2001 Toyota Highlander Review Summary

What reviewers liked most about the 2001 Toyota Highlander:

• The gear shift lever is in an unusual position: in a raised pod... [and is] easier to reach than most floor shifters.- Canadian Driver

• much more comfortable than typical mid-size truck-based SUVs, especially in the back seat.- Woman Motorist

• ... [rear-seat passengers will] enjoy the backrest's three-position recliner.- Car and Driver

• ...spring rates are slightly firmer [than the Lexus RX 300] for a more sporty ride. And we like it.- Popular Mechanics

• ...some of the biggest, most sensible and easy to use cabin controls we've seen.- The Detroit News

• Highlander offers all the quiet we have come to expect from Toyota sedans.- AutoWeek

• ...smooth suspension, precise steering, and refined powertrain...- Car and Driver

• It may not deliver a quick jolt to the brain's pleasure center, but it does gradually blossom there into a sense of general well-being and satisfaction. A smile even forms... 'Hey! I like this Highlander.'- New Car Test Drive

• The base [four-cylinder] engine will work for about 90 percent of all driving needs.- AutoWeek

• standard antilock brakes equipped with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and brake assist- Edmunds.com

• ...it cut upward through eight inches of newly fallen snow like a snowplow on a rescue mission. 'Hey! I like this Highlander - a LOT!'- New Car Test Drive

What reviewers liked least about the 2001 Toyota Highlander:

• [Brakes] felt numb... It took lots of pressure to slow... [however] Highlander never failed to halt.- USA Today

• ...there isn't a centre armrest/storage bin [for CDs, sunglasses or cell phone].- Canadian Driver

• Highlander does not have an optional third-row seat.- The Detroit News

2001 Toyota Highlander Comparisons:

• Compared with the RX 300, the Highlander is both larger and less expensive. It doesn't have quite as many luxury features as the Lexus, but you still can load it up with leather, heated seats, a sunroof, et cetera.- Automobile

• ...impressive cargo space: 81 cubic feet (compared with 75 in the RX 300, and 72 in the Grand Cherokee).- Car and Driver

• Everyone will cheer the obvious value: for all its shared components the Highlander is some $8,000 to $10,000 less than the [Lexus] RX 300.- New Car Test Drive

Best one-liners about the 2001 Toyota Highlander:

• a great way to get into a Lexus RX 300 -- at a Toyota price.- The Car Connection

• ...it can swallow with ease impromptu buys at flea markets...- New Car Test Drive

• ...an SUV for folks who want the patina without the pain.- USA Today

• ...car-like step-in and lift-into the Highlander is even friendly to wearers of tight skirts.- New Car Test Drive