2014-2015 Toyota Highlander XLE 7 Seat Crossover Review and Road Test
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- Опубликовано: 24 фев 2014
- At long last here is the full review of the 2014 Toyota Highlander crossover. Sadly I wasn't able to get my hands on an 8-seat version but I do talk about it. Join me as I drive 911 miles in the Highlander and compare it to all the cars you asked me to back when I tested the pre-production one late last year.
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LOL for "These seats are for your children, or mother-in-law."
lolll, was shocked too wen he said that
I like to have her sit back there and drive around these NYC seats 😂
Alex, you are the best at what you do. Thanks for helping me understand all the little details in all the vehicles you review.
by far the most detailed review, thanks
Great video Alex very informative and in depth.. I personally like the style of these models... it has nice lines.. All the Best to you
Keep up the good work. I enjoy and appreciate the extra substance and quality of your reviews and I've watched more than my share.
Look forward to your review of the 2016 versions of the Lexus IS 200t, and the Cadillac ATS 2.0T with 8-spd.
I would take this over the 2016 pilot
Great review. I'm planning to buy one around April-May. :)
You my friend know how to do these reviews. Keep it up!
I really like it in the LTD trim. Trading in my Rx 350 later this week :D
It's a great car from any angle you look!I like the quality and comfort from inside it.
Anyone have a video of which year is the best 3rd gen Highlander to buy? Least issues, etc?
Awesome review. Very detailed. Thank you!
Those taillights look vulnerable. Very thorough review.
Hey Alex we are between a 2014 Toyota Highlander XLE and the 2014 Acura MDX with technology pkg, your honest opinion which one would you choose considering you have a 3 month old baby and something will last longer ... Thanks
I love the car it's awesome this is my dream car I think the head lap sticking out is pretty aggressive
What would you pick highlander or kia sorento?
The new Honda Pilot this year will be a very interesting competitor to this. We will have to see how much of the MDX gets shared with the pilot. I really like how the MDX has those buttons to make the 2nd row seats move forward so hopefully the pilot gets that on the higher trim levels.
Alex, you mentioned the hybrid AWD isn't as capable as the regular system. Did you have a chance to drive the hybrid in slick or snowy conditions?
very nice and detailed review. Love the highlander. I am just looking for justifications. lol. I am surprised it handles better than the Pilot. Honda are usually good for handling in my opinion/limited knowledge. Keep up the great reviews.
Also also between the pathfinder and this which has more safety features I'm guessing the this because the Nissan only has the the 360 camera while the highlander has all the other stuff. But whenever I have time I'll go any test drive all 4 vehicles I measaged you about
Great review. I'm looking at the highlander to replace my 07 Rav4 early next year. I haven't found what the max cargo capacity is with the 3rd and 2nd row seats down flat. My Rav is about 68 cubic feet total. Alex do you have a number on that?
It is 83.7 behind the front row, 42.3 behind the second row.
Lookig forward to the road test of the hybrid version.
Thanks for the detailed review, I always enjoy your section.
However, since most of the highlander customers will have have kids, I did not see any discussion on how the front and rear facing seats fit in the second row and if it is easy to get in and out from the 3rd row seat.
Nissan pathfinder which I personally think is a direct competitor in this class has made it really easy to get into the 3rd row seating when the child seat is attached.
You'll find a detailed look at child seats and the Highlander in the separate child seat review on our channel.
so if 5 adults wish to go on a trip the 5th person will have to sit on one of the uncomfortable seats from the 3rd row since there are two individual seats in the 2nd row.
Hi Alex,
Do you have a video review on 2016 Toyota RAV4? Many thanks :-)
Beautiful vehicle! Love it........
You have to sit light a hunchback in the 3rd row. Leg room is alright once you adjust the 2nd row and the width is the best asset. Did look very nice inside & out even on the base LE. Needs more roof height to solve the 3rd row space issues.
I guess Alex doesn't like his mother in law
I think it looks a lot better. I would never have considered the Highlander in the past, but now would. The rear end looks a lot like the Mazda CX9 to me so a little generic. I do like the front end, and the interior looks much better than the model it replaces. I look forward to seeing it in person. It sounds like the driving dynamics have improved. I drive an Acura MDX which I really like. I still give a nod to the Honda Pilot though for efficient packaging/space. I live in NYC and length of the car is important to me as I park on the street.
