Toyota Sequoia vs. Ford Expedition EL?

[mom of four]

HI! I am on my 2nd expedition and my brother has had about 4. I got my first expedition because my brother loved his. My current expedition is an EL. I love it, but gas millage is not great. I average 14 to 18 mpg. I love the room the vehicle has because I have four kids (8-18). The vehicle is great for trip, especially when the dog is included in the trip. The third row in the expeditions gives plenty of leg room for an adult, compared to the Tahoe and suburban. I recommend that as you look at the vehicle you go and sit in the third row and compare the room in the vehicles. Also the expedition seats fold flat compared to the other vehicles. I can't tell you anything about the Toyota but wish you luck as you compare vehicles.

 

[bedogged]

We purchased a 2008 Ford Expedition brand new and drove it for 50,000 with NO PROBLEMS! This was my favorite vehicle I have ever owned out of 20+cars we have had. I traded it in last year on a new Honda Odyssey and I am still kicking myself for getting rid of it I can't say enough about what a great truck this was.
We actually have had Toyota's and didn't care for the quality. Everyone has their preferences but for us it will be another Ford next time! Good luck with your purchase!

I guess I fall into the Redneck category. I am also on my second Expedition. I leased a 2000 and then purchased a 2003 which I am still driving. It has about 80,000 and is still going strong. I have had no major problems with it and it is 10 years old. It is a nine passenger and will take our whole family. Not great mileage, but it is a four wheel drive vehicle, I would still trust it to take on a long driving vacation. I will say that we have faithfully done all the recommended maintenance on it. Unfortunately, the last Expeditions we looked at were 2Xs the price we paid for the 2003. I know things get more expensive, bur 2Xs more? I guess we will keep it and maybe buy an inexpensive little car to zip around town in. AND, by the way, it will NOT be a Toyota!

 

[ckmommy]

I have a very large family. There are 7 of us--Me, DH, DD14, DS12, DS10, DS10, DS9. We have been forced into just a few cars available--since we are not minivan people (yes, we have tried them--in fact 2 of them--just not for us).

We have never had a Toyota Sequoia, but have tested them out. We have had an Expedition and now have a Lincoln Navigator L--same as the Expy EL.

If you have a large family, the luggage room behind the third seat is amazing!! No comparison to the regular Expy or Sequoia.
We are once again looking for a new car and will not consider anything that is not that size again!!

 

[tvguy]

We are all going to be biased in our opinions. I have owned 2 Fords and had hosts of problems, some major some minor. I also have a family member who works for a Ford dealership in the service dept so I have heard enough from them to know that Fords are no longer an option for us. I would never recommend a Ford to anyone, however I would just recommend that they do their own research and try to get all the info they can on whatever kind of car they are considering.

I standby my comment that either is going to be a good choice.
However, my friend who has worked as a Toyota Factory Tech for 44 years answers, "I wouldn't have a job if Toyotas were as good as everyone says".
However, he does give Toyota huge credit for extending warranties when they discover a problem. I think the best example is how they have dealt with blown head gaskets on their V-6 engines. They fix them, for free, no matter what the mileage on the engine. Ford has had the same issue with their V-6's, and they did extend the warranty, but only to 6 years or 60,000 miles.

 

[tvguy]

I have had two Suburbans (one 8 yrs & one 9 years). No problems with them, just wanted to upgrade at that time. I'm now driving a Tahoe due to one in college & one leaving this year. We decided to downsize. What a mistake. I LOVED having the back of the suburban to strollers, bags, etc and still have room to space out three kids and all the stuff. We now have a carrier for the trailer hitch when we go away for long weekends when all the kids are home. What a pain! Gas mileage is the same for Tahoe/suburban. We haven't had an major problems with either vehicle and they were both over 100,000 miles.

My BIL has an expedition and he likes it, but his 3 are still small so when they travel, all three are across the middle seat and the 3rd row is flat for all their stuff.

