2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Toyota Highlander—good and bad

Much better looking? It looks really strange and looks almost like a RAV4 but worse. The rear end is awful at least to me. The inside looks nice, but too similar to the Camry. And what's with the RAV4 having the same engine and power as this?? Can anyone say overlap?
Overall this looks like a tough sell over the new Acadia/Outlook, CX-9, and Veracruz. All of them are very good, and offer lots of space, good handling and ride, great styling and probably lower prices. Also let's not forget how similar the RAV4 and Highlander are. It makes more sense to buy a loaded RAV4 and pocket the difference. Toyota's supersizing the RAV4 may come back to haunt them.

Yeah, Toyota should axe this model. The RAV4 is just too big to not cause overlap. I'm not a big fan of that rearend either.

Yea, ok, Toyota's going to axe a model that has seen what? a million units sold in 7 years and has a loyal fan base? That makes sense.I think this vehicle is significantly large enough - and offers enough features not found on the RAV4 - that having both in the line-up will not be a serious issue. I think its FAR better looking that the outgoing model, especially the interior (the syling/design of the '01-'07 was Toyota's worst-in-lineup, IMO). It's very premature to comment on pricing, but one will note that the GMC Acadia in Car and Driver's most recent issue hit $44,500 with almost every- but not every- option box checked. ~alpha

But the Acadia is not the cheapest of the three. This would compare more to an Outlook and if Chevrolet's getting one, it would be more comparable to it too. I don't like the Santa Fe taillights and fender bulges. I never thought I'd see the day when Japan would benchmark Korea for design - especially LAST GENERATION Korea.
By the way, a loaded Highlander will get you in the high 30's, so it's not a bargain by any means.

Not one of Toyota's better designs, IMO. I see way too much RAV4 in the front end and way too much Mitsubishi Endeavor in the rear end. That rear especially just is not good. Oh, and have you seen the interior? The four-knobby thingie smacks of Hyundai. Not good, Toyota, not good.

I actually like the back more than the front. The front is just a bad blind of Tundra and Rav4, i am really not liking this car at all. I will stick with the Acadia any day than this horrible vehicle. I cant beilive that Toyota would even consider this thing!!!

THE ONLY THING I WAN'T TO KNOW IS IF TOYOTA HAS IMPROVED IT'S CRAFTSMANSHIP! Because Toyota vehicles have never been beatiful and sexy cars IMHO, the ONLY thing that matters and makes them stand out is their IMPECCABLE Quality! If the 08 Highlander has that, then it is a good TOYOTA vehicle no-matter what it looks like!

ewww who the hell said that is looks nice man its ugly! i really hope tis changes i mean tis looks ok on the RAV but tis is too long nd wide for tis kind of desing... i say BAD UGLY AND wat ever else u can say for bad looking.

Why can't Toyota design a nice looking vehicle? Is it really that hard? The Camry looks okay but those nasty ground effects on the SE ruin the look (much like that tacked-on mess on the Corolla S). The RAV4 is somewhat stylish but the rear is a blocky nightmare. It destroys the entire look of the truck. Now, this mess. Who designed that upturned grille with those ugly headlights? The profile seems okay but both front and rear facias are nasty. Toyota says this new look is
intelligence over toughness," oh please.
 
At least the interior is a huge step over the last year's model with all that nasty super gloss plasti-wood.

It's a Toyota. It will sell.

I think it should have kept its softer feminine styling. This one looks ......confused.

I kind of like the styling. A little more aggressive. Always thought the one was a little too feminine. I agree about the single piece rear seat. In a Suburban or minivan, there's plenty of storage space behind the third row. But I can see using only 1 of the rear seats in a crossover and wanting the other half for storage.

Guys! Remember it is not supposed to look sporty. If you think it is kinda like Camry, then Toyota has achieved its goal
Comment on this Highlander: interior looks much much better. The front looks too similar to RAV 4. The back looks somewhat weird. This one is kinda sporty and kinda camry feel, so I am confused of what type of customer Toyota is going to sell.
At last, I hope its quality is excellent which is the main selling point

Hey did you look forward of the third row? Theres looks to actually be room back there!! Also lookinbg at the cargo picture on the left reveals a power liftgate.
 
I agree about the split 3rd seat. But think of it like this:
in 2004, the nissan armada had a full piece but in 2006, it was split.
Also, this isn't bad as this is the 2nd/3ed toyota to have fold flat third row seats.
 
I'm interested on how the next 4runner and sequoia will do...

Well,
 
I am a little dissapointed. I love the new engine, but the 5 speed trans is a bit of a let down. I also do not quite like the looks. It is not horrable, but it not good either. I could care less about the third seat. I don't see how a split rear seat is that big of a deal, but I really do want or need a third seat...
 
