New Toyota Highlander in-depth review: a hefty slice of American pie!

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2021 Toyota Highlander review: carbyr.uk/3dOVCAb
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The Toyota Highlander is a large SUV with seating for seven and a hybrid engine. This flagship SUV has been available in the US for several years but now Toyota has introduced it to the UK with a price tag of around £50,000, making it the most expensive model offered by the brand. The Highlander has a spacious interior, excellent practicality, plenty of tech and can return around 40mpg. But can it live up to its price tag when strong rivals like the Kodiaq and 5008 offer similar practicality for less money? Nicola puts it to the test to find out.
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00:00 - Introduction
01:25 - Interior and technology
02:58 - Engine and performance
03:43 - Rear seats
04:51 - Boot space and practicality
05:15 - Driving and specifications
08:10 - Dealmakers and dealbreakers
09:03 - Verdict

Пікірлер: 140

@Jay-B1750 2 жыл бұрын

Love Nicholas enthusiasm and balanced reviews, I even watch the cars I'm not keen on! Keep up the good work 👍👍

@whitemoor66 2 жыл бұрын

That is a big ol' bus! Hugely practical and no doubt bullet proof reliability too, 30+mpg from a petrol engine doesn't seem bad either. Cut price Discovery 5?

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

You've got it!

@fugawiaus 2 жыл бұрын

It’s called the kluger in australia and we’ve had them since 2003. But then again we also have f250s and dodge rams here so the kluger is dainty in comparison.

@HelenFire420 2 жыл бұрын

American car reviewer: this mid sized crossover is very small compared to the competition. British car reviewers: WOW THIS IS GINORMOUS!!!!

@ibrahimjubayer8373 2 жыл бұрын

Great informative video with useful data especially the co2 emission part thank you

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@abhishekbhaskar2931 2 жыл бұрын

Toyotas age better than humans😍

@jgreen8339 2 жыл бұрын

We love your personality Nicola! You're doing a great job on the channel.

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@gsvenkatesh81 Жыл бұрын

Excellent review

@rappers5719 2 жыл бұрын

I drove the V6 from the South Island to the North Island NZ. A powerful arm chair.

@Hansie2211 2 жыл бұрын

My neighbour has it and it is very eye catching and the best looking car around my area. An attractive monster

@oliverstemp9132 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic review of a great car.

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! 👍

@mrmichaelmann8655 2 жыл бұрын

I like review. I like car. I like how your jacket collar color matches upper part of car interior and the black matches the lower part.

@jamiep61 2 жыл бұрын

I enjoyed watching the Video Review. I have seen three already

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Wow that's two more than we have, Jamie!

@owenmcdonald5922 2 жыл бұрын

Great review as usual. Toyota have just pulled the plug on the Camry. Will they do the same with this in a year or two. I wouldn't risk my hard earned on it.

@nbarti 2 жыл бұрын

You will make the 1mil subs in a heartbeat

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Tell all your friends!

@nakedtommy40 2 жыл бұрын

I love my 2010 Highlander Limited in the USA. V6 gas engine. Bought at 95K miles 140K miles now. Its very first brake job being done soon where I'll replace rotors and all just because. Had new rear wheel bearings 2 yrs ago. I normally get 21 mpg. When I tow a 12' cargo trailer (almost daily) I get 14 to 17mpg. Our entire family has 9 Toyota vehicles of all sizes and we can't imagine going back to any other brand. This video shows very narrow roads similar to my personal driveway. If that is the reality of roads in UK or Europe, I would be very uncomfortable having to ride the center line. Our road lanes are typically 12 + feet wide and road width is never an issue unless you are towing a 10' wide boat on curves.

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Everything is bigger in the States!

@notmebutyou8350 2 жыл бұрын

That's awesome!!! I LOVE the Highlander! That thing is gorgeous! I have a 2017 Toyota RAV4, and hope it lasts a good, long time. I did just experience a little issue with the fuel coming through and had to cal AAA. When the driver came out, he pumped the gas pedal first and then started the car right up. Have you had any issues like that so far or no?

