, but it provides more space. With the removable 3rd row, it has even more cargo space than a 2nd Gen. While the 4.7L is down on power and towing weight against the 5.7L, it's more refined and less stressed than the V6 in the 4Runner, especially laden down with stuff. It's also more maneuverable in parking lots than you might think and fits in any parking space or garage. And if you need to three-point turn, the column shifter makes it a cinch, unlike some vehicles with push button or rotary selectors.
Windows everywhere! You can see pretty much everywhere with the Sequoia's big windows and low belt line. Even the view over the hood is pretty good, and the dashboard is in my lap. The moonroof is quite big as well. With no tech on board, odds are your kids will be looking out of the windows at the passing country-side.
Its 4x4 system isn't for scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro. I've owned this truck for seven years and have used it's 4x4 (some would argue AWD) system frequently, especially in adverse weather conditions. Driving through hurricane force wind and rain on this trip, it performed just fine as it pretty much negates hydroplaning. It's engage-on-the-move ability was very convenient. I haven't been in a situation to use low range, but the lever on the floor for it is still cool.
Not Florida.
MacGyver the crap out of it. Most mechanical items that may be troublesome on a road trip are easily accessible and fixable with basic hand tools. No fancy diagnostic computer needed. Maybe just a well calibrated elbow. I keep basic tools, an air pump, jump cables, and a scan tool onboard. All fit nicely into the storage bin in the back, just in case.
I hope this helps with someone wondering if a Sequoia is a good road trip car. The short answer is yes. High mileage and old age isn't something necessarily to be afraid of either. There are as many compelling reasons to get a Sequoia as there are not to. Its been a good ownership experience for me so far, and the truck is still ready for the next road trip! At least after I take it to the car wash.
