There were lots of standard features on the car. Attention to detail was obvious except for a few things. Rides well. Front seat lumbar really nice feature. Sits high so you can see around you pretty well. Lighting inside and out was very good. Good acceration after initial hesitation.

Gas mileage not good. Braking is only marginal. Cornering not good. Acceration from dead start bad until you hit about 15 mph. Acceration moving is better but still hesitates at first.

Purchased the Toyota Highlander for economy and because I have owned 5 other Toyota's which were great cars. Never had a problem and got good gas mileage. I cannot say this about the Highlander though. I am also disappointed with the hesitation before it picks up speed. For a 4 cyclinder though once it gets going it will do pretty well. My biggest disapointment has been the gas mileage (12,000+ miles so it's had plenty of time to break in). I bought this car based on the belief that gas will continue to go up and higher gas mileage might help ease the pain. EPA rated at 22/27 I have never gotten above 21 on the road and am getting about 18 to 19 in town. My Chrysler Town & Country Van got 22 to 23 on the road and had a V6 with lots of power/no hesitation and about 17 mpg in town. Now that it's summer and I'll be using the A/C I wondering how much worse the mpg will get? I am also disappointed with the room in the vechicle. Sure there is enough space for 4 people to put luggage in the back for a trip (if you stack it up which will then block the rear view mirror), but then the people in the middle seats cannot recline backwards to make themselves more comfortable. Bugs my wife to death if she has to sit back there because she can't get comfortable. The leg room in front of those middle seats needs to be larger for full grown adults to sit confortably. The standard radio is a disappointment too. Way too much bass and you can't get it out without making the thing sound tinty. I replaced the rear speakers and am going to replace the front to see if I can get better sound. I shouldn't have to do this but what else am I to do? There is a a horrible pressure differintial if you roll down the back windows with the front windows still up. Even one of the back windows down is enough to send you rolling a front windows down quickly. This isn't quality Engineering. If I had known this I would have never bought this car that's how bad it is. The little digital clock that sits in the middle of the dash is useless since you can't see it when the sun shines due to the glare. The drivers side window has a feature that when you push is it goes all the way down or all the way up. It like it most of the time. But if you're trying to adjust the window to leave some space to let the heat out during the day, you can't seem to get it to stop at the right place. Down/up, down/up numerous times until you're losing your patience with it. I don't thinkt the tinted glass keeps out much sun either because the car builds up a lot of heat even with all 4 windows adjusted about 3 inches from closed position. They should have just left the front arm rest off because the quality isn't even up to poor standards. The variable speed wipers need better speed adjustments. The moon roof was a waste of money. I'd advise not getting it. The key fob is way too touchy. I have to carry the keys in my hand making sure to hold it just right as I walk away from the car else it'll unlock the car. Putting them in my pocket before I'm far enough away from the car is a no..no. Cornering is not nearly as good as the Chrylser van I traded for this car. You have to really watch it. The front tires are also wearing way too fast. I'm going to have the alignment checked because of it (12,000? shouldn't have to). It doesn't have heated side mirrors and I've noticed that they fog up quite often in Winter. Was very anoying and a safety hazard. I noticed that they would stay fogged for a long time as there was no way to get them clear but to clean them before you start driving. The doors do not automaticaly lock either which was a disappointment. There were lots of standard features on this car but not the side mirrors or automatically locking doors which I think was a mistake on Toyota's part. Safety should always be first and I think for the most part Toyota does pay attention to it. Just not those two items. I will trade this car before the year is out.

Lots of power and pickup for a 4 cyl. Smooth, quiet ride. Roomy. Good storage. Pretty interior.

Crappy stereo, a little complaint about the upholestery. Seems to wear easily at entry area.

I bought a Toyota Highlander for several reasons. I have a large family and the third row seat vs. my 2 dr Cougar was very appealing! I run thru deer country to get to work everyday for about 130 of the 160 miles I drive. Having said that, you can see that fuel economy is critical. The 4 cyl is rated at 22 City and 29 Hwy. I am getting 20.8 - 21 MPG ! If you can imagine my disappointment! My Cougar was rated at 33 and I got 32. My Silverado was rated at 24 and I got 22. I know that its not the way I drive. In 80 miles, 1-way to work, I only stop 4 times. Its straight highway. I don't even get the city rating! I have had it in the shop. I bought it as a demo, so the break-in has already occurred. They tell me there is nothing wrong with the car. I have been all the way up to the General Manager and they don't know what to tell me. Besides the horrible fuel economy, I really like the car a lot. It has a smooth ride, its a lot quieter than most cars. Some noise, but minimal. Overall, its fine. I just need to work out the mileage. I have had to park it and drive my daughters car to work because I can't afford to drive it everyday!

