Toyota Highlander Review

How the Toyota Highlander stacks up against the competition - by Nigel Cooper, Topanga CA

2009 Toyota Highlander

Price Range: $27,500 - $34,520

Utility
There's no clear winner between the Toyota Highlander and the average midsize SUV in terms of transporting cargo. Drivers with frequent kid-duty might favor the Highlander over the average midsize SUV. Towing is substantially more the average midsize SUV's forte than it is the Highlander's.

Dimensions
The average midsize SUV is slightly heavier than the Toyota Highlander. The Highlander's tank is approximately the same size as the typical midsize SUV's, though the average midsize SUV's is a bit larger. The Toyota Highlander and the average midsize SUV compete for the same parking spaces.

Convenience
The average midsize SUV's fuel tank will need to be replenished a bit more often than the unit in the Toyota Highlander.

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs roughly the same to get the Toyota Highlander to the dealership as the typical midsize SUV. There really isn't much of a difference in gas mileage here, but if you must know, the Highlander is slightly more economical than the average midsize SUV. Regarding MSRP, the typical midsize SUV doesn't cost much less than the Toyota Highlander.

Handling
The typical midsize SUV and the Toyota Highlander have about similar tires. With their comparable turning radiuses, the Toyota Highlander and the average midsize SUV quite certainly handle roughly the same into and out of tight spots.

Drivetrain
The Highlander and the average midsize SUV have similar-sized engines, with a slight advantage to the average midsize SUV. The Toyota Highlander has no lessons to learn as far as torque from the typical midsize SUV.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the average midsize SUV offers a bit more head room than the Toyota Highlander, there really isn't much of a difference. While the rear of the Toyota Highlander offers a bit more head- and leg-room than the average midsize SUV, there honestly isn't much of a difference.

Overview
The basic after-sale protection that comes with the Highlander isn't quite as generous as the typical midsize SUV's.

The price a car site displays won't be what you'll pay for an actual car with specific options.

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Real Car Pricing

When it comes to getting car prices from off the internet, you need to be aware of the issues. Because those car prices don't generally include specific options packages. And those options can add thousands of dollars to the sticker price.

Even if you factor in the cost of the options you want, you won't know your actual cost. That's because the dealership won't have exactly the set of options or trims you're interested in. They will only sell you what they have on the lot, take it or leave it.

So if you want the right options and the best deal, get an internet price quote.

The sales person will tell you:

What's on the lot
What options the vehicles have
The lowest internet price.

And if that dealership doesn't have what you want, get an internet quote from another dealership without leaving your house.

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No Hassle Negotiation

Anyone who's spent hours haggling at a dealership knows there has to be a better way. And there is. Getting internet price quotes means you can work with a dealer from home. That means no driving around, no high pressure situations and less chance of making a mistake you'll regret later.

You email a dealership about a particular make and model and they come back with what they have on the lot. So you are negotiating for a particular car the price, color, options, and trim level you want. If they don't have what you want, just contact a different dealership. Once you've found the car of your dreams, you visit the dealership and close the deal. Sweet.

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