2015 Toyota Highlander Limited
Toyota has successfully driven the Highlander upmarket, with a much greater number of buyers choosing the top levels of trim, included the Platinum, and the Hybrid (if they can get one), tested here. A week in the Limited model helps explain why.
To start with, the Highlander’s looks are a home run. An aggressive grill, slammed roofline and voluptuous fender flares give this Toyota the attitude the company’s head, Akio Toyoda, wanted for his family’s vehicles. Inside the Highlander shows at least some of the focus on quality materials that used to be a hallmark of the Japanese company’s products. Most materials above knee height are soft touch, and the overall aesthetic is modern yet inviting. Especially useful is the shelf below the infotainment interface (which still looks slightly low rent) and the new, knurled temperature knobs, which are a big improvement on the one’s the Highlander debuted with only about a year ago. This last update also exemplifies Toyota’s commitment to respond to customer feedback as quickly as possible.
The Highlander drives better than almost anything in the class, with a combination of the still-excellent Mazda CX-9’s verve, the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s refinement and Toyota’s typical ease. Steering response and accuracy is much better than the last model’s, brake feel likewise excellent. Ride quality is well judged; the Highlander smothers rough roads better than most crossovers yet doesn’t fall all over itself when asked to go around a corner.
The powertrain is still competitive too; the corporate, 270hp, 3.5-liter V6 is such a smooth, torque-rich operator. Adding a sixth gear to the transmission allows the ratios to be better judged; a possible misstep is the decision to make the AWD system more front-biased and “on demand.” While this increased the EPA highway rating by 1mpg, it means you get a touch more steering fight and a very slight delay before power is distributed rearwards under slick conditions. Also, the use of a carry-over chassis with more equipment and insulation—and the Highlander is indeed very quiet and isolated—increased mass about 400 pounds, not something that will benefit real world economy nor performance.
Despite this, packaging has been improved for this Highlander, and it hits a sweet spot for what most families will need. While the wheelbase is unchanged, length increases so that middle row and back-benchers get more space. Most noticeable is the increase in cargo capacity with all seats in use.
All cars are inherently compromises, crossovers most especially, as they need to offer much of the practicality of (unloved) minivans along with the seeming macho panache of offroad warriors. Despite the minor shortcomings the Highlander Limited exhibits, overall this Toyota is one of the best offerings in this fiercely contested class.
EPA ratings: 18/24mpg; 20mpg combined
Price as tested: $47,812
Here is what Toyota has to say.
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