Review: 2008 Toyota Highlander Limited 4X4
09-12-07, 04:27 PM
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Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Review: 2008 Toyota Highlander Limited 4X4
By CL member request, a review of the 2008 Highlander Limited
http://www.toyota.com/highlander/
In a Nutshell: An excellent mid-sized SUV, and easily the best new Toyota I have seen lately.
Toyota, along with Honda and Subaru, in the mid-1990's, was one of the first auto manufacturers to sell relatively small, car-based SUV's in the American market. Toyota had long sold the truck-based, off-road-capable 4Runner and Land Cruiser (and they were both superb off-road performers...the Land Cruiser dating back literally for decades), but, by the mid-1990's, as the SUV and truck market in America just kept on exploding, many people were starting to get tired of the uncomfortable ride, high center of gravity, tipsy handling (rollovers were a significant threat during abrupt steering manuvers), weak brakes, thirst for gas, and numb steering response of many of these vehicles....not just from Toyota, but from most truck-based SUV's of other manufacturers as well. Safety in these vehicles became an increasing concern as the traditional minivan market began to decline and SUV's steadily took over as the basic soccer-mom vehicles in many families. As most minivans of the period did not have an AWD option, many people were also turning to SUV's for their all-weather capability, tow ratings, and high ground clearance. And, of course, there was the most significant change of all in SUV use.....by this time, most people were NOT using SUV's for off road use, but for on-road trips that basically took the place of what station wagons and minivans had formerly done. With the exception of the Jeep Wrangler and Suzuki/GM Sidekick/Tracker, always popular with the boonies crowd, only an estimated 5-10% of SUV owners, by this time, actually WENT off-road to any significant degree. So, unless a vehicle like this was needed for towing heavy trailers, there was little need for the ultra-high stance, tough truck-based ladder-frames, uncomfortable and awkward on-pavemnent road manners, tow-your-own gas station mileage and the macho, Marlboro-Man image these vehicles formerly had.
And the solution to all of this? The unibody, car-based, full-time AWD SUV, of course. Subaru was first, with the ubiquitous Outback of 1995 (I now have an Outback myself), essentially a raised, AWD Legacy wagon with a different suspension and tires. Subaru also combined this marketing move with a switch to AWD-only vehicles for the American market....a hugely successful move for them in the long run. Toyota followed in 1996 with the then-new RAV-4, slightly taller and shorter than the Outback but having much of the same general layout.....unibody frame, car-derived steering and suspension, full-time AWD that did not require fooling around with transfer cases or locking/unlocking hubs and could be used on any surface, not just off-road, and smaller engines for better gas mileage.
Honda followed in 1997 with the CR-V, which was very similiar to the RAV-4, but slightly longer and with some quirky features (and which had already been sold previously in Japan), and Subaru, the same year, essentially stuck the Outback's drivetrain into an all-new vehicle built off of the smaller Impreza platform.......the Forester. All four vehicles were reliable, very highly rated by Consumer Reports, and were smash hits with the public. They were just what millions of people were looking for....relatively economical, space-efficient, all-weather machines to do the grocery shopping or get Junior to basketball practice in almost any weather. Customers lined up at Toyota, Honda, and Subaru dealerships to buy these vehicles....and, in some cases, pay over list price to get them. And the more they bought them, the more they loved them....the market for this type of vehicle exploded even faster than the minivan and traditional SUV market had beforehand.
Domestic manufacturers were caught by surprise. Ford was the first to respond in 2000 with the Escape, a RAV-4-like vehicle that I've always liked (it's been on my Top Ten Domestic list for years) that combined all of the good features of the Japanese competitors, but was plagued by unreliability and recalls in its first year. Since then, its repair record has improved drastically...it is now average or slightly above, and some versions use a Toyota-licensed Hybrid power plant. Mazda simultaneously introduced a sister version....the Tribute......that was a little sportier in nature. Mercury followed with the Mariner...a virtual Escape twin. GM followed with the Pontiac Torrent and Chevy Equinox...with a slightly different version for Suzuki. Saturn introduced the plastic-bodied VUE, which, in some versions, used a Honda V6.
But......most of these vehicles were essentialy compact SUV's. Families, of course, grow.....and some of the customers decided that they wanted to keep the car-based SUV platforms but have slightly larger vehicles that could carry more people of tow slightly larger trailers. So.....presto.......enter the new mid-sized, car-based SUV platforms. Toyota debuted the original Camry-based Highlander, Lexus came along with a somewhat more plush, angularly-styled version of the Highlander called the RX300, Honda introduced the Accord-based Pilot, and Mitsubishi, both the compact, Lancer-based Outlander and mid-sized, Galant-based Endeavor.
