Reader Review of the Week: 2008 Toyota Highlander
Even when you find the right car, sometimes you can't help but nitpick the details that don't work for you. That’s how this week's reader reviewer feels about the '08 Toyota Highlander. After being disappointed with a few other SUVs, “firstSUVowner” from Indianapolis fell in love with the redesigned Highlander (some pairings are just meant to be, we guess). This doesn't mean our reviewer is blind to its flaws, though. Read the full review after the jump and post a review of your own here.
"I shopped for months, but nothing really struck my fancy, not even the Saturn Vue (the new one is ugly) or the Toyota RAV4 (too small). When I glanced across the Toyota showroom last November and saw the new Highlander, I had to have it. I think it is gorgeous. It is the most comfortable car, front seat or second row, that I have ever owned. It handles nicely and is rocket-fast. I've had mine for six months and had no mechanical problems.
"And even though I definitely highly recommend the Highlander, this is not to say I have no problems with the vehicle. I actually have a number of issues with my FWD Sport version. I am disappointed with the lack of what I thought were routine 'luxury' items on the vehicle. The radio does not display the feed from the station showing the name of the song and the performer. I am not talking about satellite or even HD radio (although I think at least HD should have been included), just regular radio.
"It does not have the built-in garage door opener/home alarm feature. It does not have a steering-wheel-accessible trip computer that processes anything except for about a dozen ways to calculate gas mileage (how about travel time and distance?). I get about 19.5 mpg in mostly city driving, which I guess is not bad for a vehicle of its size. My research shows that the 245/55/19 tires it needs are currently available in only one make and model (Bridgestone) and only the dealer carries this particular tire.
“And my No. 1 gripe: The rear bumper is for show only. I have damaged it twice in simple, very-low-speed parking incidents. Of course, now that I have become accustomed to the backup camera, that will not happen again."
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a nice review.
but it sounds like the Tundra and Camry's reliability problems have not just been a hiccup. This is not the first time i have heard of problems with the FWD or AWD systems of the Highlander. knowing Toyota, the drievtrain problems will spread to the Sequoia and Land Cruiser, and the transmission problems from the 6 speed in the Camry to the Avalon, which just got the 6 speed for 08
AV,
where in this review do you see any mention of a problem with the transmission/drivetrain of the Highlander? Take another read. He said he thought the bumper had issues because he's damaged it easily.