Toyota Highlander 2012
By
Pusahma satu
—
Friday, May 18, 2018
—
2012 Toyota Highlander
Even as newbies like the Ford Explorer as well as Dodge Durango take on versus the Highlander as well as the Honda Pilot, I still find the Highlander a qualified underdog. If you choose the V-6 engine, it performs along with the remainder, as well.
I evaluated a new 2011 model with just 65 miles on it, yet the 2012s are currently for sale and also are geared up and priced nearly identically.
Toyota Highlander 2012
Family-Friendly Interior
While most families would certainly be well-served by virtually any kind of three-row crossover on the market, the Highlander has some notable functions that set it apart.
The front seats of my tester were comfortable on a long-haul journey from Chicago to Wisconsin. The second-row seat has a lot of assistance, too, and all seats have ample upper leg assistance. The 2nd row can move forward and back, which is most beneficial for third-row travelers.
A 3rd row is common even on the base Highlander. With the second row relocated right back, there is hardly any room for third-row travelers. Move the second row up also a little, however-- concerning two notches-- and also third-row passengers must be as comfortable as I went to 5-foot-10. It's the moving 2nd row that makes this crossover as sensible a choice for bring 7 people as much bigger crossovers, like the Chevy Traverse and also Ford Traveler. The Honda Pilot is sized in a similar way to the Highlander and also provides seatsing for three in the third row. That gives it a maximum seating capability of eight, unlike the rest of the course at seven.
The middle section of the Highlander's second row can be removed totally, turning the bench right into 2 captain's chairs with a pass-through to the third row. The pass-through is a preferred feature of minivan proprietors, and while various other crossovers may provide a choice between a bench or 2 chairs, only the Highlander gives owners both in the very same car.
In general, I located materials quality to be great, yet various other editors and a family members associated with a contrast examination assumed the Highlander seemed low-cost. However, as equipped, our tester was priced thousands less than much of the competition. Besides some rough surfaces on the plastic around the door pockets, I located the interior on par for the cost. My spouse additionally liked it, suggesting it's a step up from her 2010 Subaru Wilderness.
In regards to safety and security features, a back-up electronic camera is standard on the Highlander SE as well as greater trim degrees, or it can be had as part of an optional Technology Package, which was consisted of on my base tester. On models without navigating, there's a tv on top of the dashboard that reveals journey information while driving, then switches over to the rearview screen when the transmission is taken into Reverse. Navigation-equipped models reveal the rearward sight on their larger touch-screen.
If there was one thing my partner delighted in about the Highlander, it was the four cupholders in the center console between the guest and driver, with another in each of the four doors as well as 4 even more for second-row travelers. Every other crossover consisted of in our current comparison examination featured just two cupholders around.
If you have actually ever taken care of the sippy cups, water bottles and soft drink coulds a household of just 4 requires for a Saturday out on the community-- which for us entails striking an interior play zone with giant blow up bounce-houses, lunch and either a book shop or library stop-- you recognize beverages accumulate.
Efficiency
For 2012, the Highlander comes criterion with a 187-horsepower, 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission, for mileage ranked at 20/25 mpg city/highway. The engine is quite anemic; the version I drove this moment had the V-6, yet in previous tests I have actually found that the four-cylinder-powered Highlander feels like an underpowered lummox. Four-cylinder designs come geared up only with front-wheel drive.
There's a crossbreed design with a 3.5-liter V-6 and an electric motor that make a consolidated 280 hp, good for 28/28 mpg city/highway. The crossbreed comes equipped only with all-wheel drive, that makes those gas mileage figures quite excellent.
My test automobile-- as do the bulk of sales-- included the 270-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 engine teamed with a five-speed transmission, good for 18/24 mpg with front-wheel drive as well as 17/22 mpg with all-wheel drive.
Gas mileage gets on the same level with the rest of the section, with most players ranking just 1 mpg above or below the Highlander.
Power was plentiful in my front-wheel-drive Highlander, which scooted from a quit with gusto and also passed mightily at highway rates. Steering was light and also a bit unclear, as it is in the majority of crossovers. The trip fit, the engine quiet as well as wind noise almost nil, makinged for enjoyable driving as well as the capacity to listen to every cry, grievance and occasional song from my backseat passengers.
Braking was the real issue I had with the Highlander. After a week as well as hundreds of miles of driving, I had a difficult time judging the brake feedback. I continuously snagged my spouse forward in her seat when I needed to include even more pressure than expected near a quit. This is an attribute of numerous Toyota automobiles, as well as it's one I do not especially appreciate.
Freight
There's simply 10.3 cubic feet of freight space when the third row is up. The Honda Pilot has dramatically much more, at 18.0 cubic feet. The Traverse, with 24.4 cubic feet, is dramatically bigger.
With the third row down, freight room increases to 42.3 cubic feet, as well as for my use that was plenty large sufficient. I stuffed a 32-gallon trash can in the back-- in fact two piled into each other-- as well as those fit lengthwise with the second-row seats just a little ahead. The Pilot is ranked at 47.7 cubic feet, so the difference between both designs there is less significant than it is behind the 3rd row. I preferred the Pilot's under-floor storage, though.
Attributes & Pricing
For 2012, the Highlander begins at $28,090 for the base four-cylinder with front-wheel drive. That doesn't get you much in terms of attributes, but it does include 17-inch alloy wheels, colored rear home windows, remote entry, cruise ship control, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel and two 12-volt power electrical outlets.
My test car was a base V-6, yet I really did not seem like I was missing a lot in terms of attributes since it likewise had the $1,835 Technology Package, that includes a USB port, Bluetooth for phones and songs streaming, and a good trip computer system. While I appreciate elegant amusement systems as high as the following guy, this is the type of attribute set that most families will require, for a sensible as-tested cost of $32,845. All-wheel drive is only $1,450 even more. In this sector, it generally costs $2,000 to move up to all- or four-wheel drive.
SE versions start at $32,695 for four-cylinder, front-drive versions, adding a power moonroof, a back window that opens up independent of the liftgate, roof covering rails, haze lights and also a power liftgate. Heated leather pole position, HomeLink, a natural leather guiding wheel with audio and Bluetooth controls, and all the features in the Technology Bundle are additionally consisted of. For a comparable rate, I 'd choose the V-6 design instead of the SE four-cylinder.
The high-grade, all-wheel-drive Minimal V-6 Highlander starts at $37,045 and also is filled: 19-inch wheels, three-zone climate control, keyless ignition and entry, and also higher-grade natural leather seats.
The Highlander Hybrid comes in two trims: a base model for $38,140 as well as a Minimal version for $43,795, with similar tools offerings as V-6 gas designs.
Pricing is similar to the Traverse, Pilot and the rest of the class. Toyota also provides two years of free maintenance with new-car acquisitions, which none of its rivals in the section offer.
Safety
The Toyota Highlander is an Insurance Coverage Institute for Freeway Safety Top Security Select; that's the institution's highest possible honor. To earn the score, vehicles must obtain leading ratings of Good in front, side and rear crashes, in addition to pass roof-strength tests that measure rollover defense.
The Highlander earned a four-star overall rating from the National Highway Website Traffic Safety And Security Management. 5 star is the highest score, which the Chevy Traverse made.
Highlander on the market
If it weren't so darn functional with a wonderful engine, it would be easy to discount the Highlander in an area which contains some splashier brand-new models. Yet there are simply way too many points in the Highlander's favor to rule it out of your purchasing plans. As a result of their smaller impact in your driveway and also garage, the Highlander and also Pilot are a lot more accessible for more families.