This review, of course, is primarily about the Highlander, so of course, we'll concentrate on it now, rather than the others. The Highlander, like the RAV-4 before it, went on to become another smash hit with customers, as it combined many of the already wildly popular Camry's refined, comfortable traits, build quality, and overall competence with added ground clearance and all-weather capability. Several of my friends and co-workers have bought them and love them (but they sit a little too high-up for my tastes.....I myself prefer the lower-stance AWD Subarus). The boxier styling of the first-generation Highlander, compared to the more rakishky designed Lexus RX300 cousin, resulted in more interior space than in the RX300, at a lower price (same with the Honda Pilot and its more expensive brother.....the Acura MDX). Not surprisingly, Highlanders sold just like the RAv-4's did.....so much so that Toyota decided to risk a more expensive and more complex hybrid version, using essentially the same components as the much more expensive Lexus RX400H, though the gas engines were different. These two vehicles, at the time, differed from most other hybrids of the era in that there were built-in electric motors driving the rear wheels rather than rear drive shafts and differentials. The electronics and computer system governing all of this was, of course, quite complex as well....more so than in other hybrids. The hybrid model, understandably, because of limited dealer availability, high cost, and the fact that, by hybrid standards, it was designed as much or more so for acceleration than fuel economy, never sold in the numbers that the gas-only version did.
Which brings us to the specific subject of this review...the all-new, second-generation Highlander for 2008. As is so often the case, the vehicle has been stretched, made heavier, and given new equipment and drivetrains. Unlike the first-generation model, the four-cylinder version has been dropped...Toyota apparantly feels that their four-cylinder powerplants are too small for the current stretched platform. Five new versions are offered.....Highlander, Sport, Limited, Hybrid, and Hybrid Limited. Two powertrains are offered...a gas-only 3.5L 270 HP V6 and a gas/hybrid 3.3L 209 HP V6 with separate front/rear electric motors (167 hp/ 98 HP).
Like the even more expensive Toyota Land Cruiser, the Hybrid Limited, not surprisingly, costs some real money....its $40,000 base price puts it well up in Lexus territory, price-wise. That is a long way from the original, $18,000 Toyota RAV-4 of 1996. A choice of FWD or AWD is offered in the gas-only versions; the hybrids, of course, are inherently AWD with the rear electric motor. Two transmissions are offered...a conventional 5-speed automatic in both the FWD and AWD gas models and a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) in the hybrids. And a third-row seat, of course,is available in back.......a feature demanded by more and more families nowadays.
By specific request, I chose the gas-only V6 Limited 4x4 version for the review. In the footsteps of the first Highlander, it is bound to be popular...although just how popular will depend partly on any sales overlap there could be with its own brother....the new, stretched, V6 RAV-4.....and with the Lexus RX350, which, in the Limited version, it closely competes with in some ways. And just what is this new vehicle like? For the answers, read on.
Model Reviewed: 2008 Toyota Highlander Limited 4X4
Base Price: $34,150
Major Options:
Bluetooth/CD/XM/Siruis/MP3/WMA Package: $630
Heated Front Seats: $440
Power Rear Door: $400
Automatic Rear A/C $585
Rear Spoiler $200
Power Moonroof $850
Tow Package $220
Carpet cargo mat/3rd-row seats: $275
Destination/Handling: $685
List Price as Reviewed: $38,435
Drivetrain: 3.5L DOHC VVT-i V6, 270 HP @ 6200 RPM, Torque 248 ft-lbs. @ 4700 RPM,
5-speed automatic transmission with snow mode and sequential shift, Full-time AWD.
Exterior Color: Salsa Red Pearl
Interior: Light Gray Leather
PLUSSES:
Greatly impoved interior quality over other recently introduced Toyotas.
V6 has ample torque for the size, weight, and AWD.
Little body lean despite high center of gravity.
Typically flawless Toyota/Lexus paint job.
Gobs of headroom for tall people, even with the power sunroof (which is very unusual).
Foot pedals well-designed for big shoes.
Clever, well-designed second-row and third-row seat folding mechanisms.
Relatively smooth ride with little SUV-type porpoising.
Good steering feel despite the rather light effort.
Lexus-type powertrain refinement.
Engine-start/stop button eliminates the convention ignition of the former Highlander.
Excellent, legible gauges and clear, easy-to-use controls and buttons.
Nicely done stereo.
North-Pole air conditioning.
Upper rear glass opens independent of liftgate.
Solid-feeling doors inside and out.
Smart, classy, well-done wood trim.
Well-done exterior chrome despite plastic underneath.
Some nice though rather conservative paint colors.
Standard Hill-Start/Control feature (Maybe.....?)
(This was mentioned in aftermarket web sites but not listed in the Toyota web site spec list)
MINUSES:
V6 engine fits underhood too tightly for easy do-it-yourself work.
Monotone paint scheme has no lower-body cladding for protection from salt/road debris.
Flimsy, cheap-looking steering-wheel buttons and spoke trim.
Uneven, jerky brake-pedal response.
Poorly-designed rear wiper arm.
Prop-rod-supported hood inappropriate for a $38,000 vehicle.
(Yes, that's it.....not much to complain about this time).
The first impression of this all-new Highlander, as you walk up to it, is that it has little in common with the previous Highlander that it replaces. It is noticeably larger, both outside and inside, especially in the length and height department, and can rather easily be mistaken for a Sequoia at first glance, although the Sequoia is a little boxier in design. The always-excellent Toyota paint job is a feast for your eyes, especially in the White Pearl, Magnetic Gray Metallic, and the Salsa Red Pearl of my test vehicle. Normally I'm not a fan of dull, funeral-home paint colors, but Toyota and Lexus seem to have a way of doing some of them superbly....the Magnetic Gray metallic, for instance, has a sparking metalflake texture that has to be seen to be believed.....ditto for the Toyota/Lexus version of White pearl. In fact, the designers of the new Highlander got so carried away with these paint colors that they covered the entire exterior with them....and forgot to put the protective cladding around the lower-body and in the wheel wells to ward off damage from salt and road debris.