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n/a

We were loyal to Toyota since 1989; the purchase of a Highlander has led us to BMW. We had two problems: when you opened a window or the sunroof the air pressure change was drastic; and the bass in the "premium" stereo varied from engine off and engine on. The feeling in our ears and sound from the air pressure changes was analogous to what it must feel like in a helicopter. The stereo was still very unpleasant when the bass was set at minus 5. Toyota did nothing to accomodate us. In Toyota's view, even though service tech acknowledged two problems, performance was "within specification". We never thought we would get response like this from Toyota. We no longer believe in Toyota product.

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We are now trying BMW having purchased the X3. Though we have only had the X3 for one week we are quite impressed with the build quality; something which is now missing in Toyota product.

Solid feel and comfortable ride. Toyota quality.

No coin holder, cheesey seat arm rest for the driver and front passenger, should be adjustable, especially for the price of the vehicle. I notice hitting my elbow when making 90 degree turns on the arm rest. I tend to keep the arm rest in the up position, out of the way.

Recently purchased the car. So far averaging 19.5 mpg in mostly town driving (Washington DC and suburbs). Hopefully the mpg will go up when its broken in. There is plenty of interior and cargo room. Have the 3rd row seat and it seems too small for anyone but young children. Other reviewers note the wind noise with back windows down, had the same problem with my 2001 Avalon, just cracked one of the front windows. Gas mileage varies according to driver habits. The lighter the touch on the gas pedal the better the mileage. The ride is comfortable but noisier than the Avalon, not a whole lot. I've driven pickups and Chevy Suburbans when our family had a construction business. Compared to them, the Highlander is almost like driving a car. I drive without any music or radio on, so I hear any noise coming through the vehicle. Its not much and the only time I hear a lot of noise is when I don't properly close the sunroof. The leather seats give good support to the back and the adjustable seats let you sit high or low, depending on one's preference. The brakes are good but you must maintain downward pressure on the brake pedal whereas in the Avalon, you could let up on the downward pressure and the car would continue to brake.

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Suburban, Chevy pickup

Quiet, smooth engine, good interior, solid looks, good re-sale, Toyota reliability.

Many people have written about the noise made when the windows are rolled down. This is not something we viewed as a big deal. Radio could be better.

My wife and I recently settled on the Highlander after test driving several small and mid-size SUVs. At first I was not very impressed with the average look of the car. However, after a couple of test drives, the quality of the car became very apparent. It has a smooth ride and the engine is unbelievably quiet. At first we were looking at the 4-cylinder, however, we settled for the V-6, which seems to fit the car better. We purchased one that has about every option you can get without purchasing the Limited (i.e, moon roof, power seats, optional 3rd row, V-6, wood grain package, etc...). Toyota was offering a $750 rebate. We negotiated from an MSRP of $29,691 to 26,050 (before tax, tag and title, including the rebate). This appears to be about at invoice. It seems that the quality of this car is much higher than other cars we test drove (CR-V, Pilot, RAV4, Escape, Explorer, SportTrac). We had previously owned Hondas, however, we were not impressed with the inside of the CR-V or the Pilot (particularly the CR-V...seats were very hard, and what is up with the parking brake and gear shifter). The Highlander's optional 3rd row seat is an added bonus, however, I am not sure a full sized adult would truly want to ride in that space for very long. Ivory interior will likely get dirty, however, I suggest purchasing a removable liner for the cargo area if hauling many items due to the light colored interior. The Toyota dealership we purchased the vehicle from was willing to deal a little, however, don't expect significant discounting. They did agree to install the optional wood grain package as part of the purchase, which we preferred to the silver plastic throughout the dash. Overall, we are expecting this car to last a long time.

