2002 Toyota Highlander Review

The Toyota Highlander is cleverly designed to look like a rugged sport-utility vehicle, but has carlike manners because it's based on the smooth Toyota Camry sedan. The Highlander has a carlike unit body rather than a conventional sport-utility truck's body on frame construction. It thus makes an end run around stiff-legged handling and other drawbacks of more rugged sport-utes. The Highlander is aimed at folks who want a nice blend of truck utility and car manners.
It doesn't do anything much better than an all-wheel-drive minivan, but is a smarter purchase than a truck-based sport-utility for many folks.

The Highlander comes with front- or all-wheel drive. A tip that it's not meant for off-road use is the lack of low-range gearing for the all-wheel-drive system. Rather, that system is offered to provide extra traction on especially slippery roads. Is that a big drawback? No, because Toyota knows that few Highlander owners would consider taking it off road. This is a family vehicle, with room for four tall adults--or for two tall adults up front and three kids in the rear.

Occupants sit high, although the Highlander's low floor makes it easy to get in and out. The rear seats have a 60/40 split design and can recline or easily fold flat for more cargo room with the pull of a lever. The cargo area is spacious even with the rear seatbacks in their normal position.
And it can be easily loaded through the large rear hatch, which has a strap that makes it easy to close without getting hands dirty on outside sheet metal.

The automatic transmission lever conveniently juts from a small console in the center of the dashboard, like the shifter in a race/rally car. And there is a new center console that provides more storage. Also new for 2002 are a rear-seat armrest and cabin air filter. The Highlander has base prices ranging from $23,880 to $30,795 and is offered in a variety of trim levels. Base models are well equipped. Standard items include air conditioning, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, AM/FM/cassette/CD player and power windows, mirrors and door locks. The two top-line Limited models add such things as automatic climate control, remote keyless entry and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The quiet interior of the Highlander has a generally sound design, and the Limited models can be had with a $1,070 leather upholstery option. However, even the leather doesn't upgrade the Highlander interior to more than a middle-market appearance. Seats are large and supportive, and the big controls are mounted high. But it's difficult to quickly read the gauges because they're in fairly deep coves.

The Highlander is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 155 horsepower or a 3-liter V-6 that has 220 horsepower and considerably more torque. The four-cylinder provides strictly average acceleration because the Highlander is fairly heavy at 3,485 to 3,880 pounds. Acceleration with the V-6 much livelier, although the smooth engine works hard because it isn't especially large.

Both engines are hooked to a responsive, electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission with a snow mode, although a more modern five-speed unit would be appreciated. Estimated fuel economy with the four-cylinder is 19-22 mpg in the city and 24-27 on the highway, with all-wheel-drive models getting the lower numbers. Figures with the V-6 are 18-19 in the city and 22-23 on highways.
The power steering is a bit stiff, but quick. Brake pedal action is too soft, but stopping distances are short. Anti-lock all-disc brakes with electronic brake force distribution and a brake assist feature are standard.

The all-independent suspension helps provide carlike ride and handling. So does the unit construction, which significantly lowers the ride height and center of gravity. Optional safety items include $250 front side air bags and an $850 anti-skid system. Options can cause a Highlander's base price to escalate considerably.
For instance, extras such as a $900 power sunroof and a $910 appearance package with such items as alloy wheels and rear privacy glass raised my test model's $25,860 base price to about $31,000. The Highlander has Toyota's typical solid construction and high overall quality. And resale value should be very good.

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

Prices
$23,880-$30,795.
Likes
Spacious. Refined. Lively V-6. Carlike personality.
Dislikes
Gauges hard to read quickly. Lazy with four-cylinder engine. Overly soft brake pedal.