Toyota Highlander - What the Auto Press Says

The 2011 Toyota Highlander ranks 3 out of 23 Affordable Midsize SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 60 published reviews and test drives of the Toyota Highlander, and our analysis of reliability and safety data. Please check back soon for our full review.
The 2011 Toyota Highlander is a good family car, according to reviewers. It’s affordable, comfortable, capable and has good fuel economy. Just don’t expect it to be fun to drive.
Most reviewers agree that if you’re shopping for a three-row family SUV, you should take a look at the 2011 Toyota Highlander. For 2011, Toyota has freshened the Highlander slightly, updating the styling and changing some of the trims. Those changes haven’t taken the Highlander away from its core mission of delivering a comfortable, affordable and reliably crossover SUV for families.
"Highlander is a competent, refined, family-focused SUV that offers great practicality, cargo and passenger versatility, and evident quality," writes Consumer Guide. Of course, it isn’t perfect: competitors offer more cargo space, more comfortable third-row seats and a driving experience that’s more engaging. But, if you need a family car that checks all the boxes and does so affordably, you could do worse than the 2011 Toyota Highlander.

Other SUVs to Consider

The one thing the Highlander has over much of the competition is its price. It’s simply less expensive than most midsize SUVs, especially those with third rows. But, if you need a third row that’s comfortable, take a look at the Chevrolet Traverse.  Its starting price is higher than the Highlander's by about $1,300, but its base model comes with more standard features and a longer warranty.  Plus, its third row is more accommodating than the third row in the Highlander.
If you want something that’s more fun to drive than the Highlander, consider the Mazda CX-9.  Like the Highlander, it seats seven in an interior that’s comfortable and inviting. Unlike the Highlander, it has a driving experience that reviewers say is satisfying and even a little fun. The downside is that the CX-9 has a starting price that's about $1,000 higher than the Highlander's.

Details: Toyota Highlander

The Highlander comes in base, SE and Limited trims. The Highlander Hybrid is reviewed separately. For 2011, the Highlander gets a standard third row seat and some refreshed styling.

• "Now built exclusively at Toyota's Princeton, Indiana, factory (the hybrid still comes from Japan), the Highlander V-6 remains a very competent, capable, and well-executed three-row crossover. Perhaps to a fault."-- Motor Trend
• "Aside from some questionable cabin materials, the Highlander is a worthy contender in a competitive segment." -- CNET
• "Stylish? Yes. Functional? Yes. Family-friendly? Yes. Sassy? Yes. Van-like comfort? Yes, and without ever having to drive a van." -- Mother Proof