Thinking of purchasing a highlander

For the wife, looking for input from owners. Shes considering a rav or highlander. We have grandchildren, and im 6' 3". So, roomy? 4cyl rav vs. 6cyl highlander?

 

We (more my wife) purchased a 17 Highlander platinum in January. We absolutely love it. Previously owned a CX9 and a Sorento the Sorento was a POS.. Which is why we traded it out for the Highlander after a few years of constant repair. The Highlander is just on another level then the Rav 4, my sister has one.. Both will be great vehicles, I feel the Highlander is more refined and sofisticated. I am not a SUV person but I do love the way my wife's Highlander rides and drives. Plus it seats 7 so kids can have friends in the car.

 

I rode in a friend's 3rd gen Rav4 and I found it small (and I'm pretty medium sized) but maybe the seat was just too far forward. No experience with the newer ones, though. If you can find one with the 4 speed auto, they're supposedly bulletproof.

Highlander is too close to a minivan for my tastes.

 

My wife has a 17 Highlander and really loves it. Has been trouble free as with most Toyota models. They say it seats seven, but the third row seat is not for an adult. Very limited on leg room back there. Will seat five comfortably with cargo room in rear. Ride is good. I am 6' and fit in it fine with plenty of room. Only time it is a challenge is when she drives. It is hard to get into the front seat because all newer cars have the windshield laid back at such an angle that it is hard to bend down enough to not hit your head as you enter. Would I buy a Highlander again for a family car? Absolutely!!

 

My wife loves hers. We have done a few road trips with the kids. No complaints and plenty of room. She has the 3rd row seating which is cramped but keeps us from taking 2 vehicles if we have more people over and need to load up and go somewhere.

 

Search bar is your friend . . .

https://www.tundras.com/search/3221945/?q=highlander&t=post&o=date&c[title_only]=1

 

We have a 2020 RAV4. I'm 5-11, 180 and have no issues.

It's no Crewmax for interior space but it has enough room for me.

As for the Highlander. I wish they would make it a smaller 4Runner style, like the older, boxy, Ford Escape or Nissa Xterra was. A small SUV and not a crossover.

We had the Tundra for towing and no need for 3 rows anymore, so we went Rav, it was significantly cheaper too. My wife loves it in Eco mode. When I drive it, I throw it in Sport mode and have some fun. It's got some pickup for a 4cyl and handles like a little sports car. It's a champ in the snow too.

 

We had a 2013 Highlander and a 2007 RAV 4. I'm 6'5" and long legs and I had a more comfortable ride driving the RAV 4. The Highlanders wasn't bad, but more space up front in the RAV 4 due to no optional 3rd row like the Highlander. Not sure on newer RAV4s if they are the same dimensions?

 

Pfffffffft!!

 

the new RAV4 are nice that's for sure.

 

So, first question is are you looking for new or used? I have experience with 2014 Rav4, 2020 Rav4 Hybrid, 2019 Highlander, and 2020 Highlander Hybrid.

Rav4s are great two row vehicles but I would suggest you get the newest generation because they finally added rear HVAC vents. Wife had a 2014 gas, our friend/housemate has a 2020 Hybrid. Rear seat occupants took a long time to heat/cool in the prior generation. Space wise they are pretty similar between the two generations and interior noise is still about the same. Hybrid is nice and gets great mileage and when put into sport mode it is quite quick. Good for 4, the middle rear seat is tight.

Highlanders are also great, the third row is really for kids especially on the 2020+. My MIL has the 2019 and it has good power and respectable mileage, comfortable for all in the first two rows but boy does the 2020 redesign fix some things. My wife has the 2020 and the headlights are worlds better (especially the ones on the Platinum!) The infotainment cluster is much better and the new hybrid system gets better fuel mileage than a Rav4 with a gas powertrain. Our biggest gripe on the new Highlander is the Qi phone charger is small and is in the center console. It has to be flipped up to get at anything stored down below. The sound dampening is better in the 2020 which is nice.

Overall really good choices but depends on what you need. Wife and I have two young kids and frequently have a 3rd adult riding with us so the Highlander was the better option for us. Friend is single and no kids so Rav4 was good for him.

 

We have a 2019 Highlander and love it. Nothing at all to complain about!

 

My wife bought a 2019 RAV4 XSE.. damn nice car.. My brother fits in the front just fine and he is 6’2. It is considerably smaller than the Highlander and not as refined though. If it’s in the budget and MPG isn’t a factor get the Highlander?

 

Sequoia. Has all the space you need.

 

I had a Highlander a couple years ago brand new and LOVED it, and honestly if I didn't own a house and need the truck bed, and if I owned a husband I would have kept that and not gotten a truck.

You will love it, does well in the snow, handles nice and lots of room!! I say go for it. Rav4 was too tiny in my opinion for the money, although I am someone that has always preferred larger vehicles.

-T