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Writer's Notes
Test Vehicle:
2003 Toyota Highlander
MSRP: $26,860
As tested: $31,388
Showroom appeal:
Toyota genetics applied to a car-based, mid-size ute
Plus:
Comfortably sized outside and in, fine build quality
Minus:
No third row seat option, SUV-typical gas mileage
The Competition:
Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder
Highlander is a car-based sport ute with available all wheel drive.
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Toyota's SUV family grew from quartet to quintet with the introduction of the Highlander. It's positioned as a mid-size ute - north of the compact RAV4, south of the full-size Sequoia - and right alongside the 4Runner. While Highlander and 4Runner share the same category, they part company quickly in their approach. 4Runner is a truck-based sport ute, with off-road leanings. Its ladder frame and dual range 4x4 system suggest trips to back country. Highlander is a car-based sport ute with available all wheel drive. Its lighter duty chassis makes it more suited for suburban expeditions. Nothing wrong with that, of course, as Highlander's passenger car bent is well suited to the majority of SUV drivers, who want the look and the utility of a ute, but don't want or need off-road capability.
Front or All Wheel Drive versions are available, in four cylinder, V6 or Limited models. Highlander's chassis is a variation of the Toyota Camry's - the perennially popular mid-size. The four wheel independent suspension platform has a ride that is as close to car-like as you will find in a sport ute. Like most utes, Highlander's high center of gravity gives the driver a better view of the road, but it also makes for some body lean when cornering. In all, handling is well controlled for the breed and bumps produce less in the way of side to side body jounce than you will find on many SUV's. Four wheel disc brakes with ABS, Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution are all standard on Highlander. Brake performance is good, albeit with a soft pedal feel.
"The Highlander is increasingly popular with customers moving out of premium sedans. They want the versatility of an SUV but don't want to sacrifice the comfortable ride and responsive handling they had in their cars."
Highlander's two engine choices include a 2.4 liter DOHC four cylinder and a 3.0 liter DOHC V6. The former is rated at 155 hp and 163 lb. ft. of torque. The latter makes 200 hp @ 5,800 rpm and 222 lb. ft. of torque. Both engines are coupled exclusively to Toyota's four speed automatic transmission. My test vehicle was powered by the six which feels Camry-like in its smoothness and well matched to the four speed automatic. EPA rates Highlander's gas mileage at 18 mpg's city, 22 highway. I managed 20 mpg's in a mix of city/country driving - pretty good by sport ute standards, but painful when compared to passenger car performance. Towing capacity is rated at 3,000 lb. and 3,500 lb. respectively for the two motors, when outfitted with the optional tow package. I've not had the opportunity to drive a four cylinder Highlander, however, the weight to power ratio for a four cylinder with AWD is in the neighborhood of 23.97, suggesting that 'round town maneuvers would be fine, but high demand or heavy hauling situations would be better served by the six.
As noted, Highlander makes no pretensions of being a mechanized mountain goat. Serious off-roaders will migrate across the Toyota showroom to the 4Runner. Highlander has 7.3" of ground clearance below, and no undercarriage protection is offered. Select an All Wheel Drive model (as roughly half of all Highlander buyers do) and the system you get splits power 50/50 front/rear under normal conditions. When one set of wheels loses traction, power is shifted to the opposite side to help maintain momentum. My test drive took place in late winter, in conditions ranging from good 'ol dry pavement to everything else but (mud, snow, rain). My experience confirms that Highlander is well suited for the all weather driving conditions that its buyers want it for.
A close cousin to this Toyota is the Lexus RX300. One important distinction is that the wheelbase on the Toyota has been stretched 4" longer than its luxury line equivalent. The dividend pays off in terms of added rear seat passenger room and cargo capacity. There is no third row option for seating, but back seat room is generous by mid-size standards - roomy, with reclining seatbacks. Roomy too is the rear cargo area. Swing up the one piece rear hatch, negotiate the low lift over and you have space for 38.5 cubic feet of gear. Fold the split, rear seats flat and you improve that number to 81.4 cubic feet. In all, large, usable space in back and no complaints from rear passengers. Nor from those up front. Hop in the front seat and you're face to face with a nicely laid-out display of instruments and switchgear. Everything's in easy reach, nothing takes too long to figure out. Visibility is good in all directions, storage compartments of various sizes are sprinkled about the interior.
Highlander's car-like take on a traditionally truck-based form works well. Riding on the proven Camry chassis and the company's reputation for reliability, it should be a must-driver for mid-size 'ute intenders.
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---Story and photos by Dan Lyons
photos © Dan Lyons 2003
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