@frankie6849 2 жыл бұрын

Not fair yanks getting bigger screen lol Great review as always

@joshbacon8241 2 жыл бұрын

Why don’t right-hand-drive Highlanders get the 12.3 inch infotainment screen that the left-hand-drive ones get, and instead we have to make do with only an 8 inch screen?

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

It's a travesty!

@Ommankegarage 2 жыл бұрын

what is the wheel size of highlander

@anthonystevens8683 2 жыл бұрын

Great review Nicola as always. I like it though. Interior looks great and the style of the car is fine. Tonnes of space that's possibly only ever going to be beaten by the amount of student possessions during the retrieval of said student from uni accommodation. I have to agree that the small telly compared to the US version is a tad irritating. I guess it would be fine if you find a couple of post codes to park it in. The standard supermarket space might require you to park it so far from the entrance that you'd either need to catch the shuttle bus or call a taxi and traffic calming measures may require some after care to those alloy wheels after a wile. A few tweaks to the script just for the sake of humour? Casting aside the normal 'nasturtiums', so many cubbies and holes that you can 'loose' all your stuff in, fitting the 'British Standard' Nicola size person in the seats, I had to chuckle at the wohhwohhwohh, there's a word for that, "Wallowy", brilliant!. Keep up the great reviews Nicola, both informative and entertaining.

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Anthony!

@edgarcj9018 2 жыл бұрын

I have limited gas engine its so good ...from mexico

@UsmanKhan-mx9ll 2 жыл бұрын

the toyota highlander has been on sale in the uk for about a year now, and i’ve still not seen a single one on the roads yet. in fact, sometimes i think i see one coming and it turns out to just be a rav4 😂 so you were correct at the end when you said it won’t be a big seller here. i do like them tho 👍🏽

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Nicola is ALWAYS right.

@UsmanKhan-mx9ll 2 жыл бұрын

@@carbuyer but i don’t understand when people say that the highlander is hard to drive in the uk because of its size… a volvo xc90 is bigger than the highlander, yet the xc90 is a popular car in the uk

@jamiep61 2 жыл бұрын

I enjoyed watching the Video Review. Why won’t Toyota offer a larger Infotainment System Screen Size as I think a 8 Inch Screen Is a bit to small

@joshbacon8241 2 жыл бұрын

Exactly. Why Toyota won’t offer the larger 12.3 inch screen on the right-hand-drive cars like they do for the left-hand-drive cars I’ll NEVER know!

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

It's a real shame - could make such a difference!

@sanchaynarain3532 2 жыл бұрын

I guess they don’t want RHD Toyotas to get the 12 inch screen to keep costs in check compared to the LHD markets ! All RHD markets get the 8 inch touchscreen.

@newenso2780 2 жыл бұрын

Love the highlander owned one in the States and now being in Scotland not sure I want one. The roads are just to small lol Even in this review the highlander sets comfortably across the lanes

@petergazarek4238 2 жыл бұрын

HIGHLANDER IN BLUE 😎👍🏻

@watchfan6180 2 жыл бұрын

It does not fit on a U.K. public road. Still, Toyota reliability beats the small gimmicks other manufacturers offer

@kristians2704 2 жыл бұрын

then how do the Range Rover, bmw x7 and mercedes gls fit?

@lucaparker1084 2 жыл бұрын

Looks very similar to the new BMW IX from distence at the rear.

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Speaking of the BMW iX - review coming early next year!

@naferemix 2 жыл бұрын

Really enjoy watching you review cars I’ll never want, and that’s not me being sarcastic! Please do a ‘super mini stand off’ when you have your hands on a face lifted fiesta and polo, will that clio hold up without a facelift of its own yet? Only you can tell us 👵🏻

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Good idea... we'll see what we can do.

@coover65 Жыл бұрын

Brits don't get the 3.5L V6 petrol engine? Our Highlander (Kluger here in Australia) is a 218kw/292hp V6. Very popular in Victoria with police and paramedics as response units.