But they didn't skimp with much on the rest of the exterior. The doors, unlike some other newer Toyotas, feel strong and solid when you close them. The mirrors, unlike the Tundra's, also have a solid, secure feel and snap in and out of their positons smartly. The chrome is well-done, even though it is basically chrome-covered plastic.....it doesn't have a cheap, flimsy feel. The Toyota emblems seem like real metal chrome rather than plastic, the roof rails are solidly attached and finished in a smart-looking texture/finish, and the rear liftgate allows the upper glass panel to be raised separately from the lower part...as opposed to the more common and lower-cost method of all-or nothing. One of the few exterior goofs is a poorly-designed rear wiper arm that doesn't fold up enough for easy blade changes.
Open the prop-rod-supported hood (come on, guys..a prop rod at $38,000?) and the 3.5L V6 transversely fits in with the ubiquitous large silver plastic cover and not a whole lot of room to work on the engine for Do-it-Yourselfers. The basics, though.....dipsticks, battery, fluid fillers, etc.... are OK, easy to reach, and clearly marked. The transverse-engine/transmission layout, of course, means a fairly complex AWD system, as opposed to Subaru's simpler systems with the boxer engine, but, nonetheless, complexity does not necessarily mean unreliability.....Toyota and Honda both have a history of building reliable AWD systems.
Open the doors, get inside the vehicle, and, unlike some other recent Toyota products, this is where the designers have really done their homework this time. The doors close with a fairly hefty feel and a solid "thud". The vehicle, despite a high stance, will not need running boards for most people.
Being a mid-sized family SUV and not a sports sedan, the seats are a little on the flat side, with low side bolsters, and covered (in the Limited version) with a nice, attractive, comfortable grade of leather, although of course, smooth leather is usually slipperier than cloth and does not hold you in place as well. There is astounding headroom, front and rear, even around the sunroof housing...an area that is, usually, notoriously skimpy. This is quite unusual...I can't remember the last time I've seen this kind of hat room with my baseball cap, especially with a sunroof. You NBA guys, dump your Escalades.....THIS is your vehicle. Legroom, front and rear, is also pretty good, though not quite as generous as headroom...but the multi-adjustable power seats and manual tilt/telescoping wheel should be able to accomodate most physiques.
The Limited's interior is also a feast for your eyes and senses as well as for your physical size. The rich, milk-chocolate-brown wood trim on the console and door panels, chrome door handles and gauge rings, and metallic dash trim are all classy, smartly-done, and expensive-looking and feeling. Gone are the new Camry's and Tundra's loose, thin, wobbly, dime-store plastic interior buttons and switches. In their place are BIG, legible, clearly marked, easy-to-use and more solid-feeling ones. The left, right, and rear A/C systems are all three easy to use and adjust, with separate rear controls as nicely done as those up front. The stereo, as usual for Toyota/Lexus products, is first-rate, as is the Arctic-Cool air conditioning effectiveness. Almost everything inside had a pleasant look and feel to it except, like in the Camry, cheap-looking/feeling steering wheel spoke trim and buttons....not surprising, since it shares the Camry's steering wheel design.
In back, the second-row seats have a clever Stow-Down feature that not only makes it easy to reach the third-row seats but can be cleverly accessed from the rear cargo area inside the liftgate. On the wall on the left side are two levers. Pull the left one and the left side of the 50/50 second-row seat drops automatically.....ditto for the right lever. Pull-straps on the third-row seat right in front of you automatically fold down the third-seat headrests and prepare the seats for folding (the seat itself is fairly roomy by third-seat standards.....not quite as big as the Buick Enclave's, but close). The cargo area itself, behind the third-row seat, is well-finished, with durable hardware and nice carpeting.
Time to start it up and drive.....another advance over the old model here with the new engine start/stop button and the proximity key. The engine takes a couple of seconds to start while the computer checks out all the electronics and then settles into an eerily smooth, quiet, Lexus-like idle.....not surprising, considering the fact that this engine is used in several Lexus products. Adjust seat belts, mirrors, slip the smooth, precise-feeling shift lever into Drive and go. Let the coolant temperature come up a little, then give it some gas, and the V6 moves out smartly, even considering the heavy weight of this vehicle and the added drag of AWD. Power delivery at speed remains as smooth and almost as quiet as at idle. This vehicle should have no problems in hilly terrain as long as its load and driving conditions are kept reasonable. The silky transmission shifts are almost unnoticeable in normal driving, though a Sport Mode and Manual Mode are both available for crisper, higher-RPM shifts and better control in hilly terrain if desired.
The designers have also done their homework this time in the suspension. The ride, for the most part, is smooth and quiet, and there is none of that fore/aft porposing so common with SUV's, even car-based ones. All but abrupt or harsh bumps are soaked up very well by SUV standards (I was careful to adjust the tire pressures beforehand where they belong...as is so often the case, the dealer's PDI guys messed up and forgot to do that). The relatively soft ride did not translate into sloppy handling, either. While steering response was a little on the slow side, it was accompanied by little body roll, and cornering was not bad at all. Despite relatively light steering effort, I prefered the Highlander's steering feel to the Hyundai Veracruz's noticeably more vague, school-bus feel.
