Stretching Out in the Toyota Highlander

I hate to say my husband was right, but he recently identified that the Toyota Highlander would be a great vehicle for our family!

Recently I got the opportunity to attend the Twin Cities Auto Show with A Girl’s Guide to Cars and had a complete blast!  I had never been to an auto show (unless you count walking through the cars at the state fairs).  To say T was jealous would be an understatement and now I know we’ll be attending together next year!

One of the best aspects of the show, for me, was getting to get an up close and personal look at cars that I normally wouldn’t have!  Not just the fun luxury cars, like this complete chrome one!

Eeek, I love it, but would be scared to drive it!

But, I also got to check out ones that I have admired from afar, like the Toyota 4Runner!

The Challenge

Thankfully, after talking with Toyota’s product specialist, I found the vehicle that would fit our family very well, I think!  When I challenged one of Toyota’s product specialists to find me the vehicle with the most back-seat leg-room (and not a minivan), she delivered!  Our boys, who have been on crazy growth spurts, are towering at about 5’11” & 6’3″, so leg room in the back seat is important.  (I get motion sick very easily, so there is no moving me and my short legs to the back!) So, when she took me to the Toyota Highlander, I was totally blown away!  Here’s why!

Lot’s of Flexible Room

There is lots of room for the front seat passengers and great leg room in the back seat!  The middle seats (hello third row seating) are bucket seats and not only have lots of space between them and the seat in front of them.  They are also on rails so they can be moved forward and back depending on what your needs are!  You can move them all the way back to give the middle seats lots of leg room or forward to give the third row more leg room!

Then, third row seating!  This adds additional seating if we need it, but it also easy folds flat for hauling groceries, lawn chairs, or all our stuff on vacation!  We have third row seating in our current vehicle, but the they don’t fold flat!  This is a huge plus to me!   Plus, that third row reclines slightly for comfort!  Score!

Features for the Kids

When you have teenagers, the features you want are a little different than when you have little kids!  For me, the adjustable side table in between the middle row bucket seats was a huge hit plus the AV jacks along with TWO USB ports, so they each have some place to plug their devices in during our road trips!  (There are actually a total of 5 USB ports throughout the Highlander!)

Features for Me

The large screen up front for navigation, a back-up camera, and other electronic features is exactly what I want as well! Plus, I love a great moonroof and you get that in the Toyota Highlander with their panoramic moonroof!  I also love that I can snag this auto in All Wheel Drive. This is important to me since I drive through rural areas for work and face snow & ice!

Features for the Men

Some of the features that T can appreciate are Toyota’s Stop & Start Engine System!  The Toyota Highlander will actually shut the engine off when it is at rest to help save fuel!  When you’re ready to take off, simply release the brake and go!  Releasing the break starts the engine once again.  It also has a 5000lb towing capacity so we can still pull a little trailer to help gather materials for those home renovations!  Plus, the fact that it is built on a car frame helps get better gas mileage as well as being a smoother ride!

Overview of the Toyota Highlander

Overall, I am very impressed by the Toyota Highlander and can’t wait till I get the opportunity to drive it.  Loading it up with the family will be the true test, but I have high hopes.  The options and features are endless and I think everyone will find something they like in the Highlander!  Toyota hasn’t forgotten a detail with the 2018 Highlander!

 

*My admission to the Twin Cities Auto Show was compensated, but my thoughts & opinions expressed in this post are 100% truthful & my own!