Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander is a crossover SUV designed and manufactured by Toyota. It was modelled after the Toyota Camry. It was released in North America in 2001, and was the first car-based midsize crossover or midsize SUV. The Toyota Highlander was given an 8.2 rating by U.S. News. U.S. News also ranked the car second in its Affordable Midsize SUV and Affordable SUV with 3 Rows categories. Although it does not offer much interior or cargo space, it is easy to drive and a worthy candidate for people who want a safe, family conscious three-row crossover.

Performance

The Toyota Highlander is not a performance SUV. As such, it received only a 7.4 rating by U.S. News. Critics do say the Highlander offers a decent amount of power however, especially when buyers choose to add on the V6 engine. A four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission that produces 187-horsepower powers the base Highlander, while the Limited and SE trims come standard with a 3.5-liter V6, which creates 270 horsepower, and comes with a five-speed automatic transmission. The base engine is good enough for daily driving but reviewers prefer the V6 for freeway driving, because it is more robust than the base engine. Critics also say the AWD system inspires confidence on wet and slippery roads. Overall, the engine is decent enough but won’t impress you and is not as good as the competition.

Interior

Critics think the Highlander’s cabin is functional and well-made. It received a 7.7 rating from U.S. News. The interior is not flashy but has high-quality materials on all trim levels. The Highlander has three rows and can seat up to seven people. The base trim has standard cloth seats, while upper trims offer power-adjustable front seats with either leather or easy-to-clean fabric. The models with leather upholstery also offer heated seat capability. The Highlander comes standard with a six-speaker stereo with Bluetooth and auxiliary and USB input ports. Optional interior features include satellite and HD radio, and Toyota’s Entune infotainment system which includes its own navigation system. When the back two rows are folded, the Highlander has 95.3 cubic feet of cargo space. This decreases to 42.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 10.3 cubic feet when all three rows are in use.

Pros/Cons

The Toyota Highlander has good fuel economy for a midsize SUV. The front seats offer plenty of space and are comfortable to sit in. The middle row is split-folding, which makes the third row easily accessible. This comes at a price however, as the third row is not particularly spacious. When all three throws are in use, the Highlander lacks cargo space, offering only 10.3 cubic feet. Critics are impressed with the Highlander’s gauges, saying they are easy to read, and the controls for the climate system and stereo are straightforward and easy for the driver to reach and operate. Critics are not impressed with the steering, however, saying it does not respond well to higher speeds and the overall response is slow. They also say the Highlanders lacks the agility that other competitors have.

Other Features

The Toyota website lists the Highlander at $29 020, although this is only the base price. Buyers can expect to pay between $35 000 and $45 000, depending what features they add, and on the trim level they get. The Highlander is a family-oriented vehicle, and as such has an excellent safety rating with a strong set of safety features. U.S. News gave it a 9.4 safety rating. The only thing lacking are a few advanced features, like lane-departure warning system and blind-spot monitors. Standard safety equipment includes curtain, side, and dual front airbags. On all other trims except the base Highlander, a rearview camera is standard. On the base model, it is optional.