2016 Toyota Highlander: Getting the Job Done

If you’re in the market for a decent-sized crossover or SUV to fit the entire family, the 2016 Highlander will likely be at the top of your list for a test drive. A long-time stalwart of the industry, the Highlander has long been qualified as a vehicle you really can’t go wrong with thanks to Toyota’s reputation for quality and comfort.

More spacious than the smaller RAV4 and tamer than the rugged 4Runner, the Highlander is a plausible alternative for people wishing to stay away from the dreaded minivan. Depending on the configuration, the SUV offers seating for up to eight passengers like most minivans. The front row is always a pair of bucket seats. The third row can squeeze three in, and the middle row has the option of either captain’s chairs or a bench with two and three spots respectively. Let’s not be under any illusion that the third row can seat three adults with any sort of comfort, but children are more often than not the destined occupants there.

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The middle row will slide forward to provide easier access to the third row, but having the bench definitely adds slightly more difficultly in accomplishing this. Having recently tested the Honda Pilot, I have to say the 2016 Toyota Highlander’s folding bench was a tad more difficult to operate.

Comfort-wise, seating is very good and you won’t have any problems on long trips. The cabin is adorned with high-quality material that feels good to the touch including soft leather and brushed aluminum in this test vehicle. Interior ergonomics are similarly very good; however, the design of the cluster and climate controls is getting dated. The touchscreen infotainment system isn’t my favourite, but it’s not bad and works well.

Toyota has done an excellent job with the Highlander’s exterior styling, moving away from the crossover end of the spectrum and more towards the SUV side. The commanding front grille, pronounced fenders and square-ish silhouette give it an extra touch of toughness.

Under the hood, Canadians get a V6 and a hybrid option as engine choices. The 3.5-litre V6 puts out 270 horses and 248 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It isn’t the fastest in the segment, but it’s smooth and drives relatively well. The Hybrid system adds quite a bit of weight and delivers only marginally better fuel economy.

Toyota has retuned the front and rear suspensions compared to the previous generation which had a fair amount of body roll. This Highlander was quite agile and the electric power steering was nice and firm.

Keeping the family safe are eight airbags inside the vehicle as well as numerous other available safety features such as a pre-collision warning system, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and a standard rearview camera.

You can get into a base 2016 Toyota Highlander LE V6 with front-wheel drive for $33,555. If you need AWD, the price climbs to $36,055. Add the convenience package, which includes leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a power tailgate, three-zone climate control, heated front seats, keyless entry, an eight-inch display and a few other options, and you’re looking at about $39,000.

After a week carting the family around with the Highlander, I wasn’t so sure I’d be ready to ditch my minivan for it. Perhaps I had one too many children (I have three), but getting in and out multiple times per day was a little bit too work-intensive than I would have liked.

As I said in my intro, you can’t really go wrong with the 2016 Toyota Highlander. It’s a quality piece of machinery that will last and retain excellent resale value. For a family of four it’s perfect, but five or greater might still want to consider that minivan.