Thank you for a very detailed review Alex. I recognized the area, were you driving down Canada road near Woodside?
Got it in one!
How does it compare with Nissan Pathfinder 2014?
Nice review as always...bought the XLE but had to order .don't have yet....don't much care for grill ,too large an opening but find the lights front and rear are growing on me. Very much like dash and interior,that sold me...like sculptured side view and rear looks very nice. Would have liked right side camera and other equip like Accord which I just bought also. Don't like all the plugs on dash for missing equip, not nice.
It is a typical cost cutting measure that keeps them from having a variety of parts for all the different option combinations. I agree that I dislike it but my usual solution is to buy a car with every optional available. (Much to the chagrin of my better half.)
Alex could you do the 2014 Mazda CX 9?
Very good video Alex can you check the front passenger seat I don't think there are any adjustments for height I'm 6" 2"and I had very very little headroom thank you
It really depends on your body type. If you have a tall torso vs tall legs, or tall legs and s short torso then you may find cars less comfortable. It seems that car makers target a certain body proportion when they design a car. If you find headroom limited you might want to try something like a Ford Flex or the Dodge Durango which is a bit more upright in the front.
How's it compare w the Hyundai Santa Fe?
Hey love your reviews can you do one of the 2014 KIA optima sx thanks!
I ❤️ the highlander
Always pleasing to watch - very thorough review! Would you say the Highlander is as quiet and as comfortable as the current gen RX 350 considering they share many components?
As quiet yes, but the RX is a hair more comfortable. The difference is mainly down to the seat design in the RX.
I don't remember if you said anything or not, but did your XLE have the JBL sound system? If so, what did you think of it? I'm hoping it'll be as good if not better than my 04 limited. :)
This did and I would call the sound quality above average for the segment but not as good as you find in the MDX or the high-end system in the Grand Cherokee.
Can you please review 2014 hyundai santa fe?
Even the limited has a few blank switches. I guess the blanks are for customized options. Yes, this vehicle really isn't designed for long journeys in the third row. I think of it as a useful option to be used infrequently and for short trips. The Durango gets praise heaped on it, but I would be concerned about reliability and durability for sure, especially compared to the Toyota.
Great review Alex, the front is more like the Tundra to me ( I don't like it). I have a 2012, and I like the styling better. 50,000 for the hybrid is steep! My lease is up in 16 months, I'll be looking at the new Honda Pilot as well.
Hello Alex, thanks for this review. I am looking for a non-American made economical mid-size SUV, luxury or otherwise. Do you have a recommendation? I do mostly highway driving and a bit of stop and go about 15% of the time so I am not sure that a traditional (brake regeneration) hybrid would work. It must have regular gas, or the consumption savings must be enough to offset the cost of premium gas. PS 5 seater is ok Thanks John
The Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V are probably the most efficient non-hybrid vehicles in the segment, they aren't as large as the Highlander but the Rogue does have a 3rd row option if you need it.
Alex on Autos Thank you very much Alex. I already drive a CRV and just love it, but was thinking I could maybe get a larger vehicle. In the end I think your advice is dead on. Thank you for taking the time to reply! John
can you add an extra seat between the 2 pilot seats to make this an 8-seater?
XLE and below are 8-seat crossovers with the 7-seat being an option. Limited and above are strictly 7-seat.
3rd row review was Gold.😂
Can you run a head to head with the new 2016 kia sorento AWD V6? Great review on the highlander. Also what's your take on the Cadillac SRX AWD and BMW X3 3.5?
V6 to V6 sure, they are very similar. The SRX is a little expensive. It really competes with the Lincoln MKX, Lexus RX and Grand Cherokee rather than the GLK/X5. The Grand Cherokee Summit is my pick there with the MKX tying in many ways. The X3 is fun but you do pay for the RWD dynamic and the excellent iDrive system, the X3 is more expensive than the Q5, XC60 or Lexus NX.
