First drive: 2014 Toyota Highlander - driving.ca

CARMEL, CALIF. – For a large and growing segment of the population, even the mere suggestion that family life might necessitate the purchase of a minivan is enough to make one don the blue warpaint and start attacking the furniture with a claymore while yelling about freedom.

Happily, there is an alternative.

If you’re repelled by sliding doors, folding bench seats, and a puffy side-profile that’s more haggis than handsome, perhaps a three-row crossover is in the cards? Everybody makes one, and here’s Toyota ^[1] ‘s latest offering. It’s called the Highlander ^[2] , and it enters a cutthroat market segment wielding a Japanese katana.

The 2014 Toyota Highlander has grown up both figuratively and literally.

Handout, Toyota

In the battle for mid-sized SUV ^[3] supremacy, there can only be one! Well, seating for up to eight actually.

Currently, the Highlander is a wee bit ahead of the refreshed Nissan Pathfinder ^[4] in the Canadian sales race, but still a full third in volume behind the Ford Explorer ^[5] . There’s little wrong with the outgoing model, apart from the disconnected steering and the fact that it was slightly smallish compared to others in the segment. Not to worry, they’ve “embiggened” it.

If you’re in the market for an SUV, check out

the SUV section of our New Vehicle Preview

to see what’s available for 2014 ^[6]

Sleek, stylish, handsome – these are the words that Toyota uses to describe their jacked-up family hauler, but perhaps not all might apply. From the front, the new truck/car has a schnoz reminiscent of a Subaru ^[7] Tribeca: an acceptable vehicle, but not really something to be emulated in the styling department.

The rear taillights and bumper treatment fall in line with smaller-sibling RAV4 ^[8] ‘s bubbles and bulges. From the side, the Highlander now resembles a Dodge Durango ^[9] , or perhaps the fictional Canyonero that drove Marge Simpson to such heights of road rage in The Simpsons.

2014 Toyota Highlander

Handout, Toyota

This vehicle is bigger in all dimensions than the out-going model, yet retains the same wheelbase and is slightly lowered; the result is plenty of overhang, and one of the demo models already had a curb-scuffed chin. This thing is no cowerin’, timorous beastie – it’s quite the heffalump. However, the new Highlander also manages to be rugged and modern in appearance.

On the new, improved inside, the Highlander has more niceties than you can toss a caber at. For instance, two-thirds of the dash is split by a large shelf that’s perfect for holding all the various detritus of everyday life, from smartphones to granola bars. It’s right within reach, and has a pass-through to run cords to both 12V and USB charging points. Clever. And then there’s the gargantuan storage bin crammed between the front seats. It’s big enough for a handbag or possibly your least-favourite child, and the sliding opening means it works as an armrest even when open. The entire cabin is larger, thanks to the Highlander’s greater length, and there are useful cubbies all over.

This gargantuan storage bin could be for a bag, or your least-favourite child.

Handout, Toyota

Second-row seating is more adult-friendly than in the out-going model, and third-row seating is a tad improved as well, at least when reclined. As mentioned, seating for up to eight is offered with a second-row bench seating, or for seven with two captain’s chairs instead. Getting in and out of the back row shouldn’t be a problem for kids in terms of accessibility, but the sliding seat is heavy and smaller hands might need a little help.

With all seats deployed, there’s just 390L of room behind the third row, up by 34%. Sounds like a lot, but it’s very tight back there, especially with the third-row seatbacks reclined. Happily, the rear glass opens on most models so you can pack things in.

The 2014 Toyota Highlander is powered by a 270-horsepower 3.5L V6.

Handout, Toyota

Interior quality and ergonomics are both improved as well. Driver and passenger will both appreciate the updated look of the new soft-touch dashboard, and its uncluttered, touchscreen-based layout. For functionality, Toyota does dearly love its rectangular buttons, and if you opt for a lower-end model, expect to see multiple blanks to the left of the steering wheel.

However, standard technologies are quite good, starting with a 6.1-inch touchscreen Entune system that includes Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming. A backup camera is standard across the range – much needed with the limited rear visibility – as well as Toyota’s suite of safety technologies. This last includes stability and traction control, electronic brake force distribution (load the trunk up with heavy cargo and get slightly more rear braking bias), and Smart Stop, a system that overrides the throttle if the brake is depressed.

