The 2014 Highlander makes a lot of sense, but ...
It's one half of a two-tiered approach
Since it was launched in 2000, the Toyota Highlander has usually occupied the space between the 4Runner and the RAV4, though they've leapfrogged each other a few times as Toyota has introduced new models. Now, the company has positioned the 2014 Highlander and the 4Runner as a two-tiered attack on the mid-size SUV market. The unibody Highlander is now aimed squarely at suburban families. It may get taken off-road once or twice a year (a 50/50 differential lock up to 25 mph is standard on all-wheel-drive models), but it will primarily see use as a commuter vehicle and family transporter. The 4Runner will carry on with its body-on-frame construction for buyers looking for a bit more ruggedness.READ MORE: First Drive: 2014 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid
It has a one-way intercom system to the back seats
Highlanders in XLE and Limited trims come with what Toyota calls Driver Speak Easy, which amplifies the driver's voice to the back seats through the rear stereo speakers. It's basically a one-way intercom system to the backseat for when you need to tell your kids to stop pelting each other with food. Something tells me you won't need an amplifier to hear their retort.
The Hybrid is outstanding
If you can spring for it, the Highlander Limited Hybrid is the one to have. The transition from electric to gas power is near-seamless and undetectable. The thud you used to feel in hybrids as the gas motor took over is gone. During a brief in-town drive, I got an indicated 19 mpg with a best of 39.1 mpg. Toyota claims 27/28 mpg. The brake pedal had a slightly artificial feel due to the energy recovery system, but it would have been far less noticeable had I not just stepped out of a non-hybrid Highlander. At a hair under $50,000, it's expensive, and it commands a $20,000 premium over the base LE model, which boasts plenty of standard features.The center console is cavernous
If you need it to, the center console will swallow 38 12-oz. soda cans. It really is cavernous, but if you find yourself frequently yelling at your kids using the Driver Speak Easy system, then it might be a good idea to keep a bit less soda on hand.WATCH THESE: Vote for the best car commercial of Super Bowl XLVIII
It will do everything you could reasonably expect of it
The cabin is very well put together and feels upscale even towards the bottom of the range. The V6 is powerful enough for any situation, and the IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick Plus. It can seat up to seven adults, and the rear seats fold down perfectly flat for trips to Home Depot. The ride was a bit stiffer than I would have expected, and the exterior styling is a bit bland if inoffensive. Obviously, the decision to buy a Highlander is not an emotional one. People buy them because they're vehicles that fit their lifestyles, and because they're Toyotas, they will do everything asked of them with minimal fuss. That's exactly what Toyota has done here, and it's what they've done so well now for decades.A Highlander LE equipped with the 185-hp 2.7-liter in-line four gets things started at $29,215. The LE comes with an impressive list of standard options, meaning it shouldn't be overlooked. The rest of the range comes standard with a 270-hp 3.5-liter V6, including the range-topping Hybrid LTD Platinum, which comes in at $49,790.
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