Alex on Autos
I love Toyota highlander xle
very very good review Alex.. very informative and detail review.. thanks for making this video.. Alex i have question for you..im on the market for suv.. im kinda leaning towards to highlander.. will you consider the highlander vs the pathfinder or pilot.. im looking for large and quite cabin.. thank you in advance..
I expect the new 2016 Pilot to be the quieter cabin. Judging by the way it has grown it is also likely that it will be larger than the Pathfiner inside.
ur result shows 68db on the highlander while the pilot is 70db. Wow 68db is very quiet. did u make any mistake here?
One thing I really like about this vehicle is that I fit! I'm a big guy and for me most smaller vehicles are a misery. This one I could sit in and not be taking up space on the driver side.
I agree im 6'3" and test drove a 2013 and struggled to slide my leg under the steering wheel. Now in the 2015 which I just bought I had much more room in the driver seat. I could actually move the seat forward from it being fully back and still fit comfortably. Coming from a quad cab pickup truck I love the road feel of this vehicle. Very nice materials on the inside. I love the look of the front grill. 18 inch alloy wheels on the LE plus and XLE are very nice too.
Alex: Your reviews on the Highlander are excellent. In one of your reviews, you compared the handling of the Highlander to Acura MDX 2014. I have been considering the latter but I am wondering if it is worth paying the extra $ for Acura. I am considering the Highlander Platinum.
Would you please send me your comments on Acura MDX 2014 and Highlander 2014 - are they comparable in handling dymanics?
Thanks
ASJ
The Acura does have better poise and if you get the MDX with AWD the Acura has a torque vectoring system that delivers superior handling. The Acura also has a better warranty, higher quality interior parts, a few more features, a better brand name and some additional safety technology options you don't find on the Highlander. It's hard to say any luxury car is ever "worth" the difference but the cost difference isn't without justification.
Thanks for your comments. Can a "regular" driver (not necessary a sports car enthusiast) actually feel the difference in handling dynamics if you had to compare the HL 2014 and Mdx 2014?
+Alex on Autos alex, higher quality internal parts? Hmm....doubt that, Acura interior is no better than this Gen HL. Also the third row on MDX is even worse.... Very very slightly better driving dynamics, 9 gears and SHawd are the new standouts one would buy Acura for.
Can you give you the Hybrid limited platinum
Excellent presentation Mr. Dykes. I am in the market for a new vehicle, but so confused whether to get the Buick Enclave or Highlander xle. Currently driving 2008 Sienna. I love Toyota vehicles, Highlander looks like Sienna in certain angle, I don't like that, I want an SUV not a mini van, the 3rd row is so cramp, any tall passenger's head is touching the roof, obviously Toyota is not concern about safety. Lately I've been thinking of getting/patronizing an American car which Enclave my choice but according to Mr. Dykes it's heavier to maneuver and not as comfy as the Highlander. So when it comes to Reliability, Safety, Performance which is better?
Thanks.
The Enclave is getting a little long in the tooth, it's also the poorer performing crossover largely due to its high curb weight.
your mothering law had me cracking up lol
any review of the Ford Explorer Sport... or your thoughts on it? Thanks.
Austin Douglas Hopefully by this summer.
Any plans on doing a review on audi q7?
Very nice car. Great!!
Wondering your opinion on the new highlander vs the qx60?
Well I like both but there are some big differences. The QX60 is more comfortable, more luxurious on the inside, offers more options and a more roomy 3rd row. I think the Highlander on the other hand handles better, presents a better value and is likely going to be more reliable in the long run.
Alex does the Durango and flex have slidable 2nd row?
As I recall, no.
Great review again, any chance for the Dodge Dart GT? Thanks.
I'll see what I can do.
Alex on Autos Thank you sir.
Any plans on doing a review on the RDX?
There is short review based on my first few hours at a launch event on the channel and I should have one for a full week review in the next 2-3 months.
