Toyota Highlander
A muscular softie |
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By Richard J. Newman
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NITS: The air conditioner is weak, forcing you to crank up the fan speed–which negates the benefits of the quiet engine.
G-FORCES: The 3.0-liter V-6 produces 220 horsepower and provides plenty of passing power with very little whine. The smaller 2.4-liter four-cylinder only turns out 155 horsepower, which would probably feel anemic.
GIZMOLOGY: The Highlander doesn't overwhelm you with gadgetry, which is a sign of confidence in a car this solid. Temperature knobs are pleasingly large, and other controls are easy to reach.
KID MARKS: The Highlander is high enough to give kids a view, without making it hard for them to climb in. Pass-through handles on the outside make it easy to open the doors. The tailgate is the right height, too.
HOT OR NOT? Not quite. The rectangular rear half of the car resembles a five-year-old Volvo and evokes the same bland orderliness.
ENVIROMETER: The Highlander earns four out of five possible stars on the Environmental Protection Agency's "green vehicle" scale. Mileage ranges from 18 to 27 mpg. More details at http://www.epa.gov/autoemissions
/E-TOYOTA-Highlander-02.htm
CRASH COURSE: Government crash test results are due later this year. Details at http://www.nhtsa.gov/
NCAP/Cars/2002SUVs.html
PRICE POINTS: Base prices range from $24,390 to $27,370. Price as tested: $29,969. (All prices include delivery fees.)
MORE INFO: http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/
vehicles/highlander/index.html
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Model year tested: 2002
The Highlander looked quite capable, so I decided to take it on one of America's most demanding on-road adventures: the Pennsylvania Turnpike. That forlorn stretch of driver purgatory eats tires, mangles shocks, and sucks the marrow out of drivers. But the Highlander bit back. It was high and heavy enough to give me confidence between speeding semis, yet nimble enough to navigate comfortably through sudden lane shifts or road kill. Its potent V-6 engine sent us gliding up the foggy hillsides. An insulated ride took the sting out of the ubiquitous potholes.
In other words, the Highlander achieves a three-fer. It conquers roads like an SUV but maneuvers like a sedan. And it has the functionality of a minivan, without the stigma of the sliding doors. In fact, the high hood and flared front and rear fenders seem designed to send the message that this is not a minivan, or a wagon for that matter. But you'll be forgiven for thinking it is from the lofty perch of the captain's chairs.
Toyota has been fast out of the blocks with such "crossover" vehicles, which have the rugged appeal of SUVs but are based on car platforms. Like the RX300 made by Lexus, Toyota's luxury brand, the Highlander is built on the Camry platform. The virtues of the combination were evident on the hilly, windy byways of western Pennsylvania. The Highlander had a firm desire to stay on the pavement, compared with some SUVs that need to be constantly muscled away from the shoulder.
The commanding exterior lets minivan-averse drivers enjoy the Highlander's convenience features like a guilty pleasure. There are numerous storage nooks and six cupholders. The Highlander's height produces ample headroom, which makes the cabin feel spacious. The rear cargo compartment is high and deep enough to fit the boxiest items. If it all seems a little too domesticated, just remind yourself that the Highlander comes with four-wheel drive, too.
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