Video: 2008 Toyota Highlander

We like that there's a strap here you just have to pull the lower the head restraints before you pull this strap to lower the seat, but still that's two straps, and it'd be nice if both actions could be done with one. Now, putting the second row down's pretty easy, thanks to these two levers on the left side of the cargo opening. Just pull them both and there goes to the second row. With the seats down, maximum cargo volume here is about 95 cubic feet, which is roughly competitive with cars like the Honda Pilot and the Mazda CX-9. In the second row, there's plenty of space. I'm about six feet tall and the front row seat right now is moved all the way back. As you can see, I have plenty of leg and head room. Second-row seats are adjustable forward and backward, and they also recline, with the back rest going forward and back a few inches. With the second row captain's chairs set up like so, there's a center console between the seats that has a couple of different storage areas and two extra cup holders. It's removable and it's pretty light, durable plastic. You can just kind of toss it off to the side. Toyota also has a third seat that goes in the middle and it installs in the same spot that the center console used to be. Push it back and there you have a third seat in the middle. Meanwhile, the center console or the third seat, if it gets removed, stows underneath the front center console. It's pretty slick and you can do it once you get the hang of it in about 20 to 30 seconds. Now you can get to the third row one of two ways. If the second row middle seat has been removed, there's actually a pass through. I'm six feet tall, it doesn't really work for me, but it could probably work for small children. You can also move the second row forward. it's a pretty simple one step function, and climb in back, like so. Ordinarily, third rows are mostly for kids and in the Highlander, it's no exception. As you can see, my headroom is pretty tight and these headrests, which also flip down, are pretty thin and insubstantial. The saving grace here is that the second-row seats come forward a few inches. And if you have them four or five clicks forward, somebody like me could actually fit back here for short trips. <v Narrator>For additional information on this car or any other, go to cars.com and our blog, Kicking Tires.