The 2014 Toyota Highlander is bigger than the outgoing model.

Handout, Toyota

XLE trim adds on expected niceties such as leather seating, push-button start, navigation and enhanced audio, the touchscreen increases in size to eight inches, and there’s available Blu-Ray entertainment for the rear passengers. The top-end Limited spec adds LED running lights, heated and cooled front seating, rear sonar, and blind-spot monitoring.

Included as part of the Apps package on XLE trim and higher is something fairly unique called “Driver Easy Speak”. Engage this system through the touchscreen interface, and a microphone picks up the driver’s voice and lets them speak to – well, let’s not kid ourselves – yell at their rear seat passengers.

In theory, this is a fantastic idea, giving a harassed driver the booming thunder of an angry Old Testament Jehovah: “Stop Hitting Thy Sister Or I Shall Give Thee A Thousand Years Of Time-Out.”

The 2014 Toyota Highlander’s interior is also much improved and is packed with luxury touches.

Handout, Toyota

In reality, the tinny speakers make you sound a bit like Charlie Brown’s teacher in Peanuts. Even so, as a parent, the chance to make the “this is your captain speaking” joke repeatedly as the kids groan is too good to pass up.

Luckily, it’s only the passengers that are bound to irritate, not the drive. While the powertrains for the Highlander essentially carry over from the previous iteration, there are two major improvements this year: smoothness and cornering.

All non-hybrid Highlanders will come with the 270 horsepower 3.5L V6. Mated to a reprogrammed six-speed automatic transmission and pitted against 2,000+ kilos in the AWD models, it’s perfectly adequate, but not much more than that. Thank goodness the base 4-cylinder engine isn’t available in Canada, as forcing it to cart around this much Angus beef is just plain cruel. Fuel economy ratings are improved over last year, with the AWD V6 scoring 11.1 L/100 km in the city and 8.2 L/100 km on the highway.

The Toyota Highlander gets a makeover for 2014 and a bunch of new technology and luxury features.

Handout, Toyota

Driving confidence can additionally be enhanced in all conditions by opting for all-wheel-drive, which is available on the LE model and standard on the XLE trim and up. While there was certainly not much in the way of snow in sunny SoCal, the Highlander should do well with acceptable ground clearance despite its new lower ride height and an electronically-controlled clutch capable of splitting power 50/50 front-to-rear.

Toyota’s system shunts power to the front most of the time to conserve fuel economy, but can portion out torque to the rear differential while accelerating and cornering. Naturally, you’ll want proper winter tires, which could be expensive given the standard 18-inch rim size.

The Highlander’s new multi-link rear suspension and ability to send power to the rear makes for a hugely improved drive. It’s very stable at speed, and handles sweeping corners with ease. Braking is acceptable, if a bit on the spongy side given the Highlander’s considerable weight. The steering seems less over-boosted than previously. It’s no race car of course, but is composed and planted, imparting driver confidence.

2014 Toyota Highlander

Handout, Toyota

In fact, it’s so glued to the road that you really need to watch your speed. While the V6 doesn’t have a great deal of power in reserve for passing, it’s perfectly capable of propelling this machine up to law-breaking velocities. Toyota obviously spent a considerable sum in refining ride and in-cabin noise levels, and the Highlander is fairly quiet at-speed, albeit with some wind-noise from the extra large side-mirrors.

A hybrid version of the Highlander is also on offer, with a 280 hp rating for the carry-over powertrain. Fuel-economy is rated at 6.7 L/100 km city and 7.2 L/100 km highway – note that Transport Canada will be changing the way these figures are calculated, and expect to get slightly worse real-world performance.

Add-on safety features for further day-to-day driving include a forward collision alert that comes bundled with radar-guided cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic high beam headlights.

All in all, the Highlander is a good vehicle; solidly mid-pack, lightly evolved and in no way revolutionary. The Scots phrase for this type of thinking is ca’ canny – to move slowly, cautiously, shrewdly.

It’s a judicious play that’s served Toyota well in the past, and will likely do so again here.

2014 Toyota Highlander

LE Front-Wheel-Drive: $31,680

XLE AWD: $39,900

Limited: $45,500