2009 Toyota Highlander User Reviews

Pros

great gas mileage, lots of room, powerful, beautiful interior and exterior looks

Cons

seats don't have memory feature for 2 or 3 people =T

Purchased As New

i just got my highlander this weekend after my mercedez benz (a piece of junk car!!!) broke down during rush hour. we have been looking at a highlander for almost 2 years and now i have one =) i got the AWD, limited, 2009 toyota highlander and the only things that it doesn't have is the navigation system and the rear seat entertainment package. i love the fact that this car is like a minivan but doesn't look like it. i'm pregnant so this is going to be a great car for a future family =) but it's great for me to just drive around by myself too. bought the car for $300 or so over invoice so i think i got a great deal!!!

great features that i didn't think toyota would have is 1. rear back up camera 2. auto lights (i'm so glad i have this because it was great feature that i had in my benz 3. auto dimming rearview mirror 4. compass on the rearview mirror 5. back up camera 6. mileage display 7. auto a/c 8 power hatch on the back door.

it's such a quiet ride and accelerates quickly and quietly. i'm small (5'3, 115 lbs) so i have to "wiggle" my way into the driver's seat since it's a MUCH bigger car than my little C320 that i had. also, it's a bigger car so i just have to get used to the size of it after driving a little car. i get about 20 mpg with city/highway driving which is what i used to get avg in my small benz so i think the gas mileage is great for a car this size! i have about 200 miles on this toyota and looking forward to MANY more...read morehide

Pros

An Outstanding 25.3 on the highway and very comfortable ride

Cons

none at this time

Purchased As New

Went looking for a GMC Acadia and Honda Pilot. Then we decided
to look at the Highlander. Instantly we knew that the Limited 4x2 was
the best of all three. Great style, best overall mileage, much better looking interior than the others. It is very roomy and drives and feels
a RX350 Lexus.

Pros

Smooth ride, lots of space, great price

Cons

No space for luggage if using 3rd row seats.

Purchased As New

Runs very smooth, is very comfortable, my insurance premium for the brand new car is lesser than the premium that I pay for a 4 year old Accord !!! Love having the 3rd row seats, can go out for in city trips (lunch & dinner) with friends etc. For longer trips, have to restrict the number of passengers to 5....read morehide

Pros

lots of room, very smooth driving

Cons

no available v8

Purchased As New

Great Car. Put some decent tires on it and its great in the snow. Drives great, no noise no bumps.

Pros

fuel economy, comfort, ride

Cons

none

Purchased As New

I have had suv's for 20 years -- Jeeps, Ford Explorers etc. And the Highlander is the best of the bunch. It has power enough for the Highways (for sure) -- is good on gas --- and is very comfortable and hauls alot of stuff we haul around. Not bad looking either. But looks are not why you buy this car. It's functioning so well that makes it a good looker....read morehide

Pros

Nice large car with good fuel economy. Comfortable

Cons

None so far

Purchased As New

This is what they call AYNNYD - all you need - nothing you don't.
Car has plenty of power in the 4 cyl engine and after 300 miles I've got 23 mpg with 70% highway driving.
If you don't care about monster power, sunroof, leather than this is should be plenty enough. It has all the safety features - ABS, EBD, ESC, etc. And it has great comfort and room to carry stuff. Plenty of legroom for the second row (limo-like)....read morehide

Pros

Rides Quiet, comfortable, lots of leg room, better than a Rav4

Cons

Price, cheap looking interior, had already 100+ miles when it was bought

Purchased As New

An overall decent car, however, other than the fact that they sold a "new" car with 150 miles already on the odometer, it has some minor little issues. Such as a small trunk window and a cheap plastic interior. On the good side, it rides fairly smoothly, rides quietly, the handling is decent, and there is a lot of leg room in the backseat.
One thing about the price is that they weren't really flexible, they maybe knock off $1,000 - $2,000 off of the MSRP, but you still end up paying the sticker price when you add taxes and fees. The price is kind of high for a car of its size, but since Toyota seems to have reliable cars, it could be worth it....read morehide

Pros

It is a Toyota.

Cons

Too small for a 30K SUV/Crossover.

Look at the CX-9 by mazda before buying this one. We looked at the Highlander first due to the reliability and price but once we saw the CX-9 we were sold on it! So much more room. Same prices after current rebates.
You lose 2mpg, gain 3HP, and 12 INCHES BIGGER! It is a sweet ride.

Pros

Great Fuel economy for an SUV, (22-23mpg over all for a 4WD) Very comfortable

Cons

Factory Navigation System is not user friendly, as compared with a Garmin

We have had our 4WD Limited HighLander for about 10 months and really love it. The Highlander is a Very comfortable vehicle, which is one of the main reasons we bought one. I've been very pleased with the fuel economy of the Highlander. Straight Highway driving has produced up to 26mpg, with my average being 22-23mpg. The only time I ever get below 20 (about 19mpg) is when I'm towing. The navigation system has been very disappointing. After owning a $300. Garmin GPS, I find the $1,700. Factory Navigation System to be hard to use. The inter-lock system doesn't allow you to input or request a change in location while vehicle is moving. And the factory system is not as accurate as the porable Garmins. My old Garmin took about 10 minutes to learn how to use, 10 months later, I'm still reading the 1/2" thick Navigation System Manual on a daily basis....read morehide

Pros

Great for families, smooth ride, quiet, excellent quality overall

Cons

needs split 3rd row

I love my Highlander. It is so nice with 3 kids, so spacious, the ride is so smooth and quiet. We have taken it on a couple 5+ hour trips it is a very comfortable SUV. I feel very safe with all the safety features. Just waiting for snow to see how it gets around. I have never had an 4WD before. I had an 07 Camry SE V6 which did great in the snow. Overall I am very satisfied and love my Highlander....read morehide