It’s spacious, fuel-efficient, ergonomically sound, not too flabby, quick and handles itself pretty well. But it just doesn’t have any flavour to it. Writing a review on the Highlander is like remembering things that happened when you were six years old.
Here’s what isn’t too hard to remember: in the crowd of mid-size 7-passenger SUVs, the Highlander lacks styling character; it isn’t elegant, there's nothing rugged about it and it doesn’t look mean. It reminds me of an unbranded vehicle you see in insurance-claim or bank-loan advertisements. It’s not ugly; it’s just, um, plain.
The Highlander performs
Here’s a vehicle that’s faster and handles better than the styling suggests. Thanks to a 24-valve, 3.5-litre V6, you benefit from 270 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. However, it’s managed by a 5-speed automatic, while the base 4-cylinder version of the SUV gets a 6-speed.
Still, reaching 100 km/h from a standstill takes 7.3 seconds, while the quarter-mile blows by in 15.3 seconds at 147 km/h. As for braking performance, the Highlander stops from 100 clicks in a car-like 44 metres. So, dynamically, there’s little to fault, and curiously, Toyota’s trucks feel sportier than their cars.
To top things off, Toyota’s 3.5-litre V6 provides good economy, no matter what vehicle it’s bolted into. In this case, we’re averaging 11.9 L/100km over the course of the week.
Function over form inside
The Highlander’s cockpit pretty much reflects our assessment of the sheetmetal. The switchgear could be sourced from Little Tikes, and yet the big, rubber-trimmed knobs work extremely well while driving.
Again, the overall appearance is good, but not exciting; there’s no flow to the design, as if 3 different artists penned it and then assembled it all together. And yet, ergonomically, there’s little room for criticism. Ok, here’s one; the optional automatic three-zone climate control system has no override switch up front, so no matter how you set it for the rear-seat area, the kids sitting in the 2nd row will always be able to fiddle with it.
The seats seem conceived for butts of various shapes and sizes, and it works, as they’re comfortable and supportive. The second-row bench can accommodate three passengers, but the middle occupant should be a child at best, as the removable cushion isn’t too inviting for an adult. The third-row bench won’t be a penalty for those assigned to ride on it.
As is the case with many 7-seat SUVs, you can carry a lot of people but they can’t bring much gear along with them. There’s only 292 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, although with the 3rd row tucked away, volume grows to 1,198 litres which is great for family road trips. Fold every rear seat down and you’re looking at 2,701 litres of space, more than in newcomers such as the Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer.
The verdict
The MSRP for the Sport model is $39,900 before taxes, freight and delivery charges; not too shabby for a well-equipped, all-wheel drive, mid-size SUV. Competitors include the Explorer XLT 4WD V6 and the Durango SXT, but also the Mazda CX-9 GS AWD, the Honda Pilot EX-L as well as the Chevrolet Traverse 1LT and GMC Acadia SLE cousins.
So here’s the verdict. The Toyota Highlander is an extremely competent SUV, both inside and out, and it’s also wonderfully bland. If you’re a low-profile kind of person and this is your kind of ride, it will serve you well. On the other hand, if you’re in the mood for a little flair and a little personality, the Highlander might not deliver the goods.
And that’s our dilemma; we have a hard time loving it, yet it’s impossible not to appreciate it for what it is.
Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com
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