2014 Toyota Highlander First Drive Video

Newly redesigned for the 2014 model year, Toyota’s Highlander crossover SUV remains a solid player in the category it invented some fifteen years ago. Blending the driving attributes and reliability of Toyota’s popular Camry model with the tall profile, high seating position, and cargo capacity of a sport utility vehicle, the Highlander ushered in civility to the SUV segment. However, in the ensuing years, a number of Toyota’s competitors have produced winning vehicles of their own. With this third generation Highlander, Toyota is looking to maintain its edge in this quite lucrative area of the automotive marketplace. A 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine is the base powerplant for the model. Offering 185 horsepower and 184 ft-lbs of torque, the engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, which feeds the front wheels. There is also a 270-horsepower V6, which produces 249 ft-lbs of torque. Again, a six-speed automatic transmission is employed, however it can be teamed with either front- or all-wheel drive. Properly equipped, Toyota’s 2014 Highlander can tow up to 5,000 pounds. Available safety features include blind spot monitoring, frontal collision warning and mitigation, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic collision notification. The IIHS rates the Highlander as “Good” (its highest ranking) in moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact, and roof-strength tests. In the new small-overlap frontal-offset test the Highlander scored the institute’s second best rating; “Acceptable”.