TEST DRIVE – 2011 Toyota Highlander

August 18, 2011
Posted by Neil Moore

 

Highlander the ideal travel partner for family vacation
 
By Neil Moore
Carguide Magazine
 
I’ve always had a soft spot for Grand Bend.
 
Located on the southeast shore of Lake Huron, about an hour from Sarnia, this resort town has arguably the nicest beaches in Ontario – and with warm turquoise waters that wouldn’t be out of place in south Florida.
 
Its bustling main street is lined with ice cream shops, restaurants, gift shops and beach wear boutiques.
 
And it was with this quaint place in mind that my wife and I planned our recent family vacation at the nearby Pinery Provincial Park. It also has fine beaches, and is, conveniently, just a few clicks south of the Bend.
 
As usual, I try to line up the ideal vehicle for each family vacation, and this year it was the 2011 Toyota Highlander.
 
Certainly a step up from the ’75 Chevrolet Monza I drove during my university days, but not quite the Porsche, BMW or Mercedes-Benz I had envisioned for my return visit a couple of decades later.
 
Back then as well, I travelled a little lighter. Other than the obligatory box of beer, my philosophy was that if it didn’t fit in the backpack, it didn’t come.
 
Today, I was cramming nearly every nook and cranny of the Highlander’s 2,700-litre cargo capacity with lawn chairs, coolers, sleeping bags, a family-sized tent and several massive bins of assorted camping gear. It was like a LeBaron store on wheels.
 
The Highlander has been around since 2000 and has since grown in size and seating capacity from five to seven passengers.
Of course, with only two kids but a ton of cargo, the 50/50 standard third row was folded flat for the duration of our trip.
 
I did, however, have an opportunity to check it out beforehand, and as expected, found rear knee room rather tight. But this can be remedied as there’s a surprising amount of travel in the middle row. The key word here is compromise.
 
Unlike the Cadillac SRX I borrowed last year, the Highlander was able to swallow everything – including the inflatable sink. It was not as posh as the Caddy, but still had an attractive and comfortable cabin. There are wide and supportive seats up front and plenty of head and knee room in the reclineable second row.
 
Fit and finish is typical of Toyota, with tight seams, a nice mix of materials and every control, button and knob functioning precisely and without looseness or wiggle.
 
My tester, the Highlander 4WD V6 ($35,750), was optioned up further with the $4,150 Sport Package, which adds several interior comforts such as leather seating surfaces (heated up front) and three-zone automatic climate control.
 
The base 4WD unit still provides plenty of standard equipment, including keyless entry with hatch release, eight-way power driver’s seat, backup camera, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, 3.5-inch multi info display, Bluetooth and six-speaker AM/FM /XM/CD/ MP3/WMA audio system with aux and USB Inputs and steering wheel controls.
 
On the outside, you get 17-inch alloys, heated power mirrors and power tailgate with jam protection. I like the flip-up rear glass, which allows you to drop in a few last-minute items without opening the entire tailgate and watching the works spill out on the driveway.
 
The Sports package also adds a couple of exterior goodies like 19-inch aluminum alloys and power moonroof.
 
All this brings the price well north of $40,000 once you tack on freight and other fees, so if your budget is tight, consider the front-drive, four-cylinder Highlander that starts at $31,500.
 
Powered by a 2.7-litre inline four (187 hp, 186 lb/ft), this model is also well equipped, although modestly powered.
 
On the road, the family was well taken care of in the Highlander’s hushed cabin. The vehicle’s tight seams, wind-smooth underbody and good aerodynamics (0.34) contribute to this, as does a quarter liner in the rear wheel housing.
 
Both kids were comfortable in the 40/20/40 second row. It does have a middle position, but it’s narrow and minimally padded, with a backrest that doubles as a drop-down armrest. My recommendation would be to fold and remove it, after which it can be cleverly stowed under the large front console.
 
Separation between the kids on any long trip is always a plus.
 
All V6 Highlanders come standard with a 3.5-litre, 24-valve engine that delivers 270 hp and 248 lb/ft of torque. Power is routed through a five-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift mode, delivering quiet, smooth, yet brisk acceleration.
 
The Highlander is no wimp in terms of launch and will get you up to speed surprisingly quick. Keep in mind, however, the 12.6/8.7 L/100 km (city/hwy) fuel economy rating goes out the window if, like me, you’re a bit heavy on the pedal.
 
Overall, the Highlander was the perfect travel partner, delivering a cosseted ride, ample power, and more importantly, no drama. We cruised comfortably and effortlessly along the county roads west of London through some very flat, but surprisingly scenic farmland.
 
Big skies and lush green fields were punctuated by the occasional cluster of giant wind turbines, providing a surreal accent to the region’s wide vistas.
 
After nearly four hours on the road, we arrived at our destination, rested, refreshed and ready for the beach.
 
The Highlander may not have made a bold first impression against the backdrop of newer Mustangs, Challengers, Camaros and Corvettes – not to mention the assortment of classic cars – but then again, neither did I.
 
Still fit, but clearly no longer in my twenties, I climbed out of the SUV laden with backpack, beach umbrella, sandbucket and shovel – and my five-year-old daughter clinging to the other hand.
 
I’ll probably wait until the kids grow up, or my impending mid-life crisis, before considering the next flash car.
 
Until then, I’d happily make do with a family hauler – like the Highlander – to get us around safely, comfortably – and without fanfare.
 
 
Toyota Highlander 4WD V6 2011 at a glance:
BODY STYLE: mid-size SUV
DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, four-wheel-drive
ENGINE: DOHC 3.5 Litre DOHC, 24-Valve V6 (270 hp and 248 lb/ft of torque)
FUEL ECONOMY: 12.6/8.7 L/100 km (city/hwy)
PRICE: Highlander 4WD V6 $35,750; with Sport Package (as tested) $39,900