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Audi A4, Honda Accords, Ford Ranger

ride, great turning radius, powerful V6, roominess

stereo, seats

I have only had this car a few days but I already have some firm impressions. On the plus side it has a very smooth ride (feels like a luxury car...WAY better than our '98 Volvo XC), easy to use controls/console area, great pickup (although a tiny bit slow out of the gate), roomy without being a giant, and I love the garage door opener feature! The downsides are sup-par stereo, it could use more comfortable seats, and something is wrong with the steering column length, I think. It is hard to find the exact comfortable position b/c the steering column is too short so if I move my seat in too much my legs get cramped up (and I'm 5'5") and if I push it back to accomodate my legs my arms are too far away. I had read reviews that echoed that sentiment on edmunds.com and I thought that I could live with it until I got used to it. I'm still trying but I think that I will be able to find that comfortable place soon! We were deciding between this car and the Murano and one step inside the Murano and I knew I could never drive it. Too funky of a layout and I couldn't see over the hood. So, by default and by the Consumer Reports ratings, the Highlander won out. I have to say that I am extemely satisfied. Even with the lame stereo and the weird seats and seating position, I am in love with the ride, and after all, that's what it's all about. And one last thing...I have never driven around with the back windows down (who does?) but the same ear-aching noise happened when the back windows of our Volvo, Subaru Outback, and Ford Explorer were all opened. I thought that was the unwritten rule about back windows...don't open them b/c they will hurt your ears, no?

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'97 Ford Explorer, '98 Volvo XC70, '99 Subaru Outback

Overall quality. Ride, suspension top notch No headache in terms of maintenance.

Boxy exterior. Boring, no attitude styling. Stereo can be better. Weak 4WD system on snow.

I bought this car is Nov. 2002 as a 2003 Model and I'm writing this review in the summer of 2004 as I'm contemplating whether I should sell this car and upgrade to a 4Runner or keep it. So far I've only driven 21000 miles on it and have had no single problem. I'm crossing my fingers that this car would last for a long time. It has been very dependable during the 2 years I've had it. The interior has a nice comfortable high quality feel to it and is very quiet for an SUV. I usually drive this car to and from Boston to NYC and is comfortable during long trips. I've averaged 22-25mpg on the hwy but usually worse in the city. There has been no electrical or mechanical problems with the car. The structural integrity of it is not as strong as other SUVs. Ive had a Land Cruiser and an Expedition and when I get into some accidents, it's usually the other car that is either dented or damaged but w/ the Highlander, (I've been hit twice in the front, another on the side) the steel framing seems a bit soft for an SUV. I guess because it's based in the Camry/car frame so it's not the usual truck feel that I'm used to but the lighter weight does positively add to the cars better fuel economy. However that is the only drawback I have noticed. I like to open the sunroof and the side windows, but also the noise level can be a bit annoying so I usually end up turning the AC on. The car is quiet above 65mph and when the car is idle you can barely hear the engine. It's an excellent SUV, almost Lexus like without the price tag. I just wish it had more style instead of being a basic box. I've considered the Murano as well but the 4WD system and the ECT snow trac system of the Highlander is better for New England. The car is good for light snow but I would not recommend this SUV climbing up steep terrains. It's not built for that and I guess that's when you should consider getting a 4Runner or Sequia instead. Otherwise I highly recommend this SUV. Compared to the Pilot, the interior and plastics are higher quality. Murano has better styling but not mechanically superior. Pathfinder is too dated at this point to compare. The Endeavor is too busy inside and too many flares on the outside. Plus low resale. The sales of the Highlander speaks for itself and I'm glad w/ the purchase of this car so far.

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Audi A6 quatto- Pathetic $41K car.. too many electronic and brake problems Audi TT - Great small car,some problems with airbag system and fuel gauge Ford Expedition - Good Ford product, no problems, just a gas guzzler though

-Smmoth shifting transmission -Sporty styling (spoiler is a must) - Sure footed braking - Toyota reliability and peace of mind! -Great performance for the price

- Ok, the wind noise, but other cars have it too. I would not let this affect your choice of buying this car.

