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Toyota Highlander reviews by car owners that get to the point: car buyers' reasons for buying (or not buying) the Highlander
Ride smoothness: Compared to the Explorer it was like Cadilac v.s. a 3/4 ton truck. The Highlander is not sporty, but for 99% of our driving its fine.
Quietness: both vehicles were quiet, maybe the Highlander a bit more. We were also interested in a Pilot but the noise level was so bad it outweighted all the advantages it might of had.
Brand reputation & image: It's a Toyota, what more can you say. The Explorer's isn't that bad so it wasn't a major issue for us.
Ride smoothness: We really wanted to like the Explorer because it has a mulit-position transfer case with low range, but the ride will break your back, especailly over pot-holes and free way joints
Front seat comfort: Hard and flat. I've driven this EB with leather and and XLT for over a week as a rental recently. The EB seats are slightly better, the XLT seats are just flat-out uncomfortable.
Reliability & durability: quality and coverage of extended guarantee, past history of reliability (found on web and in research on net malice the programme for maintenance and pre-fixed prices for regular check-ups
Driving position & visibility: For the driver, it is a real pleasure to be so high and to be able to see so well in front, sides and back. Excellent mirrors and back-up camers. All instrument panels are very accessible and easy to read.
Handling: Turns on a dime. No effort handling even on dirt roads. Corners on mud as if it were on asphalt.
Front seat comfort: For passenger, there is no rook for feet and no place to put arms on long trips. One has to cross arms for hours....
Dealership practices: Dealers everywhere, well trained maintenance staff and prompt responses to questions.
Past personal experience: I spent an unbelievable amount of money to repair the car even if it had less than 120,000 km (80,000 miles) on it. Dealer per-hour labour costs are astronomical. But have to admit that LR HQ in USA offered me special discounts to gt new model
Brand reputation & image: Poor trade in value due to image and poor market. No one wants to buy second-hand LR unless they are LR fanatics....
Fuel economy: For a daily driver it was nice to be able to get a vehicle with all the space with above 20 MPG fuel rating.
Price or payments: We were able to get a new Highlander for much less money than a Honda Pilot and still get all the features we desired (larger than a Rav4/CRV, >20 MPG city, leather, and full compliment of air bags/antilock/traction control)
Safety & braking: Full compliment of air bags/antilock/traction control were standard on base model.
Safety & braking: All safety features were not standard on base model like the Toyota Highlander.
Fuel economy: No 4 cylinder model available so city MPG < 20.
Price or payments: Next size up from Rav4/CRV in Honda lineup and was considerably more expensive than Toyota Highlander.
Front seat room: Wide seats
Fuel economy: Uses regular gas
Rear seat room & comfort: Third row seating and 2nd row has more leg room than the Murano by about 1".
Available features: Could get moon roof and DVD system
Front seat comfort: 4 cup holders
Cargo capacity & towing: tow package included heavy duty alternator and other towing related enhancements
Fuel economy: Uses Premium gas
Rear seat room & comfort: Slghtly less leg room for 2nd row passenger
Reliability & durability: No issues to date in 2 years of ownership.
Cargo capacity & towing: Non-splitting 3rd row is plain stupid and was a deal breaker.
Rear seat room & comfort: Only two seats in the 2nd row, very small leg room in the 3rd row.
Ride smoothness: despite it's bulk (it's a big vehicle after all), the ride over bad pavement, etc. was luxury like
Driving position & visibility: the Routan has a ride height that was 'just right' - not sports car low or full-size SUV high, just high enough to scout traffic ahead and little to no blind spots (backup camera was also a nice touch)
Quietness: when compared to the Toyota Highlander, the Routan had much more sound deadiner from outside road noise -- very easily noticeable
Front seat comfort: we have the higher line SEL with Nappa leather seats, just the right amount of padding and thigh support for long trips
Fuel economy: not great around in stop n go traffic, but we use it as our long trip car so 27+ on the highway is quite acceptable. we think this is due to the 6 speed automatic as it turns low RPM's at highway speed
Driving position & visibility: too high - rear end has blind spots
Fuel economy: didn't want to speed 40K+ on the hybrid so without it -- not as fuel efficient for the type of driving I expect to do
Quietness: lots of tire and wind noise
Price or payments: VW was offering a sizeable discount on the Routan, a similar Highlander was from 8 to 10K more
Dealership practices: the particular Toyota dealer was a high volume one so didn't appear very interested in my business versus the VW one who was very attentive -- night and day experience
Rear seat room & comfort: 3rd row is big enough for adults, leg room & head room, comfortable bench seat; 2nd row captains chairs were an option that I chose; easy to get around 2nd row and into 3rd row. I believe the Acadia was 11" longer than the Toyota Highlander.