I really though Toyota would knock one out of the park. This is a sliding double at best. Even my Toyota loving wife did not like it. She actually likes the Ford FreeStyle, I mean Tarus X better....???

Toyota just keeps popping out ugly vehicles.

Autoboy16
 
"I agree about the split 3rd seat. But think of it like this:
in 2004, the nissan armada had a full piece but in 2006, it was split."
 
Yeah, Nissan screwed up too. When the '04 Armada debuted I came down hard on them too back then.
 
There's no excuse for this lapse in good judgment here as far as I'm concerned. Once the new Highlander hits the showrooms, this lack of 3rd-row seat flexibility will become all too apparent to many potential customers.

Noooooooooooooooooooo!! Please say this isn't it. Being the planner I am... I've been anticipating this release in preperation for turning in my 2004 highlander sometime in 2008/2009 for the new version. The new design is a little better.. but it looks too much like the current model in the mid section with a mis-scaled front and back end. Interior looks more modern but I guess I had much higher expectations. *sniffle*

I like the RAV4 better than this, it's more coherent. This styling is pieced together. The 3rd row is very poorly planned, and half effort at best.

Wow, I thought Toyota could do better than this. I was hoping that I woud really like this, just for the sake of competition against the outlook/acadia that I am probably going to get. The new Highlander is just as ugly and boring looking and ugly as before, and the interior is a mess of random Camry and Outlook design themes. Toyota messed up on seating flexibility too, the removable center seat (useless) is waaay too narrow to ever fit a normal sized human, and the lack of a split third row ruins its versatility. It's still not that much bigger than the RAV, i thought it would be more like ~195 in. Not to mention, judging by the poor-quality interiors in the new Camry and Tundra, this new Highlander doesnt look too good in comparison to the Outlook/Acadia

Wasn't there a concept highlander last year? What happened to that? This is dog ugly and I have the same advice for Toyota as I did for Dodge on the Dakota, should have kept the development dollars on the exterior and I know you didn't spend anything on the interior by the looks of it.

2002nlksle - I imagine you'll have nothing to worry about by '09. By then I'm positive they'll remedy the rear seats.

david123, here is what C/D said about the HL interior
 
"For those seated in the front row, there is a Lexus-like dashboard and excellent plastics that look richer and feel better than before."
 
Having not yet used the interior, why so quick to judge? I don't think the middle seat in the bench is intended to be stand alone... as in ... it integrates to the captains chairs for three across seating (which in reality.... would this often occur?). I think this interior is a good take on the Pacifica theme of 6 seats in three rows... with the added flexibility of accomdodating more.
 
~alpha

Six seats in 3 rows only works if the 3rd row is comfortable for adults. The Pacifica's 3rd row isn't comfortable for adults, and I doubt this is either. If you have 4 adult passengers, you have a situation where someone is going to be uncomfortable, especially with that weak center seat. The 3rd row of the Acadia is comfortable for adults (although seating 3 across it does not look comfortable at all), and the center bench is wide enough in the Veracruz for 3 adults. I don't think that center seat and non-split 3rd row is going to impress alot of buyers. Even if the materials are good, the design is uninspired.

alpha-i dont mean that the hl has a bad interior, just toyotas of late (camry and tundra) seem to have very low quality interors for toyota, so i thought that maybe this one will too. as for the center seat, obviously it would be used in conjucction w/ the other seats, but that woud be very uncomfortable. The 3 way seet seen in volvos i like better.

I've always liked toyata and lexus, but the styling of toyota is starting to well... stink! Recently toyota's cars have been looking ugly! The rear end of the Rav4 is too blocky, and why is tthe toyota emblem so high on the camry - that grill is too dang huge! Why can't toyota use the L-finnese technique like lexus? The highlander, overall, is ok... but I also think it looks like a supersize Rav4. I'd consider buying one... but only for the interior, and the impressive MPG.

I own a Subaru tribeca so I can't be too critical of exterior styling....but this new Highlander is basically as bland and reserved as it can be...kinda typical of Toyota. It looks a little like a Forester from the front, like a Hyundai From the side with that slight upcurve from the rear doors back. Also, I gotta say, the interior dash looks a little like a Tribeca with the subtle swoop down in the middle.
  
I do like the second row how they did captains chairs with the option of adding a middle passenger....I think that would be more comfortable for rear seat passengers 90% of the time.
  
More pics here: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-toyota-highlander/

Ugly. Outside in...
But it's a Toyota Highlander and I too think it will sell regardless. Very much like people buying say Chevy Impala because it is an American car!
But the the headlights and front and rear styling... I don't know what else to say other than ugly.