Let’s get this set at the beginning: there won’t be any, “There can be only one” jokes in this piece. When a venerable publication such as Consumer Reports puts one of your vehicles up for review, it can be somewhat nerve-wracking. The 78-year-old magazine is famous for its extensive surveys of popular experience and methodical in-house testing of products.
Rather than present the Highlander amongst other midsize SUVs for a contextual comparison, CR decided to single out Toyota’s XLE all-wheel-drive model for an individual review. Nonetheless, we are pleased with Consumer Reports’ judgment in the main.
For some reason the review was focused on two main areas–driving and interior–before getting around to the conclusion. Why not exterior and interior? Or driving and passengering? No matter the reason for the criteria, we are pleased to report that the author was pleased with the Highlander’s steering, ride comfort and noise shielding.
The publication had agreeable things to say about the power and responsiveness of the engine, and went into detail about the three different engine configurations available. Fuel economy was what you would expect from a Toyota–respectable for a modern gasoline-powered drivetrain–though there is a hybrid model available, as well.
Hauling things and people is one of the primary aspects of an SUV, and while there were token mentions to these subjects in the “Interior†section, we can’t help but feel that more attention would have been helpful. As it is, the magazine was positive about the comfort of the front and middle seating, and found the direct configuration of driver’s controls simple and helpful.
We were happy to have the Highlander so thoughtfully profiled, and especially so considering the source. You can read the review in full at Consumer Reports’ website, or stop by our dealership if you would like to investigate the Highlander for yourself.
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