2010 Toyota Sequoia

I've got the same vehicle, but with a truck bed instead of an SUV body:)

4WD definitely has its place and 4WD is great IF YOU NEED IT. Where I live in So Cal, I would never use 4wd, and have never had the occasion on the road or camping where I needed it. Some folks do need it and I'm by all means not anti-4wd.

Yes, it does reduce mpg by a small amount. Yes, they are more prone to mechanical problems because there is more going on, and more to maintain, ie, you are carrying around more gear, which is great if you need that capability.

Sorry, but I can't answer the question about the flex fuel as I don't use it. My two cents; if you need 4wd, get it. If you will not use it, go for the 2wd Sequoia.

Have a 2010 Escape and yes; the MPG is way down when on E85.

If I remember right:

24 mpg on 100% gas
22 mpg on E10
18 or 19 mpg on E85.

Seeing as you're in Myrtle Beach, you may never need the 4wd, so I'd pass. The 2WD will give you better gas mileage and also more cargo capacity than the 4wd. Up here in the Midwest, we do it the other way around because of our winters. :)

I'd get the one with higher payload.

If you have to ask, don't get 4x4...you'll know when you know need it

IF MPG is #1 on your have to have list, then get the smallest engine and the smallest
trailer for 'that' TV

If towing ability is high on your have to have list, then as APT says, get the
one with the highest ratings (GVWR GCWR)

JohnG4706 wrote:
I've found a couple of 2010 Sequoias in my price range. The following questions:

. . .

And, in the long run, the Flex Fuel is more expensive when compared to gallons used vs distance. Would being Flex Fuel compatible have any effect on my MPG's if I stay with unleaded only.

. . .

The oil change intervals on many of the 5.7 Tundra/Sequoia FFV's (flex fuel vehicles) are twice as often as the non-FFV 5.7's---even if you don't use a drop of E85. Toyota made some significant changes to their maintenance intervals and oil specifications around 2010--some changes were even mid-year.

If the FFV vehicles you're looking at are out-of-warranty, then this may not be an issue. However, if they are, then it's something to consider (FFV vs. non-FFV).

APT wrote:
I'd get the one with higher payload.

...and that's always going to be the 2wd model.

otrfun wrote:

JohnG4706 wrote:
I've found a couple of 2010 Sequoias in my price range. The following questions:

. . .

And, in the long run, the Flex Fuel is more expensive when compared to gallons used vs distance. Would being Flex Fuel compatible have any effect on my MPG's if I stay with unleaded only.

. . .

The oil change intervals on many of the 5.7 Tundra/Sequoia FFV's (flex fuel vehicles) are twice as often as the non-FFV 5.7's---even if you don't use a drop of E85. Toyota made some significant changes to their maintenance intervals and oil specifications around 2010--some changes were even mid-year.

If the FFV vehicles you're looking at are out-of-warranty, then this may not be an issue. However, if they are, then it's something to consider (FFV vs. non-FFV).

Interesting info and worth looking into. My 07 Tundra is not a Flex Fuel truck and I'm not familiar with the newer ones. I change my oil every 5,000 miles.

Thanks for your comments.

While I live in Myrtle Beach, next year my trip goal is to go to Alaska. I have never had 4WD, even when I lived in Chicago and last year's 80+ inches of snow.

I'm going to opt for the 2WD, the improved MPG and less mechanical problems.

Again, thanks.

We have the 2010 Sequoia Ltd 4x4. We get about 15mpg on the average, not towing, but also keep in mind I live at about 8k ft so navigating hills is a common occurrence.

Important note: The 2010 Sequoia has a pretty high tow rating but the payload is not so great. There is no way I would ever tow anything even close to our Sequoia's max tow rating and payload would be eaten up far before the max tow rating was ever reached.

Also, keep in mind when the 2011 Sequoia came out, there were virtually no significant changes from the 2010 model but the max tow rating was significantly decreased when Toyota adopted the newer SAE standard. With our Sequoia and my family of 4, I would tow a TT that maxed out loaded at 6500#. Since my TT weighs more than that and I also load a 650# ATV in the bed of my truck, I have a 1 ton and don't use the Sequoia to tow our TT any longer. BTW, my 1 ton was bought well before any thoughts of owning an ATV...to tow our TT.