What do you think of the Highlander...especially compared to the newest rivals like Palisade/Telluride? Leave your thoughts below! Since this is a long-form video..check for time stamps to different parts of the video in the description! *Thank you for watching and have a great day!*
Prime Autotainment definitely better than an Acura MDX. MDX May be sharper but the Highlander wins in everything else. Modernity, infotainment, transmission, 8 seats, and other tech. Not to mention the hybrid Highlander will destroy the MDX hybrid in fuel economy
Love the Highlander. It’s tricky between this or the Koreans. But I would unquestionably choose this over the explorer, pathfinder, and even something like the Acura MDX.
I have the 2020 Gray Metallic color Toyota Highlander Platinum and I Love how quiet it rides on the road, and my girl falls asleep on long rides cause the seats are so soft and comfortable.
Gotta say , one the coolest, laid back , informative car reviews !.. your voice is very relaxing.. btw, just saw your Telluride review, love that one too.... keep up the good work ! !
The mainstream midsize SUV category is huge, ranging in size from about 188" in length (Santa Fe, Edge) to 204" long (Traverse). It's split between 2 row, usually smaller entries up to 192" in length and mainly larger 3 row options that are 195" or longer. So why do consumers opt for a 3 row vehicle? Presumably because they need/want room for more than 4-5 passengers on at least an occasional basis. It's not a minor issue. With that in mind it's puzzling that reviewers typically place little or no emphasis on third row accommodations as if it's less critical than, say, ground clearance or the resolution of a backup camera. In fact, this review is one of the very few that even mention the Highlander's ridiculously cramped third row and Toyota's cruel joke that the third row of the Highlander seats 3 human beings simply because it has three seat belts. Toyota increased the length of the Highlander in 2020 by almost 3" to 195" in length making it only one to two inches less a Subaru Ascent, a Honda Pilot, a Palisade or a Telluride. It might be assumed they would have devoted some of that increase to room in the third row. No such luck. At 27.7" of legroom it's exactly the same as the previous generation. It's less than the back seat of a Ford Mustang (30"). It's even less than the infamously cramped Mazda CX-9 (29.7") and it's a smidgen less than the optional 3rd row VW offers in the compact Tiguan (27.9"), a vehicle that's nearly a foot shorter than the Highlander. So why does the Highlander sell so well? Among three row crossovers only the Explorer has stronger sales and that's only because about 1/3rd of Explorers are sold to fleets. If the third row of the Highlander is largely useless why do so many consumers purchase it? The answer of course is partly Toyota's reputation for much better reliability than its rivals, whether that's based on facts or not. But why don't those who want a midsize Toyota SUV opt for a two row version if they neither need nor want a mainly useless third row? That's simple, too. There's no such vehicle. At least not yet. The forthcoming Venza appears to be Toyota's recognition that it needs a midsize crossover that doesn't make the pretense of having a third row when it can only accommodate kids and only until those kids don't outgrow it. (As parents know, a nine year old who fits in the Highlander's third row may well no longer fit before the three year warranty expires.) Bottom line. The Highlander is not a 7-8 passenger SUV as Toyota claims. For many families it accommodates at most five passengers and in its highest trim, only four, with captain's chairs in the second row.
This guy has a vendetta against Toyota. He posts the same bunch of B.S. and misleading facts on every video. But if he bothers to watch the video, it is obvious that the 3rd row is not useless. Yes, the 3rd row default leg room is about 28" but about 70" can be split between the 2nd and 3rd rows. The maximum third row leg room is 36" which will leave 34" for the the 2nd row. So both rows are pretty useable.
The Highlander has over 141 cubic feet of passenger space, while the Mitsubishi Outlander has only 128 cubic feet. A normal mid-size car has about 100 cubic feet by comparison, so the Highlander is not that small.
@@tw88888888 the Oulander also has a larger 3rd row. Also, the KIA Sorento has 154 ft³ of passenger volume and is smaller on the outside than the Highlander, so this proves my point that the Highlander is very small inside.
