Highlander SUV 2019

Highlander SUV 2019

The Highlander isn't trying to be something it's not; its styling, size, and age give no pretense of athleticism. People expect it to be a comfortable family hauler and little more. In our week with the Highlander, we found the crossover mostly met these expectations, though a redesign is in order.

Front View Highlander 2019

The current Highlander made its debut five model years ago, so it's a bit overdue for some engineering TLC. Toyota gave it a refresh for 2017, providing more power for the V-6 engine and a new eight-speed automatic transmission. It also added an SE trim with a sportier suspension, though we found the ride on that model jarring on less than perfect pavement. The 2019 Highlander sticks with its old platform because it has not yet moved to the Toyota New Global Architecture.

In our tests, the Highlander scooted to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. That makes it slower than a 2016 Honda Pilot Elite we clocked hitting the target a full second quicker. It's also behind the 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum with the V-6 EcoBoost, which made the mark in 6.4 seconds. Meanwhile, the 2019 Subaru Ascent reached 60 mph in 6.9 seconds—with a four-cylinder engine. But the Highlander narrowly beat a number of other competitors, including the V-6-equipped 2017 Nissan Pathfinder SV (7.4 seconds), 2017 Dodge Durango GT RWD (7.6 seconds), and 2018 Volkswagen Atlas (7.3 seconds). All these testers were equipped with all-wheel drive, unless otherwise noted.

When accelerating quickly onto the highway, the Highlander exhibits some initial lag, but it produces more than enough power for passing. It makes little noise on the highway even at higher speeds, and the ride feels well controlled on normal roads. But if you take a sharp curve, you'll feel the Highlander start to waiver. Although we don't expect superb handling from a three-row crossover, we can't help but lament the Highlander's dulled steering senses.

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