Noise control, while not LS460-quiet, was reasonable. There was a slight amount of both wind and road noise at speed...this could partly be due to the under-body cutouts required for the Stow-and-Go features for the seats.....something that is noticeable on other vehicles with Stow-and-Go features. It slightly cuts down on the amount of underbody road insulation and noise isolation......the trade-off, of course, being easier passenger and cargo loading/unloading. But the amount of wind and road noise was not bad at all (certainly not enough to list in the "Minus" column above) and actually approaches some luxury cars I have driven.
The brakes, while good overall by SUV standards, could use a little work in the hydraulics and proportioning valves. Press the pedal, and there is about a half-inch or so of sponginess, then a slight brake response, then a much faster response very quickly, making smooth stops rather difficult at times. Reminds me of some of the old power drum brakes on American cars from the 1960's. Fortunately both the brake and gas pedals, unlike some of those in many vehicles I review, are well-placed for big size 15's like mine, so they don't hang up on one pedal or accidentally hit both pedals at once.
The Verdict?
With the increasing criticism it has received from much of the auto press and potential customers about the cheapness of the quality of materials used in their newly-released vehicles lately, especially in the interiors (my own recent reviews of the new Camry, Avalon, and Tundra were not very complementary of their interiors, though all three of these vehicles were quite well-done in chassis and drivetrain), Toyota seems to have decided that, with the new Highlander, it was time to do something about it.
And it shows.
There was little on this vehicle to really criticize, short of the way the brake proportioning valves were set up and a couple of previously mentioned design flaws on the exterior. It rides smoothly for a mid-sized SUV, steers and handles relatively well, is reasonably quiet although it could have slightly better noise isolation, has top-notch interior trim in the Limited version, has convenient, cleverly designed seat-stowing mechanisms, plenty of power, and the typical Toyota smooth refined powertrain. Though somewhat pricey, the Limited is good competition for the Hyundai Veracruz Limited and Buick Enclave, and like the Veracruz, beats the quality of materials used in the Enclave....the Enclave has beautiful trim, but it is mostly superficial.
So, in short, along with the Veracruz Limited, and (to a lesser extent) the new Enclave CXL, I rate this new Highlander Limited very highly and can recommend its purchase for those who need or want a vehicle this big and can afford its not-so-cheap price tag. It also does very well against the present Lexus RX350, although it must be noted than an all-new RX is coming soon that will probably trump the Highlander in some areas...as it should for its higher price tag. An all-new Honda Pilot is also coming soon, which will be even more competition for the new Highlander.....I will review the new Pilot if there is any interest.
http://www.toyota.com/highlander/
In a Nutshell: An excellent mid-sized SUV, and easily the best new Toyota I have seen lately.
Toyota, along with Honda and Subaru, in the mid-1990's, was one of the first auto manufacturers to sell relatively small, car-based SUV's in the American market. Toyota had long sold the truck-based, off-road-capable 4Runner and Land Cruiser (and they were both superb off-road performers...the Land Cruiser dating back literally for decades), but, by the mid-1990's, as the SUV and truck market in America just kept on exploding, many people were starting to get tired of the uncomfortable ride, high center of gravity, tipsy handling (rollovers were a significant threat during abrupt steering manuvers), weak brakes, thirst for gas, and numb steering response of many of these vehicles....not just from Toyota, but from most truck-based SUV's of other manufacturers as well. Safety in these vehicles became an increasing concern as the traditional minivan market began to decline and SUV's steadily took over as the basic soccer-mom vehicles in many families. As most minivans of the period did not have an AWD option, many people were also turning to SUV's for their all-weather capability, tow ratings, and high ground clearance. And, of course, there was the most significant change of all in SUV use.....by this time, most people were NOT using SUV's for off road use, but for on-road trips that basically took the place of what station wagons and minivans had formerly done. With the exception of the Jeep Wrangler and Suzuki/GM Sidekick/Tracker, always popular with the boonies crowd, only an estimated 5-10% of SUV owners, by this time, actually WENT off-road to any significant degree. So, unless a vehicle like this was needed for towing heavy trailers, there was little need for the ultra-high stance, tough truck-based ladder-frames, uncomfortable and awkward on-pavemnent road manners, tow-your-own gas station mileage and the macho, Marlboro-Man image these vehicles formerly had.
And the solution to all of this? The unibody, car-based, full-time AWD SUV, of course. Subaru was first, with the ubiquitous Outback of 1995 (I now have an Outback myself), essentially a raised, AWD Legacy wagon with a different suspension and tires. Subaru also combined this marketing move with a switch to AWD-only vehicles for the American market....a hugely successful move for them in the long run. Toyota followed in 1996 with the then-new RAV-4, slightly taller and shorter than the Outback but having much of the same general layout.....unibody frame, car-derived steering and suspension, full-time AWD that did not require fooling around with transfer cases or locking/unlocking hubs and could be used on any surface, not just off-road, and smaller engines for better gas mileage.
