Help me decide - Telluride vs. Sienna

[stavesacre03]

I'm looking at a 2023 Telluride SXP x-line vs. 2023 Sienna Platinum AWD. These are similar cost. Obviously they are different vehicles with different strengths.

Cargo/cabin space is important to my family. We have 4 kids (17, 15, 13 and 8). We are obviously out of the stroller phase, but the Sienna is larger and this would be an advantage when we go on road trips. However, our oldest has his own car and will (likely) be going to college in less than a year so we'd be down to 3 kids around the time we could actually purchase one of these.

The other factor is we live in the mountains and get a couple hundred inches of snow per year. Snow handling and ground clearance are obviously important to us. Also, if our vehicle gets stuck we need recovery point(s). The Sienna does not have a front recovery point, whereas the 2023 US Telluride apparently does. This factor alone might push us to the Telluride.

We currently have a 2011 Navigator L (long version) and it meets our needs but is terrible on fuel economy (about 15mpg combined) plus it has over 210,000 miles and has had a number of mechanical issues start to pop up. The Sienna (35mpg) would have a pretty large advantage over the Telluride (21mpg) in fuel economy, which is hard to ignore.

Anyone out there with some thoughts on this dilemma? I wish there were a vehicle out there that combined the strengths of these two....sigh. If the Telluride had a hybrid and a little more space behind the third row that would seal the deal.

 

[v.anushh88]

Firstly, they are very different vehicles, it is about a boring family hauler vs a beautiful suv which is definitely a lot more engaging to drive, relatively. It’s need vs fun. I see you live in mountain area, sienna and highlander hybrid is sharing the 2.5l hybrid engine with rav4, please make sure the sienna’s poor pick up will work out for you to haul the full family up the hill frequently. Reliability, telluride is still new to speak about long term reliability, but sienna will run easily out run telluride in lifespan. 3.8L engine has been in genesis for a long time now, still the transmission, carbon build up issues are existing. It’s a Kia/Hyundai at the end of the day. Yes, they are good cars, but still not in par with Honda or Toyota in terms of engine quality. They are the pinnacle of reliability.

 

[TellmeyourWHAT?]

The snow in the mountains - you're going to want the '23 Telly, either X-Line or X-Pro, as they both have increased ground clearance. I doubt the Sienna can compare in this. Do your research and get ground clearances for all.

 

[3Rivers]

I would say that your best bet for the snow would be a 2023 Telluride X-Pro AWD, not X-Line. The X-Pro will have 18" wheels instead of 20", all-terrain tires, and roughly 0.5" of extra ground clearance. The X-Line trim will be more of an appearance package.

The biggest hurdle with the Telluride is actually being able to buy one without waiting for a year and/or paying a huge markup over MSRP. But that topic is probably beyond the scope of this thread.

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[stavesacre03]

I would say that your best bet for the snow would be a 2023 Telluride X-Pro AWD, not X-Line. The X-Pro will have 18" wheels instead of 20", all-terrain tires, and roughly 0.5" of extra ground clearance. The X-Line trim will be more of an appearance package.

The biggest hurdle with the Telluride is actually being able to buy one without waiting for a year and/or paying a huge markup over MSRP. But that topic is probably beyond the scope of this thread.

Thanks 3Rivers. I believe both x-line and x-pro will have the added ground clearance (if the articles I've read are correct), but you are correct about the rim size differences. I do not need all terrain tires, as we always use separate snow tires/wheels in the winter.

 

[2020Telly]

I came from a Sienna to the Telluride. I thought I would miss the sliding doors and ample storage but I haven’t looked back. The added ground clearance and space in the Telluride is more than enough for my family with 3 kids and 2 dogs. I also bumped up my towing capacity from 3,500 to 5,000. I did not feel the same about the other vehicles in the midsized SUV class. The third row space in the Telluride is what sold me.

 

[stavesacre03]

I came from a Sienna to the Telluride. I thought I would miss the sliding doors and ample storage but I haven’t looked back. The added ground clearance and space in the Telluride is more than enough for my family with 3 kids and 2 dogs. I also bumped up my towing capacity from 3,500 to 5,000. I did not feel the same about the other vehicles in the midsized SUV class. The third row space in the Telluride is what sold me.

Super helpful, thank you!

 

[Amati5]

The other factor is we live in the mountains and get a couple hundred inches of snow per year. Snow handling and ground clearance are obviously important to us. Also, if our vehicle gets stuck we need recovery point(s). The Sienna does not have a front recovery point, whereas the 2023 US Telluride apparently does. This factor alone might push us to the Telluride.

This might be the only reason to pick the suv.

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[tpgh]

Unless those 23 models have bench seats for the middle row, I’d lean towards the Sienna simply because of the limited storage if someone is sitting in the third row. Depending on your elevation, the Sienna may be more powerful because of the turbo, so worth looking into too. The lack of low end torque with a full load even at low elevation is sometimes glaring.

The lack of a recovery point seems like a deal breaker but how many times have you had to use it?

I’d consider a few others but don’t know your budget. Explorer - not as good as the Telluride but similar in size, has a bench seat and recovery hook. Subaru Ascent, same but IMHO, ugly. Expedition, ticks all the boxes but expensive.

