The 2021 Toyota Sequoia is an aging SUV that can easily trace its roots back to 2007. Despite being on sale for over 12 years and a general lack of advertising, the Sequoia still manages to sell well. It sells in far greater numbers than the larger and iconic Land Cruiser.

A recent study by iSeeCars could hold the answer. This is because a surprising amount of these SUVs easily outlive 200,000 miles. As you’d expect, the secret recipe is to keep things as simple as possible.

Why is the 2021 Toyota Sequoia so reliable?

The main contributor to the 2021 Toyota Sequoia’s excellent reliability is its engine. Under the hood lives a naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V8. Total power output is rated at 381 hp and 401 lb-ft. All of that power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. However, all-wheel-drive is available for a premium. If this powertrain sounds familiar, it’s because it is identical to the one in the ultra-reliable Tundra.

Aside from being a large and robust V8, the 2021 Toyota Sequoia’s engine is relatively simple. You don’t find any turbos or complex hybrid powertrains under the hood. As a result, there are fewer things that can go wrong as the SUV ages.

As a result, the 2021 Toyota Sequoia scored very well in iSeeCars’ study of longest-lasting SUVs. The study found that 9.2 percent of all Sequoias have surpassed the 200,000-mile mark. Additionally, this landed the large SUV on iSeeCars‘ study of longest-kept SUVs, given that 9.1 percent of owners loved it for over 15 years.

Reliability comes at a steep price

Unfortunately, long-lasting reliability isn’t exactly cheap. The 2021 Toyota Sequoia has a base price of $50,100. If you are fond of luxury features, you might end up paying $66,150 for a Platinum trim or even $64,225 for the off-roading TRD Pro. However, given how long this SUV lasts, it makes great sense as a long-term investment.

However, during your many decades of ownership, the 2021 Toyota Sequoia will get you with another expensive drawback. Despite offering a robust V8, it is considerably thirsty. According to Toyota, the 2021 Sequoia consumes 13 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway. This means that while you’ll be able to go just about anywhere, you’ll pay a pretty penny to get there.

Thanks to its steep price-tag and long-term costs, the 2021 Toyota Sequoia isn’t a best-seller in its large SUV segment. In fact, newer contenders such as the cheaper Chevy Tahoe and the enormous Ford Expedition outsell it by a wide margin. On the flip side, those SUVs aren’t nearly as likely to surpass 200,000 miles.

The Sequoia still can’t keep up with the Land Cruiser

Despite being a long-lasting SUV, the 2021 Toyota Sequoia only loses out to another Toyota. According to iSeeCars, only the Land Cruiser was able to outlast the Sequoia, with 15.7 percent of them surpassing 200,000 miles. However, the Land Cruiser didn’t come close in the study examining longest-kept SUVs. As a result, it seems Sequoia owners are far more loyal to their large off-roading SUVs. When you factor in the Land Cruiser’s $85,565 base price, the Sequoia quickly seems like the better long-term daily driver.