The Highlander is based on Toyota's very popular and highly dependable Camry sedan. Building an SUV on a car chassis has advantages and drawbacks. In the case of the Highlander, the Camry foundation provides the smallish midsizer with a very car-like ride and
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| Not too surprising, the Highlander's Camry chassis was not capable of serious off-roading. (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
relatively nimble handling to match. On the restrictive side, the unibody construction and beefed-up passenger sedan underpinnings are no match for serious off-road terrain. SUVs designed for the rough stuff are generally of body-on-frame design, enabling greater ground clearance and increased rigidity over unibody construction. These vehicles also benefit from the inclusion of a low-range set of gears, necessary for tackling the steepest of ascents and descents, not to mention axle-burying mud.
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| Subtle changes have been made to the Highlander's exterior for 2004. (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
Of course axle-burying mud doesn't exist when the region hasn't seen the thermometer's needle depart the sub-zero portion of the dial for weeks on end. Such was the case during the Toyota event. With long underwear and various other togs of winter affixed, I approached the shiny Highlander hoping to find warmth.
For 2004 the Highlander's exterior design has been updated with changes that include a redesigned front bumper, grille, headlights, fog lamps, rear bumper, and taillights. These subtle alterations maintain the pleasing, yet conservative design. Still, for me, it remains as fresh and amiable as it did in 2001, when first introduced. And while boxy, the design works nonetheless.
