2010 Toyota Highlander Reviews

Toyota Highlander was completely redesigned for 2008. The base 2010 Highlander starts at $25,855, the 2010 Highlander Hybrid at $34,900, and the line competes with the Honda Pilot, the Chevrolet Traverse, the Mazda CX-9, and the (five-seat) Ford Edge.The base engine on the 2010 Toyota Highlander is a new 187-horsepower, 2.7-liter four-cylinder paired to a six-speed automatic.

2010 Toyota Highlander is available in Base, Sport and Limited trim levels in both two-wheel and four-wheel-drive configurations. The Sport, which features a sport-tuned suspension, and Limited models sit on 19-inch alloys and feature a chrome front grille and rear spoiler. Inside, the 2010 Toyota Highlander can seat up to seven occupants across three rows of seats, including a fold-flat third-row seat and 40/20/40 folding second-row bench, which Toyota calls Center Stow. Leather seating and multi-stage heated seats are available as options.

When the redesigned Toyota Highlander debuted for the 2008 model year, Toyota didn't carry over the four-cylinder engine that existed in the previous generation; only a V-6 was available. For 2009, a four-cylinder engine was added, with benefits like a lower entry-level price and improved gas mileage over the V-6 engine.

The Toyota Highlander comes standard with five seats, but two more can be added with an optional third row. Gas mileage ratings of 20/27 mpg city/highway are an improvement over the V-6 Highlander's 18/24 mpg rating with front-wheel drive.

It's a marginal improvement over the Toyota Highlander's V-6, plus a Ford Edge with a six-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive rates 18/25 mpg. Impressive would be a crossover this size that topped 30 mpg. The four-cylinder did, however, provide a solid driving experience and never felt underpowered when driving through stoplight-happy suburbia.

Four-cylinder Toyota Highlanders are only available with front-wheel drive, and the tires spun easily on cold, damp roads during moderate acceleration. To get all-wheel drive, you have to get the six-cylinder engine.With a base price of $25,855, the four-cylinder Highlander comes with room for five occupants. That's $1,895 less expensive than the V-6, though those Highlanders come standard with a third row.

In four-cylinder Toyota Highlanders, a third row costs $740, but it's not well-suited for adults. There's also minimal cargo room behind the third row. When the Highlander was redesigned, Cars.com reviewer Kesley Mays ranked its interior quality about average in his review.

Maximum cargo space is 95.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, while the Edge ($27,420) has just 69 cubic feet and the Murano ($28,050) only manages 64 cubic feet. The Pilot has 18 cubic feet and the Traverse has 24.4 cubic feet behind their third rows.

The Toyota Highlander scored the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's best rating, well, in front, side and rear crash tests. For a complete list of the Highlander's standard safety features, see here.
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