Just got a 2021 platinum. I’m keeping the 2005 in the family. There is lots of tech to learn. One disappointment, there’s no power port (cigarette lighter or house plug) in the cargo area. Also I was told if I got the trailer hitch the kick feature for the lift gate wouldn’t work but now I know that is not true. If you get one with a factory hitch they have moved the switch. I have had mine for 3 days and I have experienced the cringy shifting at times as well as the ping pong feeling of the lane keeping system. It’s much quieter than the ‘05.
Most arnt use to the 8 speed trans , you get your speed in the in-between range & your foot is not steady on the pedal & its going up & down on the gas pedal , so the trans is either trying to down shift or shift up , omce you learn how to drive it & have it calibrated prob be good after that !
Can you please do a complete review like this one with the toyota 4runner limited 2020. I been waiting for a complete review like this one. Also do you think toyotas made in Japan are better than the ones made/ assembled in USA
I’d love to. I might be able to grab one from a Dealer but not sure if I can get one for a long review like this one. Funny you ask because I own a Toyota built in Japan and one built in USA and I believe the Japanese build just seems to be better out together. The US build (Camry) still hasn’t had any issues but a few squeaks from the interior components. Not sure if there’s any proof of the US build not being as good as Japan though
It’s kind of nice, but not sure it’s really worth the upgrade from the RAV4. The RAV4 is better off road and is more efficient. The 3rd row isn’t all that useful. The HL is not that great off road. For the same money you can get a 4Runner which is a superior vehicle. The current RAV4 is the same size as the 1st Gen HL. If you need space the Sienna or Sequoia are better choices.
If you park the Highlander next to the RAV4 side by side, you will see that the Highlander is a much bigger vehicle. The 3rd row can be useable. There is way more cargo room. The 4Runner is a superior off-road vehicle but has a even worse 3rd row. Also, the ride of the Highlander is much smoother, and it is a much more comfortable than the 4Runner. The Highlander is also a lot smoother, more comfortable, and much quieter than the RAV4.
Terry Wong If you’re going to get an HL, why not get a Sienna. The HL is a less useful minivan for people that don’t want to be seen in a minivan. The 4R rides and handles better than the HL. The RAV4 rides in between and handles better than both. The RAV4 hybrid is quieter than the HL hybrid and it has AWD standard. The V6 HL uses almost as much gas as a 4R. If you can’t fit in the 3rd row of a 4R you won’t fit in the HL either.
You are right that the Sienna is a lot more practical. However, my wife refuses to drive a mini-van. However, I would dispute that 4 runner and RAV4 rides better.
@@tw88888888 Exactly. People who say the RAV4 is like a Highlander don’t know what they’re talking about. I own a RAV4 and a Highlander in the RAV4 is nothing like a Highlander sorry
@@tw88888888 I owned a sienna for 14 years once you don’t need the space for the kids anymore minivans are a chore to drive. I love the fact that I remove the second row of that sienna and I could fit plywood that sheet rock in it and all types of furniture that thing swallowed up everything. There’s a good reason why minivans are not big sellers anymore and everyone recommending them usually have never driven one. I lived with one for 14 years and I am so grateful for my 2021 Highlander platinum.
It's nice, looks like a bigger version of the Rav. I think you and your family would truly enjoy it, just keep the 1st Gen in the family 😉. Great review Nolan
Haha definitely! I’ve got no plans to sell that 1st gen. (It’s my wife’s and idk if she would approve anyways lol) thank ya sir. Have a great weekend my friend!
Good to know! I never found any information on them being LED, how can you tell? Thanks for the info. The softer color definitely does make a difference for eye comfort! 👍
Prime Autotainment a guy in the highlander group tried to replace them and found out they were led. Plus when you turned on and off multiple times you can tell it was instant on and off not slowly off like incandescent bulbs do. I have a 2020 HL platinum awd ordered since February still hasn’t made it due to Covid.