Great automobile! My first Toyota experience overall, and an excellent one so far! The Highlander has performed very well. The 4cylinder provides very good gas mileage both in town and on the highway (even with the AC running). After nearly 8 years with a troublesome Jeep Cherokee, this has been a big relief. I like the back seat (I did not purchase one with the 3rd row). It is wider, and has more spacious leg room than the Cherokee. The back seat also "reclines" which is a nice feature. There is also no annoying "hump" in the floor of the back seat. Yes, the window noise is annoying, however, I have had other cars that do the same thing. Just crack the front side windows and the noise is gone. I have owned a 2000 Beetle that did the same thing, and currently own a 2002 Volvo V70 that also does it. So, it is not isolated to just Highlanders. The transmission shifts smoothly, and the ride is smooth and quiet at low and high speeds. Very "tight" ride overall. Sure the stereo is a little weak, but that is really not a factor in my opinion. The traction control and snow mode ect are great features for slippery driving especially during these daily afternoon downpours on the Gulf coast. Overall a great car, performance at par with the RX300, but you save the bucks!

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Balance, precision, smoothness, measured and efficient power; reliable driving uphill and passing at 70 MPH or higher; adjustable cupholders, split rear-seat for laundry, nicely flattened rear-seat into cargo space when adapted, and hangers for grocery bags in the rear; perfectly level tailgate.

Imperfect muscle for anxious jack rabbit starts to 20MPH; slight flutter when the driver comes off the gas pedal quickly at highway speeds.

It is the perfect blend of comfort,good performance, and handling for a mature professional desiring necessary power he while downplaying American excess and arrogance. Hence, it provides very smooth distribution of carefully balanced efficency without flamboyant muscle. The Highlander accesses the highway ramps in Atlanta or Athens quicky enough for the driver to accelerate in front of traffic streaming by at 65 to 70 MPH. Regarding the crucial on-ramps, I find the 153 horsepower 4 cyl Highlander nearly equal to the 175 HP 1995 Rodeo that I traded for it--probably because the Highlander is 700 lbs lighter. Of all the reviews that I read before purchasing the vehicle, only one seems to have been written by a driver who actually tested the 4 cyl model, and this is why I have taken time to write myself. The 4 cylinder model is more balanced on the front sides than is the 6 cylinder version that seems to have an anvil weing down the center console. And, for those who have been won over by the pleasant efficiency of European vehicles during vacations, the well-built 4 cylinder Highlander turns with the sedan pleasantness of the deligtful Camry on whose chassis it's built. If you want an environmentally friendly SUV without extravagance, this is what you have waited for. It is practical, and it is fun. Usually, it provides 20 to 29 miles a gallon for driving from 45 to 75 miles an hour.

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Honda Pilot

Quiet ride, soft ride, good handling on twisty mountain roads, excellent engine and transmission performance, excellent fuel mileage, sound body build. The high road clearance was enough to go on the dirt roads where there are a lot of rocks.

Doesn't have the low end torque and needs to tap power at higher engine speeds. The AC seems to switch off during hard acceleration. The alarm system is confusing and takes a while to figure out fully.

I took the Highlander to on a trip to Sedona in Arizona from Los Angeles. The car did very well. I averaged over 28 mpg with two people, AC, and the vehicle was loaded for a trip with camping and photography gear and at speeds between 70 and 80 mph between LA and Phoenix. On the return route the car averaged 29 mpg at speeds between 65 and 75 mph between Sedona and Laughlin, Nevada. In the Sedona area, it climbed lots of hills, cruised at high freeway speeds and the car averaged 25 mpg. The handling to the car on twisty mountain roads was very good. When pushed, the engine seems to first have a small shift that I believe is the shifting of the variable valve timing to a performance mode then when pushed further, the transmission downshifts and the car takes off quite well. For all the aggressive driving that I did on twisty, two lane, high sped mountain roads, I never saw the engine speed exceed 4,000 rpm. In fact, engine speed will very seldom exceed 3,000 rpm in normal driving while having an engine redline of over 6,000 rpm. The Highlander managed to get through every back road that I took it on. Many other vehicles couldn't go on the same roads that the Highlander went over without any problems. The high ground clearance helped the most, although I could feel the traction control working sometimes when I tried to accelerate on a gravel and loose dirt surfaces. The Highlander body seemed really ridged with no squeaks or creaking as it went over very uneven road surfaces. The Highlander was rated among the highest in crash testing. It's body seems very sound to me.

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