2012 Toyota Highlander Overview Change Vehicle

2012 Toyota Highlander review with specifications, fuel economy data, safety information, reliability ratings, a photo gallery, and The Vehix View

No mainstream automaker can hope to be competitive without a strong entry in the mid-size crossover SUV class, and the Highlander fits right into that category, giving buyers seating for up to seven passengers and an available hybrid model. The Highlander competes with the Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, and others for mid-size crossover dominance.

After a 2011 refresh that updated the Toyota Highlander’s styling and provided more standard and optional features, there are no major changes for this year.

Toyota offers the Highlander in Base, SE, Limited, and Hybrid (see separate report) trims. Base models come standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear air conditioning, power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry, power mirrors, cruise control, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, an eight-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, and a stereo with a CD/MP3 player and an auxiliary audio input jack. The sliding rear seat features a 40/20/40-split folding design, and a 50/50-split folding third-row bench seat is standard. Under-floor storage, automatic headlights, a rear defroster, dark tinted rear privacy glass, and a rear spoiler are also standard on every Highlander That’s an impressive number of features without moving to a higher trim level or springing for options.

Those who do spring for options on the base model will find them primarily grouped into a Tech Package (satellite radio, a premium audio system, a USB port, Bluetooth calling and music streaming, an eight-way power driver’s seat, easy-clean fabric upholstery, a 3.5-inch multi-display with a rearview camera and a trip computer, flip-up rear window glass, a cargo cover, fog lamps, and a host of other upgrades), a Cold Weather Package (windshield wiper defroster, heated outside mirrors) and towing packages offering up to 3,500 pounds of capacity with the standard four-cylinder engine or 5,000 pounds with the available V6 engine.

Stepping up to the Highlander SE brings the contents of the Tech Package plus a power liftgate, a front wiper de-icer, heated side mirrors, fog lights, and roof rails. It also includes a Leather Package with leather seats (leatherette in third-row), a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, a HomeLink universal remote, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a compass, and a power moonroof. Options on the SE include the Towing Packages, and if you’ve got a V6 engine under the hood you can get an available navigation system and a JBL nine-speaker audio system.

Limited buyers get numerous luxury upgrades including tri-zone climate control, Smart Key with push-button ignition, a 10-way power driver’s seat, a power front passenger’s seat, and a set of 19-inch alloy wheels. Perforated leather, wood-grain interior trim, chrome roof rails and Limited badges adorn this SUV, which also comes with a full-size spare tire mounted on an alloy wheel, and puddle lamps for the exterior mirrors. Options include the uplevel JBL audio system, a navigation system, rear DVD entertainment, and a Towing Package.

Whether looking for fuel-economy or towing grunt, consumers appreciate choice, and the Highlander offers two engines from which to choose.

Base and SE models come standard with a 187-horsepower, 2.7-liter four-cylinder that’s matched to a six-speed automatic and provides power to the front wheels. EPA-estimated fuel-economy for this engine is 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Those who prefer all-wheel-drive will have no choice but to step up to the 270-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 that’s optional on front-wheel-drive Base and SE models and standard on all Limited models. As is usually the case with larger engines, fuel economy suffers with the V6. Front-wheel-drive models are rated 18-city/24-highway and AWD models get 17-city/22-highway. The V6 mates to a five-speed automatic transmission.

As is befitting of a family-oriented crossover SUV, the Highlander earns high marks both for crashworthiness and safety features. Those safety features include antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, traction and stability control, seven airbags including curtain airbags for all three rows and a driver’s knee airbag, hill start assist, and Smart Stop technology that makes it impossible for the Highlander to accelerate with the brake pedal depressed. Downhill assist is included with all-wheel-drive, and a rearview camera comes standard on SE and Limited models.

Since the Highlander carries over from 2011, it’s no surprise that it earned high marks in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) testing. Once again, the Highlander earned 4 Stars (out of 5) for overall crash performance in NHTSA testing, a rating comprised of 4-Star frontal and rollover resistance evaluations and a 5 Star side-impact test result. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not yet rated the 2012 model as this review is written, but the 2011 Highlander was a Top Safety Pick, earning “Good” marks in the frontal-offset and side impact tests, the rear-impact injury prevention assessment, and for roof strength.

Reliability should be exemplary. Consumer Reports gives the 2012 Toyota Highlander it’s highest possible reliability prediction, while J.D. Power and Associates thinks the Highlander will provide better than average dependability over time.

Cargo volume matters to shoppers in this class. The Toyota Highlander offers 95.4 cubic-feet of it with both rows of rear seats folded down, and 42.3 cu-ft with just the third row folded. If you’re hauling a full load of passengers, there’s just 10.3 cu-ft behind the third-row seat. Still, not too shabby.

Sadly, the warranty is a bit shabby, with the full coverage lasting for only three years or 36,000 miles. By contrast, Hyundai and Kia offer five-year, 60,000-mile basic plans, which is the same duration as Toyota’s powertrain warranty, combined with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. However, Toyota does offer Toyota Care, a complimentary plan that covers routine factory recommended maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles, plus 24/7 roadside assistance.

Toyota’s Highlander offers a competitive blend of standard and optional features to go along with a strong reputation for safety and reliability, a cavernous interior, and available all-wheel-drive that’s attractive to snow-belt buyers. It’s a bit disappointing that the four-cylinder doesn’t offer a huge fuel-economy advantage over the V6, but the availability of the Highlander Hybrid model (see separate review) should appeal to those with a green bent. Clearly, Vehix recommends the Toyota Highlander.

By Tim Healey