So I am torn. We have 3 boys ages 11,9 and 2 and we have 2 border collies. We presently have a Toyota Sienna XLE AWD and we love it, the only thing is the towing capacity of 3500. We love camping and cannot haul what we would like, a tow capacity of 5000 would be better. We have always liked Toyota but the 4 runner with 3rd row doesn’t even have enough room for a stroller and the Highlander isn’t nice looking. That takes me to either the Explorer but not as reliable as a Toyota, the Kia that is a Kia but has great rating or the Atlas which is my favourite look wise and room wise but doesn’t have good reviews. Looking for good tow capacity, full size SUV’s are too expensive. And looking for lots of room Can you help? Thanks
That’s a tough decision! It’s a bummer about the Sienna towing capacity because minivans are so practical. Out of all of those - the Atlas is the biggest overall, but passenger space combined is actually a bit better in the Telluride. The explorer probably feels the peppiest with hauling people/stuff with its turbo..and the Atlas the most sluggish no matter which engine you go with. I really like the Highlander as well, it’s hard to say if it would have enough room for you though. 3rd row space is definitely tight and even behind the 3rd row is still fairly small even though they made it bigger. If all 3 kids could sit in the 2nd row and the dogs in the back with 3rd row folded...they would all probably be pretty close in terms of overall space, but if you need the 3rd row for one of them it might be questionable. I think the Telluride is the best value...and it has a great warranty if all maintenance is done, but it’s still hard to pass on the Highlander. Volkswagen reduced their warranty which makes me nervous about their reliability. The new Explorer has the stiffest ride and the transmission was the jerkiest and would make me hesitant to own it (unless they have software updates for it). What are you leaning towards?
What do you think of the Highlander...especially compared to the newest rivals like Palisade/Telluride? Leave your thoughts below!
Since this is a long-form video..check for time stamps to different parts of the video in the description!
*Thank you for watching and have a great day!*
Prime Autotainment definitely better than an Acura MDX. MDX May be sharper but the Highlander wins in everything else. Modernity, infotainment, transmission, 8 seats, and other tech. Not to mention the hybrid Highlander will destroy the MDX hybrid in fuel economy
Love the Highlander. It’s tricky between this or the Koreans.
But I would unquestionably choose this over the explorer, pathfinder, and even something like the Acura MDX.
This is one of the most complete video I have seen so far from the 2020 highlander. Good job.
Pepe Lopez thank you, glad to hear that!
I have the 2020 Gray Metallic color Toyota Highlander Platinum and I Love how quiet it rides on the road, and my girl falls asleep on long rides cause the seats are so soft and comfortable.
Gotta say , one the coolest, laid back , informative car reviews !.. your voice is very relaxing.. btw, just saw your Telluride review, love that one too.... keep up the good work ! !
Thank you so much, I’m glad to hear that! Appreciate it 😁👍
Transmission shift logic can be updated by dealer.
Whoop whoop. Highlander takes the high road.
The mainstream midsize SUV category is huge, ranging in size from about 188" in length (Santa Fe, Edge) to 204" long (Traverse). It's split between 2 row, usually smaller entries up to 192" in length and mainly larger 3 row options that are 195" or longer. So why do consumers opt for a 3 row vehicle? Presumably because they need/want room for more than 4-5 passengers on at least an occasional basis. It's not a minor issue.
With that in mind it's puzzling that reviewers typically place little or no emphasis on third row accommodations as if it's less critical than, say, ground clearance or the resolution of a backup camera. In fact, this review is one of the very few that even mention the Highlander's ridiculously cramped third row and Toyota's cruel joke that the third row of the Highlander seats 3 human beings simply because it has three seat belts.
Toyota increased the length of the Highlander in 2020 by almost 3" to 195" in length making it only one to two inches less a Subaru Ascent, a Honda Pilot, a Palisade or a Telluride. It might be assumed they would have devoted some of that increase to room in the third row. No such luck. At 27.7" of legroom it's exactly the same as the previous generation. It's less than the back seat of a Ford Mustang (30"). It's even less than the infamously cramped Mazda CX-9 (29.7") and it's a smidgen less than the optional 3rd row VW offers in the compact Tiguan (27.9"), a vehicle that's nearly a foot shorter than the Highlander.
