Ever since internet existed, people have claimed that Toyota buyers are sheep because they would not buy xx vehicle instead of xx Toyota.

In restrospective, few years down the road that was never really true.

Maybe Toyota knows who they target with Highlander and thus are getting their record sales year after year?

Also, Koreans never ended directly competing with Japanese, they mostly conquest local brand sales throughout the world.

 

The point is though, the new Highlander is bigger than your highlander but doesn't feel any bigger inside. You should at least see more interior room as a tradeoff in increased exterior size. Toyota is really struggling with packaging...

For sizing, be careful with the rounding because we're talking about such small differences in exterior size, the loss of half an inch here or there is significant.

We can only compare the current versions of each model. The fact that the Telluride and Palisade are the same vehicle, yet have a length difference of approximately the same as the Highlander vs the Palisade shows you these vehicles are more or less the same size outside. We're talking these differences being down to the shape of the bumpers.

 

I read that all of the added size on the new Highlander went to the cargo area, as that's what the current owners asked to be improved. The cargo space behind the third row is definitely bigger on the new one versus the outgoing one.

 

I think you're forgetting that I'm a 9 time Toyota owner, and I have owned at least one Toyota continuously for the past 22 years. I'm a Toyota fan, but there is absolutely truth in the idea that people just buy what they know. I've bought cars for years that I knew were not the best cars in their segments because they were what I was used to and what I felt comfortable with.

However, the competition has gotten so good and Toyota has stagnated to an extent that it's hard for me to continue doing that, because I'm really missing out on a lot.

Many, many people just take their Toyota (or Honda or Ford or Chevy) into the dealer and trade it on the newer version of what they had before and never give it a second thought. I would say more people do that than don't do that. I know many people personally who do that. Their family buys Hondas, or Toyotas, or Fords, or Chevys and thats what they buy.

I think Toyota/Lexus does know what their consumer wants, but I think they largely assume their consumers are going to buy their vehicle regardless of whether they try and lead the class anywhere and they cheap out vs striving to create the best vehicle they can. In this case, it would have been very easy to make the Highlander a vehicle that would destroy Hyundai, about one inch and better packaging. They just dont care to do that though, and ultimately I think that will be their undoing.

It's certainly going to lose them my business.

To think Hyundai and Kia arent competing with Toyota and Honda is silly. Its an upward battle, because like I said before those customers are so firmly seated, and Toyota/Honda customers don't really care about cars other than as a means of transportation so its hard for Hyundai and Kia to catch their eye. So what they focus on is stealing customers before they become ensconced in the Toyota/Honda ecosystem.

 

I think brand and what people are used to is a big part of what people buy, but in thinking about the Highlander, most of the people I know who have one did not come from another Toyota product.

My brother in law traded in his Ford Edge. He looked at the Highlander and the Ascent and chose the Highlander. His other car is a CR-V.

My wife's cousin traded in her Sonata for a Highlander.

My sister traded in her Altima for a Highlander, after comparing the Pilot vs Highlander.

So yeah, a lot of people buy what they know, but I think the "troubles" at Toyota are being vastly overstated on here. Toyota is pulling in new customers all of the time. Yes, they lose some, and yes, they win some. But not everyone who buys a Highlander is already a Highlander or Toyota customer.

 

2020 Highlander has 16 cu/ft of space with the third row up, Palisade has 18. Next...

The vehicle just isnt packaged well.

These would be the conquest buyers Hyundai and Kia are targeting. Look to see if that continues.

 

Sigh. I know. I didn't state otherwise. I was addressing the fact that you claimed the Highlander got bigger on the outside and not the inside. I was pointing out that the size went to the cargo area, as per customer request.

The Palisade and Telluride have been on the market for a year now and Highlander sales keep going up. I believe the new Highlander will further increase sales. So yeah, I'll keep watching. It's like when the new Ranger came out and people on CL claimed the death of the Tacoma, which never happened...

 

Point taken, but the Highlander is better in fuel efficiency, power ratings are higher in the Highlander despite being a smaller engine, the HL has three different 4wd system whereas the P/T 4wd is a carryover from a previous KIA model. LED headlights are standard on the HL, optional on the P/T, LED tail lights and stop lights are standard on the HL but optional....the point is, there are trade offs to the size advantage of the P/T that favor the HL.

 

Palisade and Telluride sales are tamped down by low product availability, and the Highlander outgoing has been heavily discounted. The new Highlander won't be. As I said, the Highlander will sell great but a huge reason why it does is that its a "Toyota Highlander" it doesn't lead the class in one area, other than having a hybrid option.

As a Toyota fan I would like to see Toyota lead again. I would like to buy a Toyota because it's the best vehicle in the segment.

As for the Tacoma, another vehicle that sells great because of people's loyalty to it and for no other reason.

 

And it costs more to pay for that.

Primarily, what we're looking for is carrying family and people and stuff in comfort in a nice looking SUV package. All of that stuff is great...but not as important as space in this sort of vehicle.

LOTS of cars sell the best without being the best.

 

Then you should buy a mini-van

 

I own a minivan, I don't want a minivan. Anyways, why? I can buy many 3 row crossovers that have great interior space, the Highlander just isn't one of them. Its last place in the segment in interior space.

Most 3 row crossover owners would be better off in a minivan, but they just don't want them. Telling those buyers "just buy a minivan" is foolish when other companies are building what they WANT and what they need. Huge missed opportunity for Toyota here.

 

So buy the Palisade or Telluride and accept more space, but less MPG, less HP and standard features. ...

 

I enthusiastically will! Its a much better vehicle IMHO, and cheaper. Its a win win. #1 on my list right now.

I buy loaded too, so standard features don't matter to me.

 

Honestly, there are so many great vehicles in this segment I'd be happy with a lot of them. Palisade is my favorite, but if my wife preferred the Atlas or the Telluride or the Traverse or the Enclave or the Explorer or the Highlander I'd be happy with any of them. Only one I really dislike is the Pilot. I know for a fact she will take one look at the inside of the Highlander and the Explorer and say "too small" though.