Toyota Highlander 2012 for Sale

Toyota Highlander 2012 For Sale - If you're looking for a three-row crossover, the 2011 Toyota Highlander is as audio a pick as you can obtain. It's inexpensive as well as it has a peaceful, comfortable ride with a family-friendly interior.

Even as beginners like the Ford Traveler as well as Dodge Durango challenge versus the Highlander and the Honda Pilot, I still locate the Highlander a qualified underdog. If you opt for the V-6 engine, it executes along with the remainder, also.

I evaluated a brand-new 2011 version with just 65 miles on it, however the 2012s are currently for sale and also are outfitted and valued almost identically.


Toyota Highlander 2012 For Sale


Family-Friendly Interior

While a lot of families would be well-served by nearly any three-row crossover on the market, the Highlander has some significant features that establish 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 enough upper leg assistance. The 2nd row could slide forward and back, which is most helpful for third-row guests.

A 3rd row is typical even on the base Highlander. With the 2nd row relocated completely back, there is hardly any space for third-row guests. Relocate the second row up even slightly, however-- about 2 notches-- and also third-row travelers need to be as comfy as I went to 5-foot-10. It's the gliding 2nd row that makes this crossover as useful an option for lugging seven individuals as much bigger crossovers, like the Chevy Traverse and Ford Explorer. The Honda Pilot is sized similarly to the Highlander and also supplies seating for 3 in the 3rd row. That provides it a maximum sitting capability of eight, unlike the remainder of the class at 7.

The middle section of the Highlander's 2nd row can be gotten rid of totally, turning the bench into 2 captain's chairs with a pass-through to the third row. The pass-through is a preferred attribute of minivan proprietors, as well as while other crossovers may offer an option between a bench or two chairs, just the Highlander provides owners both in the exact same automobile.

Overall, I located products top quality to be excellent, yet various other editors and also a family involved in a comparison examination assumed the Highlander seemed cheap. However, as furnished, our tester was priced thousands less than much of the competitors. Besides some harsh coatings on the plastic around the door pockets, I discovered the interior on the same level for the rate. My wife also liked it, suggesting it's a step up from her 2010 Subaru Outback.

In regards to safety and security features, a back-up electronic camera is basic on the Highlander SE as well as greater trim levels, or it can be had as part of an optional Tech Plan, which was included on my base tester. On designs without navigation, there's a tv on top of the dashboard that reveals journey information while driving, then switches to the rearview display screen when the transmission is taken into Reverse. Navigation-equipped models show the rearward sight on their bigger touch-screen.

If there was one point my spouse delighted in concerning the Highlander, it was the four cupholders in the facility console in between the guest and also chauffeur, with one more in each of the 4 doors and also 4 more for second-row passengers. Each crossover consisted of in our recent contrast test included simply 2 cupholders in this area.

If you've ever handled the sippy cups, water bottles as well as soft drink containers a family of just four requires for a Saturday out on the town-- which for us entails striking an indoor play area with giant blow up bounce-houses, lunch and either a book shop or library stop-- you recognize drinks collect.

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 rather anemic; the version I drove this moment had the V-6, but in past examinations I have actually found that the four-cylinder-powered Highlander seems like an underpowered lummox. Four-cylinder designs come equipped just with front-wheel drive.

There's a crossbreed model with a 3.5-liter V-6 and also an electrical motor that make a consolidated 280 hp, great for 28/28 mpg city/highway. The crossbreed comes outfitted only with all-wheel drive, which makes those mileage figures rather impressive.

My test car-- as do the bulk of sales-- included the 270-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 engine teamed with a five-speed transmission, great for 18/24 mpg with front-wheel drive as well as 17/22 mpg with four-wheel drive.

Mileage is on the same level with the rest of the section, with many players rating just 1 mpg above or listed below the Highlander.

Power was plentiful in my front-wheel-drive Highlander, which ran from a quit with gusto and passed strongly at freeway speeds. Steering was light as well as a little bit unclear, as it remains in many crossovers. The flight was comfortable, the engine silent as well as wind sound nearly nil, that made for pleasant driving and the ability to listen to every cry, complaint as well as periodic tune from my backseat guests.

Braking was the real issue I had with the Highlander. After a week and thousands of miles of driving, I had a hard time judging the brake feedback. I continuously jerked my other half ahead in her seat when I had to add even more stress compared to anticipated near a stop. This is a characteristic of several Toyota cars, as well as it's one I do not specifically take pleasure in.

Cargo

There's simply 10.3 cubic feet of freight space when the third row is up. The Honda Pilot has considerably extra, at 18.0 cubic feet. The Traverse, with 24.4 cubic feet, is substantially bigger.

With the third row down, cargo space broadens to 42.3 cubic feet, and also for my usage that was plenty huge sufficient. I packed a 32-gallon trash bin in the back-- actually 2 piled right into each other-- and those fit lengthwise with the second-row seats just a little forward. The Pilot is ranked at 47.7 cubic feet, so the distinction in between the two versions there is much less substantial than it lags the 3rd row. I chose the Pilot's under-floor storage space, however.

Functions & Rates

For 2012, the Highlander begins at $28,090 for the base four-cylinder with front-wheel drive. That does not get you a lot in regards to features, yet it does include 17-inch alloy wheels, colored rear windows, remote entrance, cruise ship control, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel and 2 12-volt power electrical outlets.

My examination cars and truck was a base V-6, yet I really did not seem like I was missing out on much in terms of features because it also had the $1,835 Technology Plan, that includes a USB port, Bluetooth for phones and songs streaming, and a wonderful trip computer system. While I delight in elegant home entertainment systems as long as the following person, this is the type of feature established that the majority of families will certainly require, for a sensible as-tested price of $32,845. Four-wheel drive is just $1,450 even more. In this sector, it usually costs $2,000 to move up to all- or 4x4.

SE models begin at $32,695 for four-cylinder, front-drive designs, including a power moonroof, a rear home window that opens independent of the liftgate, roofing system rails, haze lamps as well as a power liftgate. Warmed natural leather pole position, HomeLink, a natural leather steering wheel with audio as well as Bluetooth controls, and all the functions in the Technology Package are also consisted of. For a similar cost, I would certainly select the V-6 design rather than the SE four-cylinder.

The high-grade, all-wheel-drive Restricted V-6 Highlander starts at $37,045 as well as is filled: 19-inch wheels, three-zone environment control, keyless ignition and entrance, and higher-grade natural leather seats.

The Highlander Hybrid is available in 2 trims: a base model for $38,140 and a Restricted design for $43,795, with comparable equipment offerings as V-6 gas models.

Pricing is similar to the Traverse, Pilot and the rest of the course. Toyota additionally supplies two years of cost-free upkeep with new-car purchases, which none of its competitors in the segment offer.

Safety

The Toyota Highlander is an Insurance Institute for Highway Security Top Security Pick; that's the establishment's highest award. To earn the ranking, autos have to obtain top scores of Excellent ahead, side and rear collisions, as well as pass roof-strength examinations that measure rollover security.

The Highlander made a four-star total ranking from the National Freeway Traffic Safety And Security Management. Five stars is the greatest ranking, which the Chevy Traverse made.

Highlander in the Market

If it just weren't so darn useful with a great engine, it would be very easy to mark down the Highlander in an area that contains some splashier brand-new models. Yet there are simply way too many points in the Highlander's favor to rule it from your shopping plans. As a result of their smaller sized impact in your driveway as well as garage, the Highlander and Pilot are extra easily accessible for even more families.