So why does the Highlander sell so well? Among three row crossovers only the Explorer has stronger sales and that's only because about 1/3rd of Explorers are sold to fleets. If the third row of the Highlander is largely useless why do so many consumers purchase it? The answer of course is partly Toyota's reputation for much better reliability than its rivals, whether that's based on facts or not. But why don't those who want a midsize Toyota SUV opt for a two row version if they neither need nor want a mainly useless third row? That's simple, too. There's no such vehicle. At least not yet. The forthcoming Venza appears to be Toyota's recognition that it needs a midsize crossover that doesn't make the pretense of having a third row when it can only accommodate kids and only until those kids don't outgrow it. (As parents know, a nine year old who fits in the Highlander's third row may well no longer fit before the three year warranty expires.)
Bottom line. The Highlander is not a 7-8 passenger SUV as Toyota claims. For many families it accommodates at most five passengers and in its highest trim, only four, with captain's chairs in the second row.
Mitsubishi Outlander has a bigger 3rd row than the Highlander.
This guy has a vendetta against Toyota. He posts the same bunch of B.S. and misleading facts on every video. But if he bothers to watch the video, it is obvious that the 3rd row is not useless. Yes, the 3rd row default leg room is about 28" but about 70" can be split between the 2nd and 3rd rows. The maximum third row leg room is 36" which will leave 34" for the the 2nd row. So both rows are pretty useable.
@@tw88888888 The Highlander is very small on the inside.
The Highlander has over 141 cubic feet of passenger space, while the Mitsubishi Outlander has only 128 cubic feet. A normal mid-size car has about 100 cubic feet by comparison, so the Highlander is not that small.
@@tw88888888 the Oulander also has a larger 3rd row. Also, the KIA Sorento has 154 ft³ of passenger volume and is smaller on the outside than the Highlander, so this proves my point that the Highlander is very small inside.
Your voice is very comforting .
Could you add msrp ?
Thank you! This top trim was listed at $51,112 but they will range from there down to low 30s
@@PrimeAutotainment thanks so much!
I have the Camry v6 w the 8 speed and I don’t have any issues with it
That’s great! I think this was the first Toyota with the 8 speed I noticed it although I’ve heard of other complaints. Glad to hear that though! 😁👍
Just got a 2021 platinum. I’m keeping the 2005 in the family. There is lots of tech to learn. One disappointment, there’s no power port (cigarette lighter or house plug) in the cargo area. Also I was told if I got the trailer hitch the kick feature for the lift gate wouldn’t work but now I know that is not true. If you get one with a factory hitch they have moved the switch. I have had mine for 3 days and I have experienced the cringy shifting at times as well as the ping pong feeling of the lane keeping system. It’s much quieter than the ‘05.
Most arnt use to the 8 speed trans , you get your speed in the in-between range & your foot is not steady on the pedal & its going up & down on the gas pedal , so the trans is either trying to down shift or shift up , omce you learn how to drive it & have it calibrated prob be good after that !
Can you please do a complete review like this one with the toyota 4runner limited 2020.
I been waiting for a complete review like this one. Also do you think toyotas made in Japan are better than the ones made/ assembled in USA
I’d love to. I might be able to grab one from a Dealer but not sure if I can get one for a long review like this one.
Funny you ask because I own a Toyota built in Japan and one built in USA and I believe the Japanese build just seems to be better out together. The US build (Camry) still hasn’t had any issues but a few squeaks from the interior components. Not sure if there’s any proof of the US build not being as good as Japan though
Three highlander xse xle platinum and i saw the limited
Omg soooo cool
It’s kind of nice, but not sure it’s really worth the upgrade from the RAV4. The RAV4 is better off road and is more efficient. The 3rd row isn’t all that useful. The HL is not that great off road. For the same money you can get a 4Runner which is a superior vehicle. The current RAV4 is the same size as the 1st Gen HL. If you need space the Sienna or Sequoia are better choices.
If you park the Highlander next to the RAV4 side by side, you will see that the Highlander is a much bigger vehicle. The 3rd row can be useable. There is way more cargo room. The 4Runner is a superior off-road vehicle but has a even worse 3rd row. Also, the ride of the Highlander is much smoother, and it is a much more comfortable than the 4Runner.
The Highlander is also a lot smoother, more comfortable, and much quieter than the RAV4.