Alex, thanks for your great thorough reviews. You mentioned that your Highlander XLE AWD was not equipped with the max tow capacity of 5000llbs, in reading Toyota marketing materials, they suggest that all XLE V6 AWD models come standard with the equipment for the max tow capacity. Have you heard differently or was it perhaps an error in the review? With the exception of the front and rear styling, we like the new upgrades in this model. Rear lights are ugly and stick out too far and the back looks like a van. Also dont like that they removed the 2nd row seat release that was once in the rear cargo area, that was a great feature in older models.
It wasn't the max capacity that ours didn't have, it was the tow kit that actually has the receiver, without that it isn't possible to actually test the towing.
i have a 2014 pilot exl, I find the front drivers seat stiff and uncomfortable. Have to use a memory foam pad to help for seat comfort. Head restraint pushes too forward and hits your upper back. Can't believe you find pilot seat more comfortable than highlander.
Great review!! Would you review the latest Santa Fe, not the sport?
I'll have to see what I can get on the schedule.
Alex on Autos
plz do. We kinda depend on ur video to decide our next car...:) Watched ur Sorento video and like it. But feel it is a little bit smaller...
I forgot to add, you didn't mention the three-row Hyundai Santa Fe as a competitor to cross-shop against the Highlander. Wouldn't the Santa Fe be very similar in features to the Toyota?
For some reason the Santa Fe slipped my mind. I haven't had a chance to drive the revised model but I hope to have one soon. The Kia Sorento is a good competitor on value but the third row is cramped.
I think everything about the Highlander is perfect...
3rd row can recline back too
1. What's that leaking under the engine 0:30 to 1:00? I hope it's just compressor condensation.
2. Anyone else notice that the guage cluster is offset to the left? Seeing that every time I drive would make me nuts.
It's just condensate from the A/C.
I noticed the puddle under the car also. If you look in the background there is another puddle, and the sky is gray. I think he just parked over a puddle after it rained.
I think you meant ES300h hybrid, not the ES350 hybrid
I actually meant the GS450h.
Highlander vs Ford Explorer?
2014 X5 any time soon ?
As a matter of fact yes, I'll have it in 2 weeks and the review should be up in 4-5 weeks (I'm reeeeeeeely behind.)
Excellent side profile design mediocre rear end but the front end especially the grill design seems like odd. I'm almost considering getting one but the front end grill needs redesign in my opinion.
Grill is still boring
honda pilot has wider front seats and believe me I need them
I like the 2016 Pilot better
GRAN CAMIONETA
"Or your Mother in Law" - LOL ... ahem. (re: 3rd row seating)
Modern Toyota front-ends aren't easy to like. Whoever green-lit the shapes and styling seems to mistake gaping maws with "strong presence". I think this theme just looks like a fish out of water.
What the hell is it leaking at the start of the vid?🤣
It's a great car. The back and side and interior look nice, but I think the face look really ugly. I'd rather choose the old boring look.
1:10 Lots of water and spots under the car?
日本车确实好
the front wasn't the issue on the old one. It was the rear and side profile. The new front looks awful.
You know the dodge journey is larger on the outside then the this generation highlander
I put my children and mother-in-law in the backseat.😎
Comparison between Toyota vs Lexus... what you said @7:21, 7:22 ? 3rd raw designed for Children's and your mother in-law!!! what??? what about mother , father ? and other in-laws..?? Highlander don't allowed to seat them in 3rd raw??? Ok, I will go and ask local dealership, otherwise I will go for Honda pilot because pilot allowed all in 3rd raw and design for everybody including my pets, cats etc..
He looks like Danny McBride
I know it is as much an aerodynamic feature as a styling feature, but I really dislike the bulging lens look that Toyota is using. The Hylander is one of the few that it even looks acceptable on. The 4 runner is completely cartoonish.
i have 2015 toyota highlander
aquarius
The back looks bloated
Lol i would not take style advice from this guy
This new highlander is ugly as he'll especially the front
Toyota's light sticking out on some new models is absolutely hideous. Sorry, but in terms of looks - Santa Fe is a MUCH better looking car.
It's boring looking and boring to drive I think. I liked the Durango and CX9 better.
Okay go buy one....this will outlast both of them...also surprisingly fun to drive if you haven't one....
I find Toyotas very unappealing.
ugly car