First introduced in 2001, the Toyota Highlander is a four- door vehicle built in a design that combines the features of a wagon, mini- van, and SUV into one driving machine. This car has sold well since its inception, easily surpassing manufacturer projections. It offers many of the benefits that would normally be present only in an SUV, with a vehicle body that is more in tune with a wagon.

Features/Options:

The Highlander comes in a total of six different trim levels: 4 cylinder, 2- wheel drive; 4 cylinder, all- wheel drive; 6 cylinder, 2WD; 6 cylinder AWD; Limited 2WD; and Limited AWD. Each model comes standard with 4- speed automatic transmission, air, power steering, cruise control, CD player, and other options. The V6 model is basically the same as the four cylinder, except it offers a larger, 3.0 liter engine (the 4- cylinder has a 2.4 liter engine). The Limited is the luxury edition and it includes additional options like remote keyless entry, power seats, heated power mirrors, automatic headlights, security system, roof rack, rear spoiler, etc.

Toyota Highlander has a fuel tank that holds 19.8 gallons and it has an estimated fuel economy rating of 18 mpg city/22 mpg highway for the V6 models. The 4- cylinder gets a rating of 19/24 in fuel efficiency.

Dimensions of the Highlander are a little smaller than other vehicles in its competitive class. Its length is about 15 feet, 4 inches; height is 5 feet, 6 inches; and the curb weight is about 3,950 pounds.

Warranty:

This vehicle comes with the standard, 3- year, 36,000 mile bumper to bumper coverage; 5- year protection against corrosion; 5- year, 60,000 mile protection on the powertrain; and free roadside assistance. These are all pretty standard warranties for a new vehicle.

Pricing:

Manufacturers suggested retail price on the 4- cylinder model is about $24,000; on the V6, $27,000; and on the Limited, $29,000. If you decide to go for the AWD model, you need to add about $1,200 to these prices. Additional options, if you elect to purchase them, can easily add another $2,000 or more to the base price.

Final Thoughts:

Toyota’s Highlander is often referred to as a “crossover” vehicle, due to the fact that it looks like a cross between a station wagon/sedan and a sports utility vehicle. It has the same square back end that is associated with an SUV and the lower-to-the-ground characteristic of a sedan or wagon.

Considering these characteristics, the Highlander has some good points which many drivers will find are beneficial and that make it a little better than an ordinary sedan. One obvious advantage is the added cargo space. Instead of an enclosed trunk, the Highlander offers a rear cargo space of 38.5 cubic feet. There is no third seat option (some may not like this feature), which means more room for cargo. The second seat can also be folded down in a 60/40 split, to increase the hauling space even more, up to 81 cubic feet.

Another advantage over an ordinary sedan or wagon is the all- wheel drive option. This makes the Highlander more rugged than your typical 2WD automobile, giving more traction for rough terrain and winter weather driving. This can be a nice feature for people who live in snowy parts of the country and want the added security that a 4WD offers without having to purchase a truck or SUV to get this feature.

The model that I drove was a fully- loaded Limited, with a price tag of about $33,000. I felt like the acceleration was adequate, with 220 horses (4- cylinder model has only 155 horsepower) to move the vehicle along. According to official test results, this vehicle takes 8.1 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph. I think it could use a little more get up and go, and I’ve heard that the engineers at Toyota agree. They are going to replace the engine next year with a larger, 3.3 liter that will offer more power. I felt that the ride was bumpy, too. With the vehicle still in 2WD mode, I noticed that small infractions in the pavement caused the Highlander to bounce a little more than I have experienced in other vehicles. Nothing bad, mind you, but enough that you could easily spill your drink if it was filled too close to the rim of the glass. I didn’t feel any vibration at high speed (around 75 mph) which is good. But I could still feel the bumps and I found myself trying to maneuver away from anything on the road that seemed like it might jar the vehicle too much.

A huge annoyance with the handling of the Highlander is the electronic Vehicle Skid Control, or VSC system. This is supposed to be a safety feature and many drivers would consider it an added plus, but I didn’t like it at all. The purpose of this VSC is to warn the driver whenever there is a significant shift in either the front or the rear wheels upon making a turn. If the VSC detects that the vehicle is not responding to the command from the steering wheel (like in the case of sliding), it responds by automatically applying a small amount of braking, to get the vehicle under control. This sounds like a nice safety feature at first, but if you drove the vehicle for a while, I think you would change your mind. I found that it activated itself far too frequently, even though I was driving it on dry pavement. If you turn the wheel too quickly and there is any amount of skidding, it will activate the VSC protection. Entering most driveways (if they are unlevel), and even changing lanes too quickly can activate this system. It also makes an annoying beeping sound, each time it activates, that can really get on your nerves after a while! And what’s worse is that you cannot deactivate this feature. It’s part of the electronic system, so you’re stuck with it!

As far as the interior goes, there are several things that I would change with this vehicle. As I stated before, I think the height of the Highlander is a little bit too low. I’m sure that the reason they made it a little lower was to make it more like a car than an SUV, but you can really notice the difference when you climb inside, particularly in the back seat. The second seat can hold as many as three passengers, and the comfort level starts to become an issue if anyone is 5'10" or taller or if anyone has long legs. Two people can ride with a reasonable amount of comfort, but the addition of a third passenger could easily cause fighting among the three over who gets to ride in the front seat on the way home.

I didn’t like the dash very much, either. The speedometer, fuel gauge, etc., are set a little deeper than I would like and I didn’t like the brown- colored trim that surrounded the dash. This gives the appearance, in my opinion, a very mature look and makes it seem less sporty. I know I’m nitpicking here, and I realize this is something that most drivers wouldn’t care about, but I didn’t like the look at all.

Overall, I’m going to give the 2003 Toyota Highlander a thumbs- down rating. It just doesn’t have much in the way of personality or performance and there is nothing special or memorable about it. If you haven't seen one up close, take a good look at a photo of this vehicle. It just screams out the word BLAND! The same seems to be true of many other “crossover” vehicles. I can see how these automobiles have their use, but I think I will stick with an SUV. If I’m going to buy a vehicle with a good amount of cargo space, 4WD, and other features that one would find in an SUV, then why settle for anything less? You can buy a good SUV for the same price you would pay for the fully- loaded Highlander Limited, so there isn’t any financial incentive for purchasing this vehicle. The gas mileage is also about the same (or slightly less) in most SUV when compared to the Highlander, so there isn’t much advantage there either.

Skip the Toyota Highlander and shop for an SUV instead. Its boring exterior look, unexciting ride, VSC system, and other features will make you wish you had something else!

Amount Paid (US$): 33000.00
Condition: New
Model Year: 2003
Model and Options: Highlander Limited