@teovm 2 жыл бұрын

The VW Sharan/Seat Alhambra are probbably the best family movers in EU. Maybe the Ford Galaxy but it does not have sliding doors. They have pretty much the same inner space, sliding rear seats, a real 3rd row seats with Isofix and for male adults, I'm 186cm/6'1"/ and can fit in every row behind myself. The boot and total capacity is the same and have 4wd. High seating position, just like in a mid size SUV. Also the inner goods are on par. Pro's: sliding doors/you just can't beat that when it comes to kid comfort/, smaller wheels /way cheaper on the running costs/, better handling than a lot of mid size, mid range SUV's. Cons - well it's not a Toyota. I wish they had the Toyota Siena ,but that stupid SUV trend.

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Shame you can't buy the VW/SEAT new anymore. We always really liked them!

@timl4257 2 жыл бұрын

Its better than a plug in don't have to waste time finding a charging point. Is electric the way forward? Is that why the utility companies are increasing their prices/tariffs? Wouldn't surprise me if we will get constant power cuts with everyone plugging in. Electricity usage isn't great for the environment either. Anyway good review, it is a nice car and with toyota you are guaranteed that'll last.

@yudhabagaskara98 2 жыл бұрын

The new Avanza looks similar to this one

@nintendoatarikiller 2 жыл бұрын

I see these everywhere in Canada

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Much better suited to Canadian roads, we suspect!

@emgee9775 8 ай бұрын

A Toyota hybrid will outperform any diesel for fuel economy, it depends how you drive it. I’ve managed to get over 60 mpg on a run in one of these. Being a Toyota, it will be much better built than Skoda or Kia. The E-cvt is built differently than other auto boxes but is hugely reliable. I’ve driven Priuses into nearly 400 thousand miles without a murmur from the engine or gearbox. Plug in or not, the hybrid option is still better than a diesel. Toyota’s are brilliant and put many other marques to shame.

@vinodthomas9843 2 жыл бұрын

Looks good except front grill .

@0farmerjohn0 Жыл бұрын

2:09 Straight from the horse's mouth! Size does matter. 😂 Great review as always!

@joelhenderson4450 2 жыл бұрын

My mom has one. V6. It’s a mom car.

@harveynicholas859 2 жыл бұрын

brother in law got given one of these from work and it was screaming at 90mph

@keribehrens1407 2 жыл бұрын

It was a great suv. I bought a 2021 platinum with everything. The problem with it is they took the same engine that was in the camera and put it in the Highlander and didn't account for thr weight of it. It's hard to get it into they hybrid mode in thr highlander and not hard in thr camery. I ended up selling it for something different 3 months later. I had bucket seats all the way through it. I loved but it didn't get the 30+mpg that it says.

@peacelover5984 2 жыл бұрын

She doesn't seem to be a Toyota fan...but I like them for their reliability and low maintenance unlike my Merc which ripped through my pocket

@bighands69 2 жыл бұрын

Very few journalists are Toyota fans. European and British Journalists do not like America cars or American culture either.

@raybrowsing 2 жыл бұрын

Highlander - "there can be only one"

@jungleguybest 2 жыл бұрын

Usually i'm not a toyota guy mainly due to it's driving dynamics. But when i started listenning to this video i was very attracted to the way you put things in place, like: the engine goes waaaaaa, your accent and pronounciation, since i'm someone who has friends all over the globe and i enjoy listening to all languages and learn them and so on. You madam are great reviewing cars, i stand up for you. And i'll subscribe right now to your channel, and watch your other vids. Thank you sincerely. My best wishes for you.

@krzysztofcwik5347 2 жыл бұрын

This one has only 2 isofix, 3rd row is not that great - as a family car - nice but nothing special in 5 meters:) Toyota has Sienna with the same powertrain as Highlander, not perfect minivan, but still - much more practical for families - only in 8 seat config. Us minivans have this great 3rd row of seats when hidden in the floor - it is hidden:). Behind that 3rd row boot is massive. Please toyota, bring this sliding door family machine to Europe.

