2022 Toyota Highlander
Driving Experience: With acceptable acceleration from a full stop and decent gas mileage for a car of its size, the Toyota Highlander sits at a slightly above average rating thanks to its versatile maneuverability at low speeds and great safety features that aren't too overbearing in daily driving scenarios. Even a bit of a rattling while idling doesn't prevent this car from being a decent recommendation to those who need a little bit of extra space in a car that doesn't feel weighed down.
Interior feel: Toyota cleverly used the interior space, making sure there are plenty of compartments and cup holders placed all around the cabin. They even went as far as to cut out a pass through for charging cables underneath the front center screen. Materials were thankfully not skimped out on, with many pieces being classy and matte, instead of your standard shiny, cheap plastic. Like any three row vehicle within this size category, the last row's leg room is lacking but adjusting the middle row is easy to do, and while not in use, the third row folds down to provide a lot of usable trunk space.
Exterior Look: With a floating roof line, rear fenders modeled after the Supra, and complex tail lights that glow with a holographic design at night, it is obvious the designers had fun with this vehicle. The only choice that doesn't quite land in my opinion is the odd Chrysler-esque design of the Toyota emblem framing. While looks are always subjective, extra effort will always be rewarded and I appreciate that they took creative risks with the design when most companies might not have.
Audio Visual Systems: The speakers were still great, even being in a lower end model, and the vehicle was equipped with wired Apple CarPlay that worked flawlessly. The physical controls for things like the AC were also easy to use and stress free when driving.
Build Quality: Typical Toyota affair, everything was put together nicely with minimal gaps and no alignment issues. When driving the vehicle, it feels solid with no creaks or shifts in the material.
Advice: If you are planing on keeping a three row vehicle for quite some time, but would prefer to be driving a smaller car – this would probably be the vehicle for you. Bullet proof reliability, space for up to seven people, and a tight turning circle is a combination of traits that are not found together in almost any other vehicle of this size on the market.
