Wife is looking to replace her Trailblazer. The Toyota Sequoia (before it gets bigger and uglier from what I can tell next year) and the Bimmer X5 3.0i are the top contenders. Any thoughts or insights that anyone can offer?

 

RX330h?

also the new MDX is nice too.

 

Why would you even compare these two?

One is a fullsize suv based on a truck that was never competitive when it came out..and by now is beyond dated. The new Sequoia should be MUCH better in both fit and finish as well as ride quality. The current Chevy Tahoe/ GMC Yukon is better than the current Sequoia is every way, and will probably be better than the NEW Sequoia as well. If you want a fullsize traditional suv, GM is the place to look, no question.

The X5, unlike the Sequoia, is focused more on style and driving dynamics rather than traditional suv utility. It's also a brand new design, while the Sequoia is old news.

In closing, do you want a huge suv that drives like a truck, and has the utility of one too, or do you want a premium crossover that is really more of a tall wagon than a real suv?

Also worth noting, the new X5 is gonna run you at least $50k. Throw in a couple small options and you're there....the Sequoia will be $10-15k less i'd guess (maybe even more since the new model is coming out soon and they're gonna want to move the old ones).

Again, what made you compare these two?

 

you must mean RX400h..lol

those are nice..but i think do for a re-do soon as well.

 

Well my friend's brother has a 4.4i X5 Its fully loaded with every option. I like it a lot. However, he even admits for the price he feels cheated. I think he bought his for over 50k. He orginally priced out a 4.8i but at 70k he decided against it. It has a smooth ride and great features. However, you can get a lot more car for the price. Its gunna be hard to beat the BMW service warenty though. IMHO Id look at something other. Maybe the Honda Pilot?

 

$50k for a V8-powered premium german suv is nothing to feel cheated about..if that's what you want.

the new X5 is even more expensive though..the V6 is gonna be about $50k..the V8 a bit more..still not a bad deal for a great car..I just don't see how one would compare it to a Toyota Sequoia. They're two totally different vehicles with different strengths, aimed at different lifestyles.

 

yah, just shows you how un-interested i am with those vehicles... lol

 

I realize they are very different vehicles but each has benefits and drawbacks to what we want. We drove the new Tahoe and just didn't like it as well as the older Sequoia - the fit and finish just seemed to be infrerior. Anyone have personal experience with either?

 

My wife drives a 2004 BMW X5. She absolutely loves it. It is coming off lease in October and we are looking to replace it. The new X5's are out of contention as they are a lot more money now and we are looking to go with a bigger SUV. With that said, if money was not an object we would buy an X5 without question.

We have never been fond of the Sequoia, so have never really spent any time looking at or driving it.

We are, however, considering the Yukon/Suburban because the extra cargo space is becoming an important factor. Based upon what limited exposure we have to these and the Sequoia we would take the GM product.

 

shocking. I've been a passenger in both (not driven) and the Seqoia seemed like some ancient cargo van in comparison. The fit and finish in the Tahoe was MUCH better..the difference was night and day (imo).

I'd prob give it another shot.

 

 

My wife loves her X5. The lease is up next year, I asked her if she wants to replace it with the Mercedes GL, she said she wants the new X5.

 

The GL is pretty nice..a bit flashier than the X5..it'd be a tough call for me (if i was 15 years older and wanted a mom-mobile, that is..haha)

 

Do you really need a SUV?? How about a wagon? A Audi avant or Volvo V70 or Mercedes E350 or even a VW Passet will offer the same people hauling/cargo abilites of an SUV with much better mileage, handling, etc. The X5 is a safe choice-the Toyota is a body on frame old school truck-well done but still limited by this factor. The new Highlander would be a better choice-easier to drive, park, better on gas,etc. Check out a good euro wagon and see how much fun that can be. If it's big SUV only and the BMW is too pricey look at the Lexus GX470-not as huge as the Sequoia killer and has a much better chassis- it's basically a dressed up Land Cruiser Prado and is as good off road as it is on. It's a smaller(not much)-easier to park size too.

If the choices are based on your wifes liking the sitting up tall felling of a SUV and perception of saftey on something so large my wife also had those concerns when I traded her Odyssy on my MCS. She got the Benz E320 wagon I was driving and the sitting tall thing went away in about 3 days-she loves the benz-especially how well it handles and drives, and the fact that Carmella Soprano drove the same car, but that's another thread.

 

MDK - need maybe a strong word but we pull at trailer that weighs about 3500 lbs and go off road camping quite a bit so an SUV would suit us better - plus my wife loves SUV's.

Mercedes is out of the question - I'll never own another one!!!! New 2003 - owned 8 month - in shop 8 times - atrocious service - blah.

Might need to rename the thread however. We looked at the new Highlander and my wife likes it. Plus she started thinking about the 15 mpg on the Seqouia.

So now it's an equally strange comparison of Highlander v X5. I think my wife is leaning toward the highlander due to price and I'm leaning toward the X5 because of sportiness, engine, and feel.

We haven't driven either one yet. Plan on going to Montgomery this weekend and visiting the BMW dealership there while we do some other errands.

Oh, and, might look at the new Acura but I'm not as big a fan of the styling on it as the other two.

GM is still out - didn't like the initial test drive and the Trailblazer has been sub-par to be kind.

 

MDX sounds about right.

 

Looked online at the MDX. Styling isn't it's long suit but everything else looks good on paper (read liquid crystals). Might have to give it a closer look.

 

That's because the Trailblazer is, and always has been, a pos.

Go test drive a GMC Acadia...MAJOR upgrade..and another possible option for you.

 

Just let me know.

 

yah, it looks pretty cool in person.

 

I owned a 2001 Toyota Sequoia. I absolutely loved everything about it. Over the last 14 years I've gone from Ford Explorer to Ford Explorer (Eddie Bauer), to Ford Expedition, to Ford Expedition (Eddie Bauer), to Toyota Sequoia 4x4, to Honda Pilot 4x4, to MINI.

For many years, I was a single mom. Justifying the Toyota Sequoia was hard to do - other than the fact I saw one, I test drove one, and I fell in love with one. It was an incredible vehicle...for, uhhhhh, my son and I. I felt very "up high" and safe in it.

Honestly, having been in the X5 (friends), and the Mercedes ML 500 (Mike's Mom)...I'd take the Sequoia over, and over, and over again. The quality is just unbelievable...in my humble opinion.

 

they will never be able to sell a car in Japan named sequoia..

"sekoi ya" means 'it's cheap' / 'you're cheap' (in a bad way) in
japanese. lol

 

I don't know if you've made it out to the dealers yet but if so I'm sure you noticed the price diff from the Highlander to the X5 is steep-you could get a maxed out Highlander Limited for less than the base X5 and you can get a hybird in the Highlander. I don't know how the hybrid is for towing and 3500 lbs is a pretty decent amount to tow so make sure it's up to the task.

Here's another idea.... what about a well used pickup for towing/yard work/home depot runs and get your wife a car for daily use?

 

LOL! I guess that would be the Nova fiasco all over again. Would a Sequoia even fit on the roads of Japan???

 

yah, in rural areas they will fit fine...but in the city it is pretty huge.
ive seen LandRovers in down town Tokyo, so im sure it's fine though....
if you're patient.