CAR GAZING
Highlander built for family transport
Mid-size Toyota has versatile, thoughtful cabin
By Derek Price
As a driver, I'm generally no fan of mid-size SUVs. They're just too boring.
Same goes for most Toyotas, which have a great reputation for reliability but all too often drive like a steel-and-plastic yawn.
You'd think I wouldn't like driving the Toyota Highlander, then, because it combines Toyota and mid-size SUVs, the two most vanilla ideas in the universe. But you'd be wrong. I've actually enjoyed every time I've driven a Highlander, and the reason is simple.
I approach it as a dad, not a driver.
For the simple task of loading up the family – including all the car seats, boosters, sippy cups, toys, luggage and snacks that entails – it's almost impossible to beat the Highlander. It's so well designed, so perfectly thought out for toddler-to-teen transport that bigger, more expensive SUVs still can't match its perfection on the highway.
The reasons start in the front of the cabin, where you'll find four cup holders in the center console and two bottle holders in the doors, along with two 12-volt power outlets and several deep, roomy storage bins. It's like sitting in the middle of an aisle at The Container Store.
In back, there are six more cup holders and two more bottle holders in the doors. The second-row seats are absolutely ingenious, with a removable center seat that can be replaced with a console for a more luxurious setup. The second row buckets can slide forward and backward, plus they can fold flat for extra storage space or lift up to provide easy access to the third-row seats. It's the very definition of versatility.
With the third-row seats folded down, there's an enormous cargo area in back. Our family had no trouble fitting a huge dog crate, a mammoth suitcase, two stuffed backpacks and a mountain of pillows and blankets back there, all without blocking the view out the back glass.
It has a family-friendly ride, too. Even compared to most Toyotas, which generally come with cream-puff suspensions, the Highlander feels silky smooth. Steering, braking and acceleration are all nicely muted for driving comfort, and highway trips are noticeably silent.
There's a new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine available for 2009, and it's a great one. It's so good, in fact, that it will probably steal some V6 sales thanks to its stout power (187 hp), smooth delivery and good efficiency. It's rated at 26 mpg on the highway.
A 3.5-liter V6 that makes 270 horsepower is still available, as is the ultra-efficient Highlander Hybrid.
Pricing starts at $25,705 for the four-cylinder and $27,600 for the V6. The hybrid version tops the range with a $34,700 base price, climbing all the way to $41,020 in Limited trim.
Standard features include air conditioning, three-row seating, a nice stereo that can play MP3 files, power windows, locks and mirrors, keyless entry, cruise control and a steering wheel that tilts and telescopes. Higher trim levels can bring a nearly Lexus-like level of luxury, including navigation, soft leather and a DVD player in back.
It's hard to find much to complain about in the Highlander. The third-row seat could fold down in two halves rather than one piece, and the ride could be a little more lively, perhaps.
Driving enthusiasts would be happier with a zippy SUV from Mazda or Volkswagen, but when it comes to moving a bunch of kids and all their crazy gear, the Highlander gets top marks.
It's custom-built for families, and that makes it easy to love.
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.)
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