Honda followed in 1997 with the CR-V, which was very similiar to the RAV-4, but slightly longer and with some quirky features (and which had already been sold previously in Japan), and Subaru, the same year, essentially stuck the Outback's drivetrain into an all-new vehicle built off of the smaller Impreza platform.......the Forester. All four vehicles were reliable, very highly rated by Consumer Reports, and were smash hits with the public. They were just what millions of people were looking for....relatively economical, space-efficient, all-weather machines to do the grocery shopping or get Junior to basketball practice in almost any weather. Customers lined up at Toyota, Honda, and Subaru dealerships to buy these vehicles....and, in some cases, pay over list price to get them. And the more they bought them, the more they loved them....the market for this type of vehicle exploded even faster than the minivan and traditional SUV market had beforehand.
Domestic manufacturers were caught by surprise. Ford was the first to respond in 2000 with the Escape, a RAV-4-like vehicle that I've always liked (it's been on my Top Ten Domestic list for years) that combined all of the good features of the Japanese competitors, but was plagued by unreliability and recalls in its first year. Since then, its repair record has improved drastically...it is now average or slightly above, and some versions use a Toyota-licensed Hybrid power plant. Mazda simultaneously introduced a sister version....the Tribute......that was a little sportier in nature. Mercury followed with the Mariner...a virtual Escape twin. GM followed with the Pontiac Torrent and Chevy Equinox...with a slightly different version for Suzuki. Saturn introduced the plastic-bodied VUE, which, in some versions, used a Honda V6.
But......most of these vehicles were essentialy compact SUV's. Families, of course, grow.....and some of the customers decided that they wanted to keep the car-based SUV platforms but have slightly larger vehicles that could carry more people of tow slightly larger trailers. So.....presto.......enter the new mid-sized, car-based SUV platforms. Toyota debuted the original Camry-based Highlander, Lexus came along with a somewhat more plush, angularly-styled version of the Highlander called the RX300, Honda introduced the Accord-based Pilot, and Mitsubishi, both the compact, Lancer-based Outlander and mid-sized, Galant-based Endeavor.
This review, of course, is primarily about the Highlander, so of course, we'll concentrate on it now, rather than the others. The Highlander, like the RAV-4 before it, went on to become another smash hit with customers, as it combined many of the already wildly popular Camry's refined, comfortable traits, build quality, and overall competence with added ground clearance and all-weather capability. Several of my friends and co-workers have bought them and love them (but they sit a little too high-up for my tastes.....I myself prefer the lower-stance AWD Subarus). The boxier styling of the first-generation Highlander, compared to the more rakishky designed Lexus RX300 cousin, resulted in more interior space than in the RX300, at a lower price (same with the Honda Pilot and its more expensive brother.....the Acura MDX). Not surprisingly, Highlanders sold just like the RAv-4's did.....so much so that Toyota decided to risk a more expensive and more complex hybrid version, using essentially the same components as the much more expensive Lexus RX400H, though the gas engines were different. These two vehicles, at the time, differed from most other hybrids of the era in that there were built-in electric motors driving the rear wheels rather than rear drive shafts and differentials. The electronics and computer system governing all of this was, of course, quite complex as well....more so than in other hybrids. The hybrid model, understandably, because of limited dealer availability, high cost, and the fact that, by hybrid standards, it was designed as much or more so for acceleration than fuel economy, never sold in the numbers that the gas-only version did.
Which brings us to the specific subject of this review...the all-new, second-generation Highlander for 2008. As is so often the case, the vehicle has been stretched, made heavier, and given new equipment and drivetrains. Unlike the first-generation model, the four-cylinder version has been dropped...Toyota apparantly feels that their four-cylinder powerplants are too small for the current stretched platform. Five new versions are offered.....Highlander, Sport, Limited, Hybrid, and Hybrid Limited. Two powertrains are offered...a gas-only 3.5L 270 HP V6 and a gas/hybrid 3.3L 209 HP V6 with separate front/rear electric motors (167 hp/ 98 HP).
Like the even more expensive Toyota Land Cruiser, the Hybrid Limited, not surprisingly, costs some real money....its $40,000 base price puts it well up in Lexus territory, price-wise. That is a long way from the original, $18,000 Toyota RAV-4 of 1996. A choice of FWD or AWD is offered in the gas-only versions; the hybrids, of course, are inherently AWD with the rear electric motor. Two transmissions are offered...a conventional 5-speed automatic in both the FWD and AWD gas models and a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) in the hybrids. And a third-row seat, of course,is available in back.......a feature demanded by more and more families nowadays.
By specific request, I chose the gas-only V6 Limited 4x4 version for the review. In the footsteps of the first Highlander, it is bound to be popular...although just how popular will depend partly on any sales overlap there could be with its own brother....the new, stretched, V6 RAV-4.....and with the Lexus RX350, which, in the Limited version, it closely competes with in some ways. And just what is this new vehicle like? For the answers, read on.
Model Reviewed: 2008 Toyota Highlander Limited 4X4
Base Price: $34,150
Major Options:
Bluetooth/CD/XM/Siruis/MP3/WMA Package: $630
Heated Front Seats: $440
Power Rear Door: $400
Automatic Rear A/C $585
Rear Spoiler $200
Power Moonroof $850
Tow Package $220
Carpet cargo mat/3rd-row seats: $275
Destination/Handling: $685
List Price as Reviewed: $38,435
Drivetrain: 3.5L DOHC VVT-i V6, 270 HP @ 6200 RPM, Torque 248 ft-lbs. @ 4700 RPM,
5-speed automatic transmission with snow mode and sequential shift, Full-time AWD.
