If you’re considering a Toyota Sequoia for your growing family, you’re in the right place. After owning our 2023 Toyota Sequoia for several years, I wanted to share my honest experience as a mom of three. This isn’t a dealership review or a list of specifications you can find anywhere online. This is my real-life experience driving, road-tripping, and raising a family with this SUV.

Why We Chose the Toyota Sequoia

When we decided we wanted a third child, we knew our 2013 Chevrolet Equinox wasn’t going to be our forever family vehicle.

At the time, we only had two kids, but we were already planning ahead. We wanted a vehicle that could comfortably fit three children, handle family road trips, and provide enough room for all the gear that comes with raising a growing family.

I spent months researching SUVs. I compared reliability, safety ratings, cargo space, seating configurations, towing capacity, and long-term value. I looked at several large SUVs, but I kept coming back to the Toyota Sequoia.

Then Toyota announced a complete redesign for the 2023 model year.

The moment I saw the first photos of the redesigned Sequoia, I was hooked. The updated exterior looked rugged and modern, and the interior was a huge improvement over previous models.

As a nurse and mom, I spend a lot of time in my vehicle. I wanted something dependable, spacious, comfortable, and capable of handling everything from daily school pickups to family adventures.

The only challenge was the price tag.

Once I knew this was the vehicle I wanted, I spent the next year picking up extra shifts at the hospital and working overtime so we could save for a large down payment. It became a goal our family worked toward together, and when the opportunity finally came to purchase our Sequoia, we were ready.

Now, after owning it for several years and adding our third child to the family, I can honestly share what I love, what I would change, and whether I think it was worth the investment.

What I Love About My Toyota Sequoia

The first thing I love is the space. With three kids, there is always something to haul—sports equipment, strollers, backpacks, groceries, luggage, or birthday party supplies. Having a full-size SUV has made family life much easier.

Toyota’s reputation for reliability was another major factor in our decision. We tend to keep our vehicles for a long time, so long-term dependability was incredibly important to us.

The Sequoia has also been fantastic for road trips. The ride is comfortable, the seats are supportive, and there’s plenty of room for the kids to spread out during longer drives.

The Technology Is Fantastic

One thing that has really impressed me about the Sequoia is all of the technology that comes with it. For such a large SUV, Toyota has made it surprisingly easy to drive and park.

The camera system is one of my favorite features. There are cameras positioned around the vehicle that provide multiple viewing angles, making parking and maneuvering in tight spaces much less intimidating. For anyone considering a full-size SUV, these cameras are a game changer.

I also love the Apple CarPlay integration, which makes navigation, music, and phone calls incredibly convenient.

Our Limited trim came loaded with features that make everyday driving more comfortable, including heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and numerous other upgrades. One thing I appreciated during the buying process was that Toyota includes a lot of great features even before you get into the highest luxury trims.

As a mom, another feature I absolutely love is how easy it is to access the third row. Even with car seats installed, getting kids into the back is much easier than I expected. Since we knew we wanted three children when we purchased the vehicle, easy third-row access was a major factor in our decision, and the Sequoia has delivered exactly what we were hoping for.

The Perfect SUV for a Family of Five

As a family of five, finding a vehicle that works well with multiple car seats was one of our biggest priorities. The Toyota Sequoia has been an excellent fit for our family and offers the flexibility we need for everyday life.

One of my favorite things about the Sequoia is how easy it is to access the third row. We ultimately chose narrower Diono car seats for our Sequoia, which made it much easier to fit multiple car seats while still maintaining access to the third row.

Want to see our full setup? Check out my post, What I Keep in My Car as a Busy Mom of 3 (So I’m Ready for Anything), where I share the car seats, organization systems, and family essentials we use every day.

We also opted for the second-row bench seat instead of captain’s chairs. For our family, having an extra seating position was more important than having the center aisle. Our kids frequently have friends with them, and we often travel with extended family, so having room for an additional passenger has been incredibly useful.

The Sequoia’s flexible seating configurations, spacious interior, and family-friendly design have made it one of the best vehicles we’ve owned. Whether we’re heading out on a road trip, carpooling friends, or simply running errands around town, it has plenty of room for our growing family.

What I Don’t Love

The two biggest drawbacks for me have nothing to do with reliability or performance—they’re the tow mirrors and Toyota’s allocation process.

After months of waiting, we found a Limited model in the exact color we wanted with the bench seat configuration we preferred, but it came with a few features we wouldn’t have personally chosen, including the tow mirrors and a standard sunroof instead of the larger panoramic moonroof I had hoped for.

Our Sequoia came with the larger tow mirrors as part of the tow package. They work great when towing a boat or trailer, but as someone who is 5’2”, I find them a little bulky for everyday driving and they can limit visibility when making turns. If I could choose again, I would probably opt for the standard mirrors.

The other frustration was Toyota’s allocation process. Unlike some manufacturers, we couldn’t simply order the exact vehicle we wanted. Instead, we had to wait for dealerships to receive an allocation that was close to our preferred configuration.

Ultimately, the vehicle checked almost every box for our family, so we decided it was worth pulling the trigger instead of waiting for a year or two for the exact model we wanted to become available. Looking back, I don’t regret the decision, but the allocation process was definitely one of the most frustrating parts of buying a Toyota.

Was the Toyota Sequoia Worth It? Would I Buy It Again?

Absolutely, yes.

After owning my Toyota Sequoia, I can confidently say it was worth every penny. It is comfortable, spacious, reliable, and packed with technology that makes everyday life easier. As a busy mom of three, I spend a lot of time in my vehicle, and I genuinely enjoy driving it every day.

One of my favorite features is all of the camera technology. With cameras positioned around the vehicle, parking such a large SUV is surprisingly easy and stress-free. I also love the Apple CarPlay, heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, and all of the extra features that come with the Limited trim. It truly feels like it has all the bells and whistles without needing to step up to the most expensive model.

The Sequoia has been perfect for family road trips, hauling sports equipment, birthday party supplies, and everything else that comes with raising three kids. It gives us plenty of space while still being comfortable and enjoyable to drive.

If I had to make the decision again, I would buy the Toyota Sequoia without hesitation. It has exceeded my expectations, and I would highly recommend it to anyone considering a full-size SUV.

Want a Peek Inside My Sequoia?

Wondering how I keep a Toyota Sequoia organized with three kids? From snacks and water bottles to extra clothes, toys, and road trip essentials, I’ve found a few simple systems that help keep the chaos under control.

Head over to my post, How I Organize My Toyota Sequoia With Three Kids, for a full tour of how I keep our family SUV organized and ready for everyday adventures.