Terry Wong If you’re going to get an HL, why not get a Sienna. The HL is a less useful minivan for people that don’t want to be seen in a minivan. The 4R rides and handles better than the HL. The RAV4 rides in between and handles better than both. The RAV4 hybrid is quieter than the HL hybrid and it has AWD standard. The V6 HL uses almost as much gas as a 4R. If you can’t fit in the 3rd row of a 4R you won’t fit in the HL either.
You are right that the Sienna is a lot more practical. However, my wife refuses to drive a mini-van. However, I would dispute that 4 runner and RAV4 rides better.
@@tw88888888 Exactly. People who say the RAV4 is like a Highlander don’t know what they’re talking about. I own a RAV4 and a Highlander in the RAV4 is nothing like a Highlander sorry
@@tw88888888 I owned a sienna for 14 years once you don’t need the space for the kids anymore minivans are a chore to drive. I love the fact that I remove the second row of that sienna and I could fit plywood that sheet rock in it and all types of furniture that thing swallowed up everything. There’s a good reason why minivans are not big sellers anymore and everyone recommending them usually have never driven one. I lived with one for 14 years and I am so grateful for my 2021 Highlander platinum.
Join us
Toyota is lexus
It's nice, looks like a bigger version of the Rav. I think you and your family would truly enjoy it, just keep the 1st Gen in the family 😉.
Great review Nolan
Haha definitely! I’ve got no plans to sell that 1st gen. (It’s my wife’s and idk if she would approve anyways lol) thank ya sir. Have a great weekend my friend!
Excellent review.
Thank you Brian!
Very nice platinum highlander
I have a question ? On the driver side can your elbow rest on the door arm rest ? Passenger side too !?
It should be noted at 19:30, the third row seats do recline a reasonable amount to help with head room.
Same like xse and xle and limited
My friend has a limited
Cause it has a red interior
My friend has one
But only i love is xse
Lexus is toyota
Gas model feels more firm than hybrid model. Hybrid feels lighter totally different than gas model. You can hear road noises on the hybrid version.
The obsession with hybrids and electric vehicles is absolutely disgusting
Those are led lights in the interior. They are 2700k color so it doesn’t hurt your eyes at night.
Good to know! I never found any information on them being LED, how can you tell? Thanks for the info. The softer color definitely does make a difference for eye comfort! 👍
Prime Autotainment a guy in the highlander group tried to replace them and found out they were led. Plus when you turned on and off multiple times you can tell it was instant on and off not slowly off like incandescent bulbs do. I have a 2020 HL platinum awd ordered since February still hasn’t made it due to Covid.
So I am torn.
We have 3 boys ages 11,9 and 2 and we have 2 border collies. We presently have a Toyota Sienna XLE AWD and we love it, the only thing is the towing capacity of 3500. We love camping and cannot haul what we would like, a tow capacity of 5000 would be better.
We have always liked Toyota but the 4 runner with 3rd row doesn’t even have enough room for a stroller and the Highlander isn’t nice looking. That takes me to either the Explorer but not as reliable as a Toyota, the Kia that is a Kia but has great rating or the Atlas which is my favourite look wise and room wise but doesn’t have good reviews.
Looking for good tow capacity, full size SUV’s are too expensive.
And looking for lots of room
Can you help?
Thanks
That’s a tough decision! It’s a bummer about the Sienna towing capacity because minivans are so practical.
Out of all of those - the Atlas is the biggest overall, but passenger space combined is actually a bit better in the Telluride.
The explorer probably feels the peppiest with hauling people/stuff with its turbo..and the Atlas the most sluggish no matter which engine you go with.
I really like the Highlander as well, it’s hard to say if it would have enough room for you though. 3rd row space is definitely tight and even behind the 3rd row is still fairly small even though they made it bigger.
If all 3 kids could sit in the 2nd row and the dogs in the back with 3rd row folded...they would all probably be pretty close in terms of overall space, but if you need the 3rd row for one of them it might be questionable.
I think the Telluride is the best value...and it has a great warranty if all maintenance is done, but it’s still hard to pass on the Highlander. Volkswagen reduced their warranty which makes me nervous about their reliability. The new Explorer has the stiffest ride and the transmission was the jerkiest and would make me hesitant to own it (unless they have software updates for it).
What are you leaning towards?