I will have had my Suburban fro 26 years in October. Layout is great, and back in 1987 nobody else had anything like it. It has, however, been the most troublesome vehicle I have every owned. But, from a strictly financial standpoint, it has been cheaper to fix all the factory bugs that to replace it.

 

[jmb912]

I have a 2007 Expedition that I bought new/used in 2008 with 12,000 miles on it. It has 90,000 now and has really not had any issues! I love it and so do my kids. They have grown up in this truck for the last 6 yrs! I drove it many times from Mississippi to WDW and from Mississippi to Massachusetts! I love the fold down seats and that they are split too. A lot of times my oldest sits in the way back on trips with one side folded down for extra bags. Mine can seat 8 which is awesome. I have my mom, sister, and two nieces visiting right now and they were able to fit in the car with me and my 3 kids to go to an amusement park today. Two of them are in cataracts too! I hope my Expedition lasts a long time.

 

[Deffenm]

We have 2 Expeditions as well. I drive the EL my dh drives the standard size. My EL has captains seats in row 2 where my dh has bench seat. I love having the EL and the captains seats. The kids can easily access the 3rd row and the dog has a place to lay down during long trips. We were looking to downsize as Dh's Expedition is over 10 years old but it looks like we are going to trade his in and get another one. Our kids are getting older and taller and the other SUVs don't have enough leg room. I hate the price of them and gas but love the comfort and space. Maybe in another 5 years we can downsize.

 

[dsneprincess]

I admit I'm biased -- having worked for more than one of the Big Three, I'm actually prone to be biased against them. However, I realize that there are always exceptions to every rule and that anecdotal evidence is just anecdotal.

However, I really am trying to decide whether I will regret not having the extra space that the Expy provides. The automatic fold-flat seats are a plus, too, but honestly I doubt I'll use them much. If anyone has this feature I'd love to know if it's a huge benefit for you.

Do those of you with kids and a Suburban, Yukon XL, or Expy EL use the trunk a lot just for "stuff"? Do you fill it up?

Hi! I am driving a 2012 Suburban now, because the 2001 Tahoe died. Our other car is a 2005 trailblazer. I can NOT say enough how much I LOVE my Suburban. I wanted the back end, no other option for me. I have 2 kids, but a 10year age difference, so Older DS & friend were always in back of Trailblazer, effectively sitting on rear windshield. I HATED that! We had the Tahoe prior to 3rd seat row, so it wasn't an issue there, but when we looked for a new vehicle I wanted the rear space. You will not regret the space. We just drove 15 hours with the kids, 3rd row folded & car packed for a vacation. When we arrived, cargo out, 3rd row set down & we could take 1 car with the inlaws, even carrying gear! Love the car, so comfy, no regrets.....not even at the gas pump! ETA, the 3rd row seat is tight for legroom as someone mentioned above, but we aren't putting adults back there for long trips, which might have been a deal breaker. I would sit back there prior to buying, I didn't think of that until later, but alls well that ends well, right?

 

[Donnask8pro]

Pro- one is a Toyota
Con- one is a Ford

Completely AGREE!!!

I actually just bought the new Sienna but turned in my Limited Sequoia. I was so sad to let it go.. Best car I ever owned. I loved it! Small things were starting to go, and it was time.. I should add it was 10 1/2 years old..

I did have 3 Explorers before my Toyota and I will never go back. EVER!

 

[DawnM]

We have a Sequoia. It is a 2004 and has about 115,000 miles on it. We hope to keep it until all 3 kids are gone (9 more years).

Dawn

 

[kydisneyfans]

Although I live 5 miles from a Toyota plant, I don't own one.

My parents have had so many problems with their Ford they are scared to leave the county with it.

During a trip from Ohio to visit us in KY in 2010, the van broke down near Kings Island and it took $2300 to repair it. They drove it the rest of the way here (90 miles, then back to the Kings Island area), stopped to eat, and it wouldn't start. Add another $800 for that repair. My parents trip to visit us resulted in $3100 in repairs. They are over 12K in repairs since 2008.