@factfilenews 2 жыл бұрын

People get into a large suv drive it and complain that it's big, heavy, and Wallowy around the corners. You can't cheat physics. Come on.

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

In most cases, you're right!

@andreadevetak4325 2 жыл бұрын

I know we made the right decesion to buy a hybrid☺

@markdean3217 2 жыл бұрын

I like this Lady, more of her please, something different 👍🏻😊

@johnhundt5179 2 жыл бұрын

The reason why the screen is smaller is because the stearing wheel is on the wrong side 😆

@CT-oe1ug 4 ай бұрын

Two years of tumbleweed with that one, John.

@mwilliams9568 2 жыл бұрын

How can a car that big not have 3 full size seats in the 2nd row, pretty pointless if you got three growing kids.

@r0ut366 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed! Our family Prius Plus has 3 full-size seats in the middle row. And it's a lot smaller.

@UKMacMan 2 жыл бұрын

Imagine being the car coming the other way on a B road.....

@salahmaaita2507 2 жыл бұрын

She is professional

@perpelle 2 жыл бұрын

It isn't THAT big. Under 5 meters long. About the same as a SWB transit custom/transporter/trafic. A European size pickup is more then 30cm longer.

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

It's as much about sheer bulk as it is the length of the thing. It's wide, and not that nimble, which makes it feel a bit too big for UK roads...

@jynckx 2 жыл бұрын

Put this woman on top gear please

@kshaw8494 6 ай бұрын

Please don’t

@jynckx 6 ай бұрын

@@kshaw8494 bro I posted this 2 years ago. Top gear is dead and your children need their dad.

@bighands69 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah Land Rover and Mercedes do not make large SUV's for the UK.

@pipnmaz 2 жыл бұрын

Not a car for me, especially due to the CVT - three letters which are an instant no-no but a thumbs up for the Nicola sized person reviewing it!

@Bhartiya969 2 жыл бұрын

Toyota also planning to bring it in to Indian Market.. Toyota is doing good here.. Price will be more than UK, we will get it @ Rs 45,00,000 + Tax but once they start production in India I am sure it will be 5,00,000 cheaper

@joemclaughlin995 Жыл бұрын

Sadly no diesel engine available. Not a big fan of hybrids from personal experience. Gasoline engines not best suited to these types of vehicles. The diesel X5 is shockingly good !

@mjr7817 Жыл бұрын

No one likes diesel anymore. More expensive. DPF. Loud noises. Higher road tax. Nasty black pumps.

@alexanderdunning6586 Жыл бұрын

Same dimensions as a Q7, which is now dwarfed by the X7 and GLS...

@johnrees8322 Жыл бұрын

It's a lot narrower than a q7 and width is usually the biggest problem on uk roads etc

@Mo.Jo. 2 жыл бұрын

Lol, i guess you haven't been inside a Toyota Sequoia then. It dwarfs the highlander.

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Heaven forbid! Not sure it'd fit on our roads...

@daveM135i 2 жыл бұрын

*Complains about manufacturer offering a smaller infotainment, but also Carplay and Android auto.

@sergewindman 2 жыл бұрын

Зашел посмотреть на Ginny, а ее нет, эх печально!)

@simple2224 Жыл бұрын

I love this girl

@sqmp446 2 жыл бұрын

looks like a subaru from a distance

@FOXHOUND4143 Жыл бұрын

CVT AGAIN? CAN'T THEY JUST GIVE THIS UP ALREADY?!

@andreadevetak4325 2 жыл бұрын

We have a Toyota Highlander

@Ivaylo1985 9 ай бұрын

This is an average size SUV in the USA... 3 larger Toyota SUV in the USA

@cactus3796 2 жыл бұрын

5:30 see how much of the road this takes up !! must be so stressful to drive. not suitable for uk roads really.

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

We're inclined to agree...

@ukxie 2 жыл бұрын

18 cm movement😁, just like mine.