 

[Amati5]

If I have to do it all over again, i’d would strongly considered spending a little more for the new Sequoia. I really like the Telly but the small seats in the third row and the small cargo behind it are one big compromise for a family of more than 4. i didn’t even think of the previous Sequoia for 2 reasons, the thirsty v8 engine and the 10 yrs+ dated interior, but the new one took care of both.

 

[vinylhaircut]

Hmmm, these days you can keep a vehicle for a fairly long time. I plan to keep mine about 8-10 years and 200k miles, if all goes well. If that's similar to your expectation, then think about the ages of your kids. It's not only the 17-year-old that will soon be an infrequent passenger. By the time you get the vehicle, your now-15 may soon be far less frequent. Over the lifespan of the car, your needs will likely change.

 

[Tellmeride]

I really like the Telly but the small seats in the third row and the small cargo behind it are one big compromise for a family of more than 4.

Really? You guys must be a NFL or NBA family, the interior is more than enough for our family of 4, plus a dog, plus all the Costco items, plus all the junk my wife keeps in it.

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[Hangfire]

I've never been a fan of Toyota interiors. They are just too bland for my liking. The exterior of the new Sequoia, especially in Solar Octane however, is one of the best looking SUV's I have ever seen.

 

[stavesacre03]

We looked at the Sequoia--but the third row space and space behind the third row is LESS than the Telluride! It maxes out at 22 square feet behind the third row IF the third row seats are slid forward, making them useless for passengers. Deal breaker for us and I'm sure many families.

 

[3Rivers]

We looked at the Sequoia--but the third row space and space behind the third row is LESS than the Telluride! It maxes out at 22 square feet behind the third row IF the third row seats are slid forward, making them useless for passengers. Deal breaker for us and I'm sure many families.

The Sequoia is too big on the outside anyway, at least for me. It's almost a foot longer than the Telluride and almost a ton heavier in AWD trim!

The Telluride doesn't get enough credit for its extremely efficient use of space. For example, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is 8 inches longer than the Telluride but has 3 inches less second-row legroom.

 

[2020Telly]

The Telluride doesn't get enough credit for its extremely efficient use of space. For example, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is 8 inches longer than the Telluride but has 3 inches less second-row legroom.

I agree, it definitely doesn't get enough credit. The third row can be used on a regular basis and an average adult or teenager can sit it it. What made me stop missing my Sienna was when I could do this:

Extra luggage solution

Hello everybody, I got a 2021 telluride sx awd in sangrina. It would be great if somebody could suggest me a solution for extra luggage I would need to carry in my telluride. I am looking to add the capacity to carry at least 4 50lb check in suitcases to my telluride with the third row up. So...

tellurideforum.org

I realized that if I remove the cargo cover I was easily able to fit ~24.5cuft. That's two extra large suitcases fit upright WITH the third row up. I went with the 7-passenger seating because I had an 8 passenger Sienna but never used the jumpseat in between the captains chairs as my kids used it to get in and out easily without having to slide seats and I found the Captains Chairs in the second row to be more desirable. Which is another point that the Telluride doesn't get enough credit for. Many talk about the features and values in the EX and SX for the price. But try to find a competitive 7-passenger that is the same price as the S and has as much interior room. If you are looking for 8-passenger, there's nothing in the price range that competes with the LX.

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[TaraB]

I heartily agree! We will have our LX within a week and it is a thoroughly thought out purchase. We are going from an older suburban with captain's chairs. We chose the 8 seat bench option so that our 3 littles could sit three across and lower the 3rd.row for cargo when we travel. That second row bench width is hard to match. I can sit comfortably in the third row. Can't beat it in the midsize suv class. I've had a minivan-boring. Had a suburban-huge+gas. Looking forward to this change.

 

[Amati5]

Really? You guys must be a NFL or NBA family, the interior is more than enough for our family of 4, plus a dog, plus all the Costco items, plus all the junk my wife keeps in it.

Lol, they are only between 5’9 to 6’1 but the fifth person have to use the third row (oh, we have captain chairs, I forgot) and it will kill the cargo space. Knee space in the third row is good (best in class) but the seats are for small kids or short people, not very comfortable for long trips. I remember the previous Sequoia have regular size seats on the third row.

 

[3Rivers]

I've never been a fan of Toyota interiors. They are just too bland for my liking. The exterior of the new Sequoia, especially in Solar Octane however, is one of the best looking SUV's I have ever seen.

To each their own, but that color would be too vivid for me on a vehicle that size.

Anyway, the cheapest 2023 Sequoia AWD trim -- entry-level -- is $63k MSRP. That's a big jump from even a marked-up Telluride, and if you want a better-equipped Sequoia, you're into the stratosphere.

 

[Hangfire]

Anyway, the cheapest 2023 Sequoia AWD trim -- entry-level -- is $63k MSRP. That's a big jump from even a marked-up Telluride, and if you want a better-equipped Sequoia, you're into the stratosphere.

Agreed, which is why my deposit is on a Telluride and not a Sequoia.