2008 Toyota Highlander consumer reviews

I've had the 2008 Highlander Sport now for several months and 6000 miles. It's got plenty of room for cargo when we travel. I've been getting over 21mpg overall and 25 when only on the highway which I think is excellent for a 270hp engine. The electric power steering does take getting used to but it's ok. I was extremely impressed by this vehicle's performance on snow and ice a few weeks ago at the Grand Canyon and northern Arizona. The traction control and 4WD got us through several areas of deep snow and icy patches without any noticeable slippage. The first gear slows the vehicle down to almost a stop when approaching an icy intersection. The antilock brakes did not seem to work too well, however. This is a comfortable, reliable vehicle and for today's prices a decent value.

this is my second highlander and i find that the miles per gallon exceeds what was published. however,little things like the inconvenient inner fron door handle and the excess effort to close the tailgate is absurd. to get a power taigate you have buy a more expensive model !

In the past, I have driven a Suburban, a full-size conversion van, and a mini van. When we decided that it was time for a new vehicle, we listed a couple of things that we absolutely needed: seating for 7 and 4-wheel drive. I also wanted a vehicle that looked somewhat sporty. After countless test drives of min-vans, SUV's and CUV's, it was really no contest. The Highlander was our pick. It handles well and accelerates nicely. The listed gas MPG, while not great, was better than some other SUV/CUV's. Toyota's reputation for reliability also influenced our decision. The interior suits both my 6' husband and 5'2" me -- that is not always the case in many SUV's. There are a couple of things that I would change - it would be nice to have a split third-row seat. There is not much storage behind the third-row seat, but for us that is not a problem because we seldom use the third-row seats. There is also a large blind spot that a person needs to get used to (but we found the same problem on most of the SUV's we tested.) I do really like the center console that switches with the 7th seat (although I don't think an adult could ride on that 7th seat for very long; it is great for grandchildren for short trips). One thing that really pleased us was that we actually get better mileage than was listed. We have taken our Highlander on several long trips, and we both really enjoy driving this vehicle.

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 have 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 Front Wheel Drive 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 acccessible 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 number one 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 back-up camera (which is really nice) that will not happen again.

1. The passenger w/s wiper loosened and stopped midway causing the the two wipers to lock with each other. Result- driver w/s wiper broke and flew away. 2. One touch w/s wiper takes two strokes to work. The first stroke moves it only by 2 inches and the next stroke make it work the way its supposed to work. 3. Too much Door noise. I first heard the door noise on the test drive vehicle, but gave over credit for Toyotas reputation. The door noise started on my new vehicle on both driver and passenger sides 2 weeks after I bought. It gets worse with low temperatures. 4. The seat belt clip was way too delicate snapped with little pressure. 5. De-icer grid never worked even once, even at a 28 deg.Far. Result: put up with the snow. Worse when you paid money and decided a sport trim just for this feature. Positive points: 1. Great acceleration. Great stability in snow and on sharp curves. 2. Smooth ride. 3. Extremely quiet cabin - cant make out if the engine is running. 4. Amazing leg room in the third row.

I bought a 4x4 Sport with leather, climate control, and a sunroof. It really is the perfect SUV. It has some of the most high tech safety features out there, a lot of which are made possible by the electric steering. I feel like the sport supension cures of a lot of body roll that you would expect from an SUV while still giving a smooth and quiet ride. That matched with the sport shift can really help you forget your in an SUV on twisty roads. The interior lay out is awesome and looks quite expensive, but as you'll hear a lot, the materials are hard to the touch. The interior is massive and the seating configuration has endless possibilities. It feels big inside yet it's the same lenght as a camry. power is impressive and smooth and still gives you better mpg than other cross overs. It can get pricey so make sure you find out the invoice for the one you want specifically and don't let the dealership push you around.

I just purchased my base 4x4 highlander a couple of weeks ago, and love it. The interior is well designed but the material looks very cheap. The ride is great, doesn't feel like a big vehicle. There are not a lot of standard features in the base model(even simple things like fog lights), and you need to move to other trims to get them. Gas mileage is descent, I average about 20 mpg.

put 90,000 miles ona 2002 highlander with lube oil, and new tires only. Loved it but my 2008 limited far exceeds the 2002 limited in all respects.. Can't be beat on snow and ice.

I'm going to go right down the line as above starting with Overall Rating: 5 Stars was given because that's just what it is, a 5 star vehicle. Comfort: I've been the driver and the front seat passenger and I almost fell asleep 3 times...as the passenger of course! Still have yet to sit in the back. Performance: With its 270 HP engine and tons of torque on tap, this thing moves! Great highway/cruise acceleration. Handling: Hey, it's an SUV. It's long, tall, and heavy. Slow down! It still didn't feel at all like there was too much body roll...even at "higher speeds". Exterior Styling: Totally redesigned makes this a sharp looking vehicle. I think it takes a lot of cues from the Tundra. Interior Design: I read other reviews that thought everything was "cluttered". They must not have the base mode, because everything was just right. Features: There's all kinds of features available...for all kinds of extra money. I didn't need them, so I didn't get them. Still has 7 airbags though, that's a plus. Value/Reliability: Come on, it's a Toyota. It's one of the most reliable vehicles on the planet. If that's not value, I don't know what is.

I traded in my BMW X5 for a Highlander Sport 4x4 and have no regrets. I also own a Toyota 4 runner. Dollar for dollar it would be difficult to beat the Highlander. I test drove many, many vehicles over a 1 month period and found that the Highlander by far was the best pick for me and my family. The 2008 Highlander is fast, durable, reliable, safe, has a great resale value and Motor Trend also thinks it Most Likely to Succeed as well. The steering is a little soft and does not have body side moldings but other than that it's a home run! The 2008 is spacious on the inside too - it seems much larger than the old style it replaces. Go drive the rest as I did and you will see - this is a no brainer. Other vehicles we considered were the 2008 Saturn Outlook,Honda Pilot, Infinity FX, BMW X3, Acura RDX & MDX, and Lexus. The Highlander beat them all in most categories but not all. For the money it's tough to beat the Highlander though.