@trumpisastump9382 2 жыл бұрын

A bit prone to exaggeration.

@mikadavies660 2 жыл бұрын

Why doesn't Car Buyer mention the start price? This looks like a reasonable spacious bus... but it starts at over £50,000...!! For a long wheelbase Rav4! Sorry but that is too expensive and the CVT is annoying and noisy!

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

Prices are subject to change, which makes it a difficult discussion on video. All the info you need can be found at Carbuyer.co.uk!

@nakedtommy40 2 жыл бұрын

Ummm the Highlander is not a stretched RAV4. I currently own both and the Highlander is quite a different and upgraded vehicle.

@Bellajoie24 2 жыл бұрын

Forget the UK and their pauper minded lifestyle 😩😩😏

@alpha7498 2 жыл бұрын

I rather have a Hyundai Palasade

@blackcyborg009 2 жыл бұрын

@Carbuyer The small infotainment screen comment seems similar to what was mentioned for reviews of the vehicle in: - Australia (@Carexpert) - New Zealand (@Tarmac Life) - Ireland (@Bob Flavin) I guess Toyota USA ran out of money to develop a bigger screen for the Right Hand Drive version

@AndrewOfTheNorth 2 жыл бұрын

lol literally WAAAY too big for british roads, couldn't even stay one side of the white lines the 1st minute in. That wing mirror will take a few people out

@devster1975 2 жыл бұрын

Not keen on the interior but the rest of it looks pretty swish.

@hmmmwhatwasthat 2 жыл бұрын

It’s actually one of the smallest 3 row SUVs here…

@markuslc1888 2 жыл бұрын

i would prefer the toyota harrier over the highlander, it's way more stylish and has cooler and posher cabine

@thehal991 2 жыл бұрын

1:40 That’s what she said…

@Grandinfotainment 2 жыл бұрын

❤

@MM-wt2oo 2 жыл бұрын

Large 12 inch screen in the US … guess they are making up for some inferiority complex.

@DaveDVideoMaker 2 жыл бұрын

Over in mainland Europe, the Ford Explorer is selling better than the Highlander.

@Shaggy-839two 2 жыл бұрын

That's because they are more cultured, not pissing themselves every weekend.

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

We don't get the Ford Explorer over in the UK!

@DaveDVideoMaker 2 жыл бұрын

@@carbuyer I know, but I said mainland Europe. That does not include the UK. However, we should get the Explorer here.

@JohnDoe-mf1jy 2 жыл бұрын

Why make car shows when people can’t afford any of these cars shameful carbuyer

@Beorn. 2 жыл бұрын

I think it's an ugly looking thing. How much is the yearly car tax? About a grand?

@carbuyer 2 жыл бұрын

It's a flat rate for cars costing over £40,000 - though you do make a £10 saving due to the fact it's a hybrid! So £480 every year for the first five years...

@trimley 2 жыл бұрын

Waaaaaa

@ronniejaye1 2 жыл бұрын

I can't believe that Toyota is going CVT. I've been driving them for over 40 yrs and now I won't be buying one if a CVT is all I can get . EFF THAT TOYOTA!

@rotoehu9266 2 жыл бұрын

To be fair “going CVT” isn’t accurate. Toyota has used e-CVT for its hybrids for many, many years. Oh and look up e-CVT, it is quite different engineering to the CVTs most people are familiar with (much more robust and reliable for starters)

@waynelast1685 2 жыл бұрын

Don't forget to mention that the remote starter stops working after 3 years unless you buy their $8/month subscription service, even though the remote start has NOTHING to do with the internet or network access. The remote start is strictly a local radio signal sent from your remote to your car. No other manufacturer does this to my knowledge and it is a "new thing". But they want to force you to sign up for their monthly service. Total scam and makes me wish I never bought my Highlander.

@peacelover5984 2 жыл бұрын

Thatz just rumors, toyota clarified on it

@waynelast1685 2 жыл бұрын

@@peacelover5984 ok thank God on that.