Function over form inside
The Highlander’s cockpit pretty much reflects our assessment of the sheetmetal. The switchgear could be sourced from Little Tikes, and yet the big, rubber-trimmed knobs work extremely well while driving.
Again, the overall appearance is good, but not exciting; there’s no flow to the design, as if 3 different artists penned it and then assembled it all together. And yet, ergonomically, there’s little room for criticism. Ok, here’s one; the optional automatic three-zone climate control system has no override switch up front, so no matter how you set it for the rear-seat area, the kids sitting in the 2nd row will always be able to fiddle with it.
The seats seem conceived for butts of various shapes and sizes, and it works, as they’re comfortable and supportive. The second-row bench can accommodate three passengers, but the middle occupant should be a child at best, as the removable cushion isn’t too inviting for an adult. The third-row bench won’t be a penalty for those assigned to ride on it.
As is the case with many 7-seat SUVs, you can carry a lot of people but they can’t bring much gear along with them. There’s only 292 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, although with the 3rd row tucked away, volume grows to 1,198 litres which is great for family road trips. Fold every rear seat down and you’re looking at 2,701 litres of space, more than in newcomers such as the Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer.
Our 4WD V6 tester includes a power driver’s seat, a telescopic steering column with wheel-mounted audio controls, a 6-speaker stereo with USB port and Bluetooth, a power liftgate, a backup camera (albeit on a very small screen), roof rails and a windshield wiper de-icer. The Sport Package adds 19-inch alloys, a power sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, the aforementioned three-zone HVAC and leather-wrapped wheel and shift knob.
The Highlander’s cockpit pretty much reflects our assessment of the sheetmetal. The switchgear could be sourced from Little Tikes, and yet the big, rubber-trimmed knobs work extremely well while driving.
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| The huge centre console knobs look weird but are easy to grasp while driving. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
Again, the overall appearance is good, but not exciting; there’s no flow to the design, as if 3 different artists penned it and then assembled it all together. And yet, ergonomically, there’s little room for criticism. Ok, here’s one; the optional automatic three-zone climate control system has no override switch up front, so no matter how you set it for the rear-seat area, the kids sitting in the 2nd row will always be able to fiddle with it.
The seats seem conceived for butts of various shapes and sizes, and it works, as they’re comfortable and supportive. The second-row bench can accommodate three passengers, but the middle occupant should be a child at best, as the removable cushion isn’t too inviting for an adult. The third-row bench won’t be a penalty for those assigned to ride on it.
As is the case with many 7-seat SUVs, you can carry a lot of people but they can’t bring much gear along with them. There’s only 292 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, although with the 3rd row tucked away, volume grows to 1,198 litres which is great for family road trips. Fold every rear seat down and you’re looking at 2,701 litres of space, more than in newcomers such as the Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer.
Our 4WD V6 tester includes a power driver’s seat, a telescopic steering column with wheel-mounted audio controls, a 6-speaker stereo with USB port and Bluetooth, a power liftgate, a backup camera (albeit on a very small screen), roof rails and a windshield wiper de-icer. The Sport Package adds 19-inch alloys, a power sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, the aforementioned three-zone HVAC and leather-wrapped wheel and shift knob.
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| The cargo hold is huge, expect when all seats are upright, obviously. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |