Road test: Toyota Highlander

SUVs used to come in one size only - and that was big. Remember the era of the Chelsea Tractor and widespread condemnation of oversized and over-capable off-roaders being used largely on the school run?

The whole notion of the SUV has changed since then - arguably in the wake of Nissan announcing in the noughties that it had plans for a whole family of SUVs in all shapes and sizes. I can recall at the time thinking it a somewhat strange plan, though I was also intrigued. Hindsight can be a wonderful thing and vehicles like the groundbreaking Qashqai and even smaller Juke proved that SUVs could be delivered in all shapes and sizes. And before too long everyone else was in on the act too.

Of course large SUVs still exist and the Toyota Highlander is most definitely one of them. At almost five metres long the Highlander is a big bus of a thing.

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It will come as no surprise that it’s a vehicle that has first and foremost been designed for the US market and subsequently they decided to roll it out to Europe too. That is not always the case and often manufacturers have large vehicles - be they MPVs or SUVs - that are only sold stateside.

Is there a market for something like the Highlander in the UK? Well it certainly has its work cut out and plenty of competitors to contend with.

And it’s not cheap either - with prices starting at something over £55,000. Design-wise the Highlander pretty much sticks to the traditional large SUV footprint.

It’s fairly boxy and basic with a distinct curve bypass. This means it’s not a head-turner but immensely practical and also a suitable vehicle for transporting seven adults in an acceptable degree of comfort.

Toyota Highlander

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That is probably its biggest strength and perhaps the key reason would-be buyers might take the plunge, though Toyota’s established reputation for reliability might also sway some. As said, it has plenty of rivals and when it comes to cost it’s got to compete with premium marques like Audi, BMW and Mercedes_Benz - rather than models made by the likes of Kia, Hyundai and Peugeot that are similar to it but are cheaper.

Buying a Highlander is a relatively simple process though when it comes to choice. There’s only one petrol engine hybrid model and one trim level - Excel Premium.

It comes with a 2.5-litre engine mated to an electric motor - a combination aimed at delivering efficiency and green credentials. In fairness this is also an attractive element for potential buyers. Toyota’s self-charging hybrid system is proven and simple.

Energy used when braking and from the petrol engine goes to a battery which powers the electric motor. As well as self-charging, it’s also self-thinking, so the Highlander will select which power source to use.

So, if you accelerate gently from start or are pootling around town at low speed it will use electric power - assuming there is power in the battery. You can even select an EV mode where it uses electric power only - but don’t expect to get too far.

The reason is the battery can only store a small amount of electricity - you’re not in plug-in hybrid or all-electric territory here. When it kicks in the Highlander’s petrol engine performs well. It’ll help take the vehicle from 0-60mph in a brisk 7.7 seconds.

However, if you do want to travel at that speed you’ll need to put up with some noise. In all honesty the Highlander isn’t the sort of vehicle you’ll be attempting sprints in and throwing around corners so when driving it more sedately it’s far more silent.

It’s fair to say the Highlander is hugely comfortable to travel in. I took it on a fairly lengthy road trip from the Midlands to Sussex and it was a genuine pleasure to travel in, particularly on the motorway but also on the undulating A and B roads on the second part of my journey there.

On the inside comfort is a predominant feature too. The electrically adjustable driver’s seat, combined with a very lofty driving position means you can feel at home quickly and easily and get a great view of the road ahead.

Its chunky styling and other features, such as slim pillars, also ensure good visibility all-round. Given its size the Highlander is surprisingly easier to manoeuvre in tight spaces and to park, though this is helped by front and rear parking sensors and a bird’s eye view camera, all of which come as standard.

The controls are well laid out and easy to navigate your way around, though the 8-inch infotainment is a little lacklustre. It’s got what you need but is a bit clunky to operate.

Other than that the Highlander has a decent enough interior, though it definitely leans more towards functional than premium. Leather trim comes as standard too.

Second row passengers benefit from a sliding bench, that to be fair offers a decent amount of legroom whether it’s in its furthest forward position or its rearmost. Obviously when slid back legroom is super generous.

If you have adults travelling in the two third row seats you will need to have the middle row bench slid forward to ensure they have adequate legroom. As far as headroom in the third row goes it’s okay but there are limitations as far as taller adults are concerned.

With all three rows in use there’s some boot space but not a huge amount. That said you could get the shopping in. With the third row folded-down the Highlander has cavernous carrying capacity and with all the rear seats folded-down it offers the kind of van-like carrying capacity that could accommodate a reasonably sized wardrobe.

Overall the Highlander is an immensely practical and comfortable car that’s well suited to the needs of a family, or someone who needs to transport more than five people from time to time. It offers simplicity in terms of choices and comes well equipped in the standard Excel Premium trim, with a raft of safety features, creature comforts and adaptive cruise control.

Price-wise its not cheap but for some that might not bee too much of an off-putting factor given it comes with Toyota’s class-leading ten-year warranty.