Cargo capacity & towing: Cargo capacity - there is room behind the 3rd row seat for 2 small suitcases; Also, the 3rd row is a split fold (about 30/70) for the flexibility of cargo & passenger storage.
Exterior styling: Looks sharp, lower than an SUV and long; some say the front is boxy, but I disagree.
Interior styling: Comfortable, controls are laid out very well. There are a LOT of cotrols on my model, the SLT2 & I didn't even get the HUD or Nav system.
Audio & nav systems: Disclaimer - I'm not an audiophile; So from an amateur's POV, love the sound (6 speakers?), back seat can listen to separate music (part of DVD option that I have?); radio controls on steering wheel - nice; 2 wireless headphones w/DVD; XM nice
Rear seat room & comfort: 3rd row seat not for adults - children only, not comfortable, not easy to reach the 3rd row; 3rd row seat optional - without it, it's just a giant 4-5 passanger car.
Cargo capacity & towing: With 3rd row seat, no room behind for cargo (maybe a set of golf clubs?). The 3rd row folds down, but no split like 50/50 or 40/60. Not flexible enough, this killed it as an option for us.
Interior styling: 3rd row seat is full bench seat and individual side can not be raised or lowered independently.
Cargo capacity & towing: 3rd row seat is full bench seat and individual side can not be raised or lowered independently. Limits cargo capacity when up.
Price or payments: Over priced because was new model at time I was looking. Configured with unwanted trim and features vs competition.
Available features: 3rd row seating.
Rear seat room & comfort: 3rd row seat is full bench seat and individual side can not be raised or lowered independently. Access and available room much less than MDX.
Available features: I wanted a navigation system in the new vehicle, but I didn't want to pay excessively for it. The value of the features on the Santa Fe compared to the cost is very good. I could get a lot of features for free that others charge for.
Fuel economy: 29mpg highway, >30mpg city in hybrid trim so far
Safety & braking: Good IIHS and NHTSA crash results, good braking performance
Quietness: Much quieter than our Honda minivan
Driving position & visibility: No major blind spot issues
Available features: Standard backup camera, bluetooth streaming and third row seat
Exterior styling: Front end of hybrid trim is ugly
Handling: Mediocre handling all around
Rear seat room & comfort: Third row minimal legroom
Color choices: All drab colors
Interior styling: Simple yet reasonably stylish. Radio and climate control knobs large enough to use with gloves on.
Reliability & durability: Reputation and history as reported in Consumer Reports is unbeatable.
Quietness: SO much better than our Honda van, and the Honda Pilot.
Cargo capacity & towing: There just isn't that much space left with the 3rd seat up.
Discounts & incentives: Its a high-demand vehicle so you just can't expect much. The dealership in Anchorage was selling two others the afternoon we were there. Did get a $1000 rebate which was nice.
Driving position & visibility: No blind spots unlike most new vehicle designs. Seat adjusts high enough for small driver.
Reliability & durability: Hope to have Toyota's past reliability history
Interior styling: Purchased black interior - sophisticated in appearance. Easy to use console and electronics.
Powertrain performance: Extremely smooth and quick for a heavy vehicle
Fuel economy: So far city driving is at 14 mph - hoped for better
Price or payments: Felt some options missing for $38K vehicle such as memory settings, more detailed tire monitoring
Quietness: It's pretty quiet, which makes longer trips much more enjoyable. Though it does make it easier to go faster than you intend on the highways.
Discounts & incentives: We got a great deal and, after everything, got over $4000 off an almost $29k vehicle.
Rear seat room & comfort: Lots of room in the second row, including seats that recline and move back & forth. Having the third row as an option for occasional use was really the deciding factor.
Safety & braking: Lots of airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes, etc... It's a safe vehicle.
Front seat room: We don't feel crowded at all in the front row (something that we couldn't say about numerous competitors) and it has LOTS of cupholders.
Fuel economy: Even with the smaller engine and mostly highway miles, we're still in the low twenties. Could be worse, and maybe it'll improve as the engine gets broken in.
Handling: It's a bit numb. It's predictable and I've never felt unsure or unsafe, but it does encourage slower driving. Maybe that's a good thing?
Available features: 7 seats, folding 2nd and 3rd row, some cargo
