The verdict
The MSRP for the Sport model is $39,900 before taxes, freight and delivery charges; not too shabby for a well-equipped, all-wheel drive, mid-size SUV. Competitors include the Explorer XLT 4WD V6 and the Durango SXT, but also the Mazda CX-9 GS AWD, the Honda Pilot EX-L as well as the Chevrolet Traverse 1LT and GMC Acadia SLE cousins.
So here’s the verdict. The Toyota Highlander is an extremely competent SUV, both inside and out, and it’s also wonderfully bland. If you’re a low-profile kind of person and this is your kind of ride, it will serve you well. On the other hand, if you’re in the mood for a little flair and a little personality, the Highlander might not deliver the goods.
And that’s our dilemma; we have a hard time loving it, yet it’s impossible not to appreciate it for what it is.
The MSRP for the Sport model is $39,900 before taxes, freight and delivery charges; not too shabby for a well-equipped, all-wheel drive, mid-size SUV. Competitors include the Explorer XLT 4WD V6 and the Durango SXT, but also the Mazda CX-9 GS AWD, the Honda Pilot EX-L as well as the Chevrolet Traverse 1LT and GMC Acadia SLE cousins.
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| The Highlander 4WD V6 with the Sport Package costs $39,900. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
So here’s the verdict. The Toyota Highlander is an extremely competent SUV, both inside and out, and it’s also wonderfully bland. If you’re a low-profile kind of person and this is your kind of ride, it will serve you well. On the other hand, if you’re in the mood for a little flair and a little personality, the Highlander might not deliver the goods.
And that’s our dilemma; we have a hard time loving it, yet it’s impossible not to appreciate it for what it is.
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