Exterior Color: Salsa Red Pearl
Interior: Light Gray Leather
PLUSSES:
Greatly impoved interior quality over other recently introduced Toyotas.
V6 has ample torque for the size, weight, and AWD.
Little body lean despite high center of gravity.
Typically flawless Toyota/Lexus paint job.
Gobs of headroom for tall people, even with the power sunroof (which is very unusual).
Foot pedals well-designed for big shoes.
Clever, well-designed second-row and third-row seat folding mechanisms.
Relatively smooth ride with little SUV-type porpoising.
Good steering feel despite the rather light effort.
Lexus-type powertrain refinement.
Engine-start/stop button eliminates the convention ignition of the former Highlander.
Excellent, legible gauges and clear, easy-to-use controls and buttons.
Nicely done stereo.
North-Pole air conditioning.
Upper rear glass opens independent of liftgate.
Solid-feeling doors inside and out.
Smart, classy, well-done wood trim.
Well-done exterior chrome despite plastic underneath.
Some nice though rather conservative paint colors.
Standard Hill-Start/Control feature (Maybe.....?)
(This was mentioned in aftermarket web sites but not listed in the Toyota web site spec list)
MINUSES:
V6 engine fits underhood too tightly for easy do-it-yourself work.
Monotone paint scheme has no lower-body cladding for protection from salt/road debris.
Flimsy, cheap-looking steering-wheel buttons and spoke trim.
Uneven, jerky brake-pedal response.
Poorly-designed rear wiper arm.
Prop-rod-supported hood inappropriate for a $38,000 vehicle.
(Yes, that's it.....not much to complain about this time).
The first impression of this all-new Highlander, as you walk up to it, is that it has little in common with the previous Highlander that it replaces. It is noticeably larger, both outside and inside, especially in the length and height department, and can rather easily be mistaken for a Sequoia at first glance, although the Sequoia is a little boxier in design. The always-excellent Toyota paint job is a feast for your eyes, especially in the White Pearl, Magnetic Gray Metallic, and the Salsa Red Pearl of my test vehicle. Normally I'm not a fan of dull, funeral-home paint colors, but Toyota and Lexus seem to have a way of doing some of them superbly....the Magnetic Gray metallic, for instance, has a sparking metalflake texture that has to be seen to be believed.....ditto for the Toyota/Lexus version of White pearl. In fact, the designers of the new Highlander got so carried away with these paint colors that they covered the entire exterior with them....and forgot to put the protective cladding around the lower-body and in the wheel wells to ward off damage from salt and road debris.
But they didn't skimp with much on the rest of the exterior. The doors, unlike some other newer Toyotas, feel strong and solid when you close them. The mirrors, unlike the Tundra's, also have a solid, secure feel and snap in and out of their positons smartly. The chrome is well-done, even though it is basically chrome-covered plastic.....it doesn't have a cheap, flimsy feel. The Toyota emblems seem like real metal chrome rather than plastic, the roof rails are solidly attached and finished in a smart-looking texture/finish, and the rear liftgate allows the upper glass panel to be raised separately from the lower part...as opposed to the more common and lower-cost method of all-or nothing. One of the few exterior goofs is a poorly-designed rear wiper arm that doesn't fold up enough for easy blade changes.
Open the prop-rod-supported hood (come on, guys..a prop rod at $38,000?) and the 3.5L V6 transversely fits in with the ubiquitous large silver plastic cover and not a whole lot of room to work on the engine for Do-it-Yourselfers. The basics, though.....dipsticks, battery, fluid fillers, etc.... are OK, easy to reach, and clearly marked. The transverse-engine/transmission layout, of course, means a fairly complex AWD system, as opposed to Subaru's simpler systems with the boxer engine, but, nonetheless, complexity does not necessarily mean unreliability.....Toyota and Honda both have a history of building reliable AWD systems.
Open the doors, get inside the vehicle, and, unlike some other recent Toyota products, this is where the designers have really done their homework this time. The doors close with a fairly hefty feel and a solid "thud". The vehicle, despite a high stance, will not need running boards for most people.
Being a mid-sized family SUV and not a sports sedan, the seats are a little on the flat side, with low side bolsters, and covered (in the Limited version) with a nice, attractive, comfortable grade of leather, although of course, smooth leather is usually slipperier than cloth and does not hold you in place as well. There is astounding headroom, front and rear, even around the sunroof housing...an area that is, usually, notoriously skimpy. This is quite unusual...I can't remember the last time I've seen this kind of hat room with my baseball cap, especially with a sunroof. You NBA guys, dump your Escalades.....THIS is your vehicle. Legroom, front and rear, is also pretty good, though not quite as generous as headroom...but the multi-adjustable power seats and manual tilt/telescoping wheel should be able to accomodate most physiques.
The Limited's interior is also a feast for your eyes and senses as well as for your physical size. The rich, milk-chocolate-brown wood trim on the console and door panels, chrome door handles and gauge rings, and metallic dash trim are all classy, smartly-done, and expensive-looking and feeling. Gone are the new Camry's and Tundra's loose, thin, wobbly, dime-store plastic interior buttons and switches. In their place are BIG, legible, clearly marked, easy-to-use and more solid-feeling ones. The left, right, and rear A/C systems are all three easy to use and adjust, with separate rear controls as nicely done as those up front. The stereo, as usual for Toyota/Lexus products, is first-rate, as is the Arctic-Cool air conditioning effectiveness. Almost everything inside had a pleasant look and feel to it except, like in the Camry, cheap-looking/feeling steering wheel spoke trim and buttons....not surprising, since it shares the Camry's steering wheel design.
