2014 Toyota Highlander Preview: New York Auto Show

This mid-size sport utility vehicle has become a power player in the Toyota lineup, and now it’s entered its third generation. Toyota upped the interior and exterior appeal with an eye towards refinement, and this should go a long way towards keeping current customers eyeing an upgrade. It will also work to bring in new shoppers from other brands.

This segment is chock full of top-notch competitors and Toyota had to raise the value and quality bar even higher with the new Highlander in order to stay in the game. It did just that.

What’s New for the 2014 Toyota Highlander:

• It’s a brand-new third generation model.
• Three available powertrain options.
• An upscale interior.
• Dynamic torque vectoring rear-wheel-drive.

New 2014 Toyota Highlander: Styling and Design

Toyota clearly set its sights on adding a bit of aggression to the exterior style of the Highlander while also not going totally away from its approachable design aesthetic. It’s a bit of a mixed bag in this regard because the front fascia is almost Subaru-esque and looks a bit too sporty for the vehicle upon which it’s attached. Out back it’s taken some of the cues from the all-new RAV4, and it’s clearly playing nice with the standard Toyota design language.

Inside, however, is where the Highlander has stepped up its game. A stylish layout is complemented by quality materials. This is a great step forward for the Highlander, and will add serious appeal to an already popular vehicle.

New 2014 Toyota Highlander: What’s Under the Hood

It is all about choices for 2014 because the Highlander is serving up three different powertrains to choose from. The base engine is a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that is paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox. A 3.5-liter V6 is also available that is mated to a brand-new six-speed automatic transmission that is electronically controlled to improve both acceleration and fuel efficiency. Finally, a Hybrid Highlander is offered up which takes the 3.5-liter V6 and pairs it with an electric motor to push fuel efficiency even further.

New 2014 Toyota Highlander: Features and Technology

All-wheel-drive technology has gone up a few ticks thanks to the new Dynamic Torque Control system. Torque can be split front and rear to improve fuel economy, stability, and traction. Additionally, the system takes in data related to speed, steering angle, yaw rate, and throttle angle and applies power to the rear wheels as necessary and safe. It’s a wonderful bit of technical wizardry that makes drivers more confident and passengers safer.

New 2014 Toyota Highlander: What Autobytel Thinks

New 2014 Toyota Highlander: What Autobytel Thinks

The Toyota Highlander is already a very popular vehicle amongst consumers. The roads are flooded with colorful examples of this mid-size SUV. Now, it’s got a string of improvements to make it even more appealing. Yes, the exterior is a bit hit and miss but the rest of the car and its available powertrains are more than enough to capture the attention (and dollars) of shoppers in this segment.