Toyota Highlander - Pros/Cons?
 

Any Toyota Highlander owners out there or people that want to talk about them?

If looking for a used HL, what to watch out for?
Subject may include:
- years to avoid, best years
- variable cam timing
- direct injection
- timing cover oil leaks, other oil leaks
- transmission 6 speed vs 8 speed, does the software update fix issues?
- paint durability
- purchasing a factory extended warranty
- 2wd vs AWD
- highway driving ride and steering feel

Sorry Mods - please move to OT

I owned a 2013 I'd probably still have but I decided I had enough four wheeled drive vehicles so I bought a 2wd version.

Mistake on my part since I ended up needing 4wd more than I thought commuting with it on the East Coast in the winter...I wasn't anticipating that when I bought it.

I owned it two years and traded it in on a Tundra (I sold my old F-150 at the time as well).

I liked the Highlander a lot. It did everything well. Sorry for the lack of specifics, but it worked perfectly in the two years and almost 40k I put on it.

Daughter in law is the finance person at a Toyota dealership and my son is the sales manager. She has had a couple of Highlanders, and can pretty much any Toyota she wants.

Everyone I know that's owned one has loved it. That said, personally I'd be looking at Lexus LX450's. I've seen a few that people are giving the "Overlander" treatment and bypassing the larger LandCruisers and LX570's. They're actually starting to grow on me.

But I digress, you can't really go wrong with a Toyota. Highlander is a great choice, the RAV4 just seems a bit small.

We bought a bigger, second vehicle about a year ago. At the time, I had a thread here on the board asking about what the folks here thought.

I got several recommendations for the highlander. I drove one or two and really didn't like it. I don't remember all of the details, but...

I think they are front wheel drive (if you don't get AWD). It felt underpowered, and when I tried to pull out of the dealer into traffic, it did not inspire confidence. It's possible that there is a more powerful version that wouldn't have been underpowered.
IIRC, it was comfortable, but felt big in a way that I didn't like. I just really did not like the experience.

The NAV sucked in out 2015. We drove it 282k and did brakes once, heat shield and that’s it. Door creaked. Good vehicle. We got good $$ on it for trade and last I heard it exported to Africa! Ooops also Tires once plus winters.

Thanks for the thoughts/info. so far. We have one 2016 AWD V6 in the extended family - I haven't driven it yet. I need to do that.

I have a 2010 and so far it's been very good. I will say I don't think Toyota did a good job about recall notices. I am the original owner and never heard a thing about a oil cooler line. It's a rubber hose that has since been replaced by a metal one.

Mine gave out while my wife was driving and it was only dumb luck that the engine wasn't destroyed. When this hose went, ALL the engine oil basically dumped out within 2 minutes. Luckily my wife had shut the engine off for an unrelated issue and heard the oil dumping out and thankfully called me. Had less than a quart in it and no engine damage, but she was less than a minute or two from bricking it.

You got lucky. I heard about this issue. If done outside of the recall probably not a huge expense. Thanks for posting this.

We have a 2004 Lexus RX330, basically a Highlander in a suit. Nearly 150k miles, it has been fantastic. Not sure if they offered air suspension on the Highlander, but avoid if they did.

We have a '21 Platinum AWD.

Cross shopped rdx, rx, xc40/60, and the billion other crossovers/small SUV's in the segment. It's the perfect size for an extended weekend trip when I need to bring half my belongings.

WE FREAKING LOVE THE THING. We really wanted to love the Lexus - though I didn't care for the looks (hourglass on the front end kills me) and the outdated tech.

I wish we had looked more seriously at the telluride/palisade as the tech options are a bit more nifty.

Does it have a timing belt? How is the access to the back three spark plugs on the V6?

I'd have to double check but I think all the Toyota motors are chain now. Back 3 spark plugs could be a pain but they are still DIY.

I have a customer with rear air suspension on his '08 GX470. It is listing to port.

It's in the cue for a set of springs.

I would not mind owning that.

Love our 2020 XLE model. The 3.5 v6 gets great fuel mileage for a vehicle this size. Ours is an AWD model so we get about 28 on the highway. For a vehicle with 3rd row seating, that's not bad.
As for power, my brother was following me passing a semi in his 911 and had a difficult time keeping up. He even mentioned "that thing will move!" when we got to our destination. I was going to go with a 2016-2019 body style but they didn't offer android auto or carplay and that's something I use when travelling.

Wife bought a new 2019 and she never got comfortable in it. I hated the way it handled. Power was MEH. Fit and finish was really nice, lots of interior room.

She went from our 2000 XJ to it and the size difference was for her the big downside. We had stupid low miles on it because shortly after buying, her office moved from downtown to a 10 min walk from the house... and then COVID.

She liked the 2020 Rav4 Hybrid XSE so, we took a look and in short order traded the Highlander in on one. We both love the RAV. Sized more like the XJ, fit and finish is as good as the Highlander. Sportier performance and better mileage. Wife is now very happy.

WIN/WIN

Wife looked closely at the HL vs Honda Pilot. She picked the Pilot (2022) and 3k miles later just loves it. May be worth comparison shopping.

My kids and I hate our 2019 Highlander SE AWD. They say the seats are uncomfortable. The front headrests are so tilted forward (at its most rearward position) that I have to recline the seat further than normal just so my neck doesn't hurt. Worst of all, the transmission is the worst of any car I've owned. It lags and hunts. My daughter says it's the only "uncool" car of our 5 vehicles.

But, my oldest just got his drivers license a few weeks ago and he can't be too picky. So he's driving it and I won't feel too bad when the inevitable accident happens. (as long as it keeps him safe, that is)

Plugs are usually 80k+ mile items these days, but still ... What are the engine choices? Is there a four? Not a huge fan of FWD but then, I do own a VW ...

G