In back, the second-row seats have a clever Stow-Down feature that not only makes it easy to reach the third-row seats but can be cleverly accessed from the rear cargo area inside the liftgate. On the wall on the left side are two levers. Pull the left one and the left side of the 50/50 second-row seat drops automatically.....ditto for the right lever. Pull-straps on the third-row seat right in front of you automatically fold down the third-seat headrests and prepare the seats for folding (the seat itself is fairly roomy by third-seat standards.....not quite as big as the Buick Enclave's, but close). The cargo area itself, behind the third-row seat, is well-finished, with durable hardware and nice carpeting.
Time to start it up and drive.....another advance over the old model here with the new engine start/stop button and the proximity key. The engine takes a couple of seconds to start while the computer checks out all the electronics and then settles into an eerily smooth, quiet, Lexus-like idle.....not surprising, considering the fact that this engine is used in several Lexus products. Adjust seat belts, mirrors, slip the smooth, precise-feeling shift lever into Drive and go. Let the coolant temperature come up a little, then give it some gas, and the V6 moves out smartly, even considering the heavy weight of this vehicle and the added drag of AWD. Power delivery at speed remains as smooth and almost as quiet as at idle. This vehicle should have no problems in hilly terrain as long as its load and driving conditions are kept reasonable. The silky transmission shifts are almost unnoticeable in normal driving, though a Sport Mode and Manual Mode are both available for crisper, higher-RPM shifts and better control in hilly terrain if desired.
The designers have also done their homework this time in the suspension. The ride, for the most part, is smooth and quiet, and there is none of that fore/aft porposing so common with SUV's, even car-based ones. All but abrupt or harsh bumps are soaked up very well by SUV standards (I was careful to adjust the tire pressures beforehand where they belong...as is so often the case, the dealer's PDI guys messed up and forgot to do that). The relatively soft ride did not translate into sloppy handling, either. While steering response was a little on the slow side, it was accompanied by little body roll, and cornering was not bad at all. Despite relatively light steering effort, I prefered the Highlander's steering feel to the Hyundai Veracruz's noticeably more vague, school-bus feel.
Noise control, while not LS460-quiet, was reasonable. There was a slight amount of both wind and road noise at speed...this could partly be due to the under-body cutouts required for the Stow-and-Go features for the seats.....something that is noticeable on other vehicles with Stow-and-Go features. It slightly cuts down on the amount of underbody road insulation and noise isolation......the trade-off, of course, being easier passenger and cargo loading/unloading. But the amount of wind and road noise was not bad at all (certainly not enough to list in the "Minus" column above) and actually approaches some luxury cars I have driven.
The brakes, while good overall by SUV standards, could use a little work in the hydraulics and proportioning valves. Press the pedal, and there is about a half-inch or so of sponginess, then a slight brake response, then a much faster response very quickly, making smooth stops rather difficult at times. Reminds me of some of the old power drum brakes on American cars from the 1960's. Fortunately both the brake and gas pedals, unlike some of those in many vehicles I review, are well-placed for big size 15's like mine, so they don't hang up on one pedal or accidentally hit both pedals at once.
The Verdict?
With the increasing criticism it has received from much of the auto press and potential customers about the cheapness of the quality of materials used in their newly-released vehicles lately, especially in the interiors (my own recent reviews of the new Camry, Avalon, and Tundra were not very complementary of their interiors, though all three of these vehicles were quite well-done in chassis and drivetrain), Toyota seems to have decided that, with the new Highlander, it was time to do something about it.
And it shows.
There was little on this vehicle to really criticize, short of the way the brake proportioning valves were set up and a couple of previously mentioned design flaws on the exterior. It rides smoothly for a mid-sized SUV, steers and handles relatively well, is reasonably quiet although it could have slightly better noise isolation, has top-notch interior trim in the Limited version, has convenient, cleverly designed seat-stowing mechanisms, plenty of power, and the typical Toyota smooth refined powertrain. Though somewhat pricey, the Limited is good competition for the Hyundai Veracruz Limited and Buick Enclave, and like the Veracruz, beats the quality of materials used in the Enclave....the Enclave has beautiful trim, but it is mostly superficial.
So, in short, along with the Veracruz Limited, and (to a lesser extent) the new Enclave CXL, I rate this new Highlander Limited very highly and can recommend its purchase for those who need or want a vehicle this big and can afford its not-so-cheap price tag. It also does very well against the present Lexus RX350, although it must be noted than an all-new RX is coming soon that will probably trump the Highlander in some areas...as it should for its higher price tag. An all-new Honda Pilot is also coming soon, which will be even more competition for the new Highlander.....I will review the new Pilot if there is any interest.
Last edited by mmarshall; 09-12-07 at 04:50 PM.
09-12-07, 04:43 PM
#2
Awesome!
I was checking out the Highlander yesterday and although the styling is a bit bland at some angles, it definately exemplifies Toyota quality in terms of materials and user-friendly design.
