Best Used Toyota Crossover - Highlander

Crossover vehicles took a number of years before they could  truly find their place in the consciousness of North American buyers. In the 1990’s, vehicles like the Subaru Outback and the Volvo Cross Country, two station wagons which were given a more aggressive, off-road look and outfitted with a robust all-wheel drive system and higher than normal ground clearance made their debut. With nothing else quite like them on the road, they presented an intriguing option for those who lived in harsh, snowy climates where these rugged characteristics were a big help in the winter months. They also had the benefit of not being bundled with the poor fuel mileage and bulky size of a sport-utility vehicle.

Audi was the next company to jump onto the wagon-based crossover market with the 2000 Audio Allroad. By this time, plenty of other automakers had become intrigued by consumer reaction to this class of vehicle, and crossovers suddenly began to emerge from the woodwork. While the original crossovers had been primarily adaptations of existing wagons, the new wave of crossover-utility vehicles, as they were now being called combined existing sedan platforms with styling that was lifted from popular sport-utility vehicles. These new crossovers, while taller and larger than a standard automobile, promised better handling than a truck-based SUV as well as comfort and fuel economy comparable to a compact or mid-size sedan.

In the early 2000’s, Toyota found themselves with a plethora of excellent sedan platforms to experiment with in order to create a crossover that would help them fill the gap between the Toyota Sienna minivan and the large Sequoia sport-utility vehicle. While they choose to direct some of their energy to converting their smaller platforms into wagons and hatchbacks, they did make it a point to develop a mid-size crossover. Called the Highlander, the vehicle was a first for the company in terms of combining their truck-based SUV expertise with their reputation for easy to drive, trouble-free automobiles.

The Toyota Highlander would go on to enjoy great success in the United States, as plenty of drivers were charmed by its competent design and van-like interior room. While the Highlander was never intended as a serious off-road vehicle, it did provide the same level of utility as much of the SUV competition. This article takes a look at the first generation Toyota Highlander and assesses its strengths from the viewpoint of used crossover buyers looking to get a great deal on a capable, spacious and safe vehicle.

2001 – 2007 Toyota Highlander

With its non-descript exterior and comforting but not overwhelming size, the 2001 – 2007 Toyota Highlander is positioned as an accessible crossover sport-utility vehicle for those who may never have considered stepping up to an automobile of this size. The Highlander maintains the excellent composure of the Toyota Camry sedan whose platform it shares, and it focuses on passenger comfort as opposed to off-road heroics when it came to suspension and drivetrain.

Available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the Toyota Highlander was initially offered with a 2.4-liter, 160 horsepower 4-cylinder engine as standard equipment, with the possibility of upgrading to a much more potent 220 horsepower 3.0 V-6. In 2004, the V-6 was replaced by a more efficient 3.3-liter unit which puts out 230 horsepower and which helped the Highlander improve on its previously sluggish acceleration. Also included in the upgrade was a new 5-speed automatic transmission, although a 4-speed automatic continued to be used by smaller-displacement editions.

While the 2001 – 2007 Toyota Highlander may strive to be car-like where it counts – smooth engine and transmission, balanced handling and a comfortable ride – it certainly does not skimp on the cargo space that has made crossovers so popular with larger families and those who often haul a lot of gear. With the second row of seats folded down, the Highlander provides over 80 cubic feet of room to stack as much equipment, luggage or tools as possible. The Highlander also provides a towing capacity of 3000 lbs, making it good for pulling a small U-Haul trailer or perhaps a jet ski or two to the beach. Passengers will have an easy time getting in and out of the Highlander thanks to Toyota’s careful design, which makes the crossover feel like it is sitting much lower that it actually is.

The 2001 – 2007 Toyota Highlander has all the hallmarks of typical, strong Toyota engineering. In this case, they have taken the concept of a mid-size crossover SUV and refined it into one of the most user-friendly high-capacity vehicles on the used market.