Toyota Highlander

The current Highlander has been around since 2014 when it received an extensive, ground-up remake. Now in the 2016 model year, the Highlander soldiers on unchanged. That won’t be the case for 2017, however, as Toyota will give the three-row crossover a mild facelift to match the all-new 3.5-liter V-6 borrowed from the new Tacoma.

Still, the 2016 is a relevant vehicle, offering families a reasonably priced vehicle with plenty of all-round capability, including seating for seven, towing up to 5,000 pounds, and the option of a hybrid drivetrain and AWD. What’s more, the Highlander offers these things at a reasonable fee, with prices starting around $30,000. My tester, fitted with the mid-grade LE Plus package, lists for $34,795.

Since the Highlander is slotted as such a family-friendly vehicle, it worked out perfectly that I had family in town, necessitating the need for a third-row seat. Though there are other crossovers and full-size SUVs with gobs more space, the Highlander seemed up to the task. The third row did prove to be rather limiting in terms of legroom, but four adults and a four-year-old in a car seat fit well enough.

There’s plenty more info below the jump, so keep reading for the full driven review

Continue reading for the full driven review