Unfortunately, I did not get to test drive it, and your review makes it sound very promising for a non-so-off-roader SUV that will appeal to the masses. I can't wait to see what the new RX350 will offer in the future.
Great job as always!
I was checking out the Highlander yesterday and although the styling is a bit bland at some angles, it definately exemplifies Toyota quality in terms of materials and user-friendly design.
Unfortunately, I did not get to test drive it, and your review makes it sound very promising for a non-so-off-roader SUV that will appeal to the masses. I can't wait to see what the new RX350 will offer in the future.
Great job as always!
09-12-07, 05:09 PM
#3
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Thanks for the review, great stuff 
.
Interestingly enough, given your in-depth comments about the improved quality of the interior and overall hardware, the new Highlander is the first US Toyota model to have been affected by Toyota's "customer first" quality initiative. Before the Highlander went into production, word is that Toyota actually redesigned the hood for a tighter fit with the body. The "customer first" initiative includes a variety of measures that improve quality and all future Toyota/Lexus/Scion products will benefit from it.
I expect the new Corolla to also be a solid car with a good quality interior just like the new Highlander.
.Interestingly enough, given your in-depth comments about the improved quality of the interior and overall hardware, the new Highlander is the first US Toyota model to have been affected by Toyota's "customer first" quality initiative. Before the Highlander went into production, word is that Toyota actually redesigned the hood for a tighter fit with the body. The "customer first" initiative includes a variety of measures that improve quality and all future Toyota/Lexus/Scion products will benefit from it.
I expect the new Corolla to also be a solid car with a good quality interior just like the new Highlander.
09-12-07, 05:14 PM
#4
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The current Corolla, though, is not bad at all inside....especially the LX version. If I was in the market for a new economical compact/subcompact it would be high on my list.
09-12-07, 05:26 PM
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That's true. The current 9th gen Corolla is a very well-built car. My comment was in reference to the new Corolla likely being a step up in quality compared to the Tundra and Camry.
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09-12-07, 05:48 PM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
The 4Runner, though, is much different from a Highlander in frame design, handling, body roll, tow ratings, ride stiffness, entry/exit, and, of course, off-road capability. It is more rugged in the boonies but does not have the Highlander's comfort or on-pavement stability.
09-12-07, 05:55 PM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I don't care for backup cameras. I know that, used properly, they can prevent some accidents, but, in my experience, they give a wierd sensation as you are pressing the gas pedal one way while looking forward into the screen and going the other way. But perhaps that is because I never owned a vehicle with one and never really gotten used to them.
09-12-07, 06:48 PM
#12
Lexus Fanatic
I read an article in Car and Driver or Automobile that gave the new highlander a pretty lukewarm review although they seemed to like the interior which I say is a huge improvement for Toyota over the cheap looking and feeling uninspired dull Camry, Avalon, RAV4, and 4 Runner interiors. THe highlander interior looks to be the best Toyota interior out and pretty much in Lexus territory. I have only seen piictures and have not sat in it to feel the materials but I do like the looks of the interior. Although the Highlander is not the kind of vehicle I would be interested in it does seem to have a nice interior from the pictures and is a huge improvement over the last one. I hope it is a success for Toyota and they learn something from the praise the interior is getting.
09-12-07, 07:04 PM
#13
Lexus Connoisseur
Great review. I think Toyota did an awesome job with this suv. I still see alot of influential RX styling in the interior...specifically the dash.
My favorite feature as useless at it looks/sounds is the hide-away folding middle seat.
My favorite feature as useless at it looks/sounds is the hide-away folding middle seat.
09-12-07, 08:12 PM
#14
Lexus Champion
Cool review. Looking forward to your CTS review next.
Though I have to say... nearly 40k dollars for a Toyota Highlander.... it just sounds so wrong to me. That much will get you a very nicely equipped RX350. Granted I understand the Highlander is now larger and more up to date and the new RX, when it comes out, will probably see a similar jump in size and price, but still...
Though I have to say... nearly 40k dollars for a Toyota Highlander.... it just sounds so wrong to me. That much will get you a very nicely equipped RX350. Granted I understand the Highlander is now larger and more up to date and the new RX, when it comes out, will probably see a similar jump in size and price, but still...
09-12-07, 09:26 PM
#15
Great review, thanks!
I have sat in the Limited version twice and the Sport version (w/ black interior) once. The Limited's design with the dark wood and chrome is very very well done. It's definitely an interior worthy of a Lexus name.
The 2nd row stow-away seat is an awesome idea. I had my dad (who's not as slim as I am) sit in the middle (since Toyota said that the seat feels 'normal' despite its diminutive size) and he said it was "ok" and felt like a regular middle seat. Job well done there I suppose.
I do agree with the 3rd row too. It's fairly comfortable and definitely more accomodating than the 3rd row of a RAV4.
I have sat in the Limited version twice and the Sport version (w/ black interior) once. The Limited's design with the dark wood and chrome is very very well done. It's definitely an interior worthy of a Lexus name.
The 2nd row stow-away seat is an awesome idea. I had my dad (who's not as slim as I am) sit in the middle (since Toyota said that the seat feels 'normal' despite its diminutive size) and he said it was "ok" and felt like a regular middle seat. Job well done there I suppose.
I do agree with the 3rd row too. It's fairly comfortable and definitely more accomodating than the 3rd row of a RAV4.