The only Ford I ever owned was destroyed in an engine fire.

 

[natenapril]

We have a Sequoia. It is a 2004 and has about 115,000 miles on it. We hope to keep it until all 3 kids are gone (9 more years).

Dawn

Ours Sequoia is an 2003 and just turned 150,000 miles. We are keeping it to accomadate our kids too

 

[tvguy]

My parents have had so many problems with their Ford they are scared to leave the county with it.

During a trip from Ohio to visit us in KY in 2010, the van broke down near Kings Island and it took $2300 to repair it. They drove it the rest of the way here (90 miles, then back to the Kings Island area), stopped to eat, and it wouldn't start. Add another $800 for that repair. My parents trip to visit us resulted in $3100 in repairs. They are over 12K in repairs since 2008.

The only Ford I ever owned was destroyed in an engine fire.

TV station Live Trucks are mostly Fords because the E-350 Econolines are so inexpensive to keep up. Where I work now we have 2 that have over 300k on them now. My last station ran one Econoline 550k. Everything is more expensive on a van, I picked one up last week from the tire shop, and 4 new tires cost $1,800!
In the.....is the glass half full....is the glass half empty department, $12k is less than the sales tax, and 5 years depreciation on a new van of any brand, so your folks are money ahead fixing it.

 

[tinatark]

I have a 2010 Navigator L - the Expedition L's dressed up big brother.

Love the power fold flat seats - use it often. I also have the power running boards and they are great. One of the biggest sells for us was the keypad locks. I almost never bring my keys out of the car!

Had a Yukon XL Denali before - same space behind the 3rd row, but those seats tumble instead of fold flat. Honestly, the ride of the Denali was better than the Navigator.

It sounds like you need the space of the Expedition.

 

[twinsmom]

I own a 2001 Sequoia with 250,000 miles on it. Love the car and have had minimal issues. I have twin 12 year olds and a 13 year old. We bought a new car (kept the Sequoia) and bought a Yukon XL which is significantly bigger for storage than the Sequoia. I would buy a Sequoia again but chose the Yukon XL for the space

 

[d1gitman]

Honda Pilot?

hard to provide an opinion without knowing what your specific seating and cargo needs are. sounds like you are not sure if you even need the added cargo of the Expedition?

If the choice is strictly between the Expedition & Toyota and both will meet your needs, then I'd go with the Sequoia hands down.

 

[cndij]

We have a 2004 Eddie Bauer Expedition bought it 2 years ago and it is sooo comfortable on family trips. We bought specifically because my FIL's Chevy Outlander van was getting a little cramped for trips with 7 adult sized people on long trips. One of my tests for the Expedition, was taking a group to try it out and see if 3 could fit in the 3rd row seat and be comfortable. It passed the test. It is my first Ford, having been a Toyota/Mazda fan for years, but we now have over 130,000 miles on it, and have taken 5 trips of 1200+ miles with it in the last 2 years. I was a little concerned with Consumer Reports review for this year on possible transmission problems, but bought it with an extended warranty purchased from the dealer, and actually have had absolutely NO problems with it in the 2 1/2 year and 30,000+ miles we have put on it. Just standard maintenance and that is it. It has changed my opinion on Fords for sure. Side note, I have an uncle who has a 1995 Explorer with over 500,000 miles, so I was willing to give this a chance. Another side note on capacity: if you are planning on travelling with 7 adults + luggage, you might want to consider one of those receiver/hitch carrier/basket things, as you might need extra space, and those work a lot better than a carrier on the roof.

 

[DVC-Don]

I rented the Ford Expedition EL 4X4 to move our daughter out of her dorm back in May.
Pro: BIG - lots of room, nice ride, quiet ride.
Con: Got worse mileage than the Hummer I owned a few years ago.