Tag Archives: Car Review

Lexus ES 350 Review

Lexus ES 350 Review – Welcome to the Future…And How Luxurious It Is!

Lexus ES 350 Review
MSRP: Starting at $37,550
MPG: 21 City / 31 Hwy
ENGINE: 60°V6 TYPE / 3.5 L DISPLACEMENT / 268 hp @ 6,200

Family Car Review - Test Drive

Remember the nineties, when super-plucked eyebrows were all the rage and a certain luxury car burst onto the scene? The Lexus offered one of the first two-toned paint jobs I noticed at the time.  Back then, most of us could only dream of the day when we could drive a Lexus. Alas, the future has arrived. Our eyebrows are all grown out and require more maintenance than ever, and now Lexus is raising them with its 2015 ES 350 model and ES 300 hybrid.

As always, Lexus does not fail to disappoint with the amount of options available for this vehicle. This is a car company that is not afraid to outfit an automobile with the small touches that make each model enticing. In the case of the ES 350, there’s the ultra luxury package, the premium package, and the plain old luxury package. The “basic” luxury package (if you can call it that) boasts many dazzling features, including front seats that are heatedand ventilated. A quick step up to the premium package ensures that the driver receives all of the above benefits, with a telescopic steering wheel and authentic wood accents to boot. A leap to the ultra luxury package is a delight, with attractive add-ons like a panoramic glass roof and ambient interior lighting.Although the car’s exterior may not be considered particularly remarkable by those who would normally dish out $35k+ for a small sedan—the lines are fairly consistent with those of past model years, and nothing necessarily jumps out as spectacular—it compensates for this with extraordinary safety features.

Lexus ES 350 review

The advanced airbag system, which comes standard on the ES 350 and ES 300 hybrid models, includes ten airbags. The driver and front passenger seats even boast knee airbags. The traction control system (TRAC) is another standard feature for both models. This technologically advanced system senses which wheel has better grip, and automatically sends power to it when there has been a loss of traction control for whatever reason. In addition to this feature, there is even a vehicle stability control system, which can sense issues with cornering and guide the car to self-correct with the selective application of brakes and modulation of the engine. Other standard safety features include an advanced braking system, a tire monitoring system, a rigid body structure, and more.

Lexus ES 350 airbags

Lexus really pulled out all the stops with the ES 350’s safety systems! Literally. Smart stop technology comes standard, and some of the optional safety features include: a blind spot monitor, park assist, a backup camera, and HID headlamps.

For those who want to do the school run in style, the ES 350 and ES 300 hybrid are exceptionally well-suited to carting around the kids. The specially treated glass ensures that the little ones don’t get harmed by the sun’s harsh rays, and front and rear dual cupholders can be very helpful after soccer practice. The power trunk, which is capable of opening and closing, is optional but definitely worth its weight in gold after a trip to the grocery store. One touch of the fob and…voila! The trunk will do as you wish. We truly are living in the future.

Speaking of groceries, the cargo space is more than adequate for a family of four. There is a “roomy” feeling in this model, and even the center console can be used to store a few handy-dandy items, such as tissues or snacks.

Lexus ES 350 sedan interior

After the kids have been dropped off at school, though, a parent’s got to have fun, too. The entry to I-75 is the halfway point between my son’s high school and our house so I’m often tempted to veer onto the entry ramp and drive north toward the North Georgia Mountains.  It’s cars like the gorgeous, smooth, quiet, and speedy Lexus ES 350 that make that veer feel almost uncontrolled, as if an entity has taken over me and made me forget about the work that waits me in the office.  This is where the ES 350’s 3.5-liter V6 engine comes in, whisking you down the highway with the added bonus of slick suspension and aerodynamics that are built for speed. This is a family car that performs. Also, with an mpg of 31 on the highway and 21 in the city, it won’t be necessary to stop for fuel constantly.

Incredibly, the ES 300 hybrid model also sports an impressive, powerful engine. In just 8.1 seconds, the ES hybrid goes from 0 to 60. With four driving modes and an EPA combined estimate of 40 mpg, this hybrid is the complete package.

Although pricing has not been released yet, the ES 350 is expected to start at around $37,000, while the ES hybrid should hover at around $40,000 for a base model. These certainly aren’t the least expensive cars in the world, but they are attractively priced for the luxury sector. The enhanced safety features alone provide an excellent value for savvy consumers, not to mention the fact that you’ll be a proud, luxurious Lexus owner. Aren’t you glad you live in the future?

 

Visit your local Lexus dealership to test drive a Lexus ES 350 and learn more about the ES 350 sedan on Lexus here.

2014 Toyota Avalon Review

2014 Toyota Avalon Review – A Radical Drive. A Radical Family Sedan.

2014 Toyota Avalon Review
MSRP: $31,590 – $39,900
MPG: 21 City / 31 Hwy
ENGINE: 3.5L, V6, 268 HP & Hybrid

Family Car Review - Test Drive

Sleek Sedan with Sophisticated Styling

For those of us who remember growing up in the seventies and eighties, family vehicles were decidedly…boxy, for lack of a better word. Toting us around in boxes of the station wagon and minivan variety, our parents marveled at the spacious interiors of those cars. They weren’t particularly concerned with the style of that beloved family vehicle, or the gas mileage for that matter.  All parents used to care about was that the car did the job faithfully, carting their kids from soccer practice and ballet rehearsals.

Thinking back upon those vehicles, aren’t you glad we live in “the future” now?  Consumers have demanded the best of everything, and we have received it with vehicles like the 2014 Toyota Avalon.  This family car lords it over its boxy, gas-guzzling predecessors with style. Speaking of style, the Avalon comes standard with leather upholstery, which critics can’t help but mention in almost every review. Seating five, the Toyota Avalon is fully equipped to take its place as one of the most popular cars on the market. Toyota has created a vehicle that appeals to both parents and kids alike.

Toyota Avalon interior review

In addition, the base model—the XLE—boasts a plethora of features that do not come standard in most family cars. The engine, a 3.5L V6 6-speed automatic, provides the pep that parents want in an automobile. For those concerned with safety features, it would take approximately six months to cover all of the Avalon’s safety features in great detail. Well, maybe not six months, but definitely a long time! Here’s a quick overview of the braking system alone, complete with acronyms.

Brakes:

  • Traction Control (TRAC)
  • Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
  • Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD)
  • Smart Stop Technology (SST)
  • Brake Assist (BA)

Feel safe? You should. The Avalon also boasts a whopping ten airbags, as well as nifty features such as whiplash-reducing seats, a back-up camera, and Daytime Running Lights.

Toyota Avalon hybrid review

With so many parents and kids concerned about the environment nowadays, it’s worthwhile to note that the Toyota Avalon turns out a decent mpg of 21(city) and 31(hwy). The hybrid model does even better, with 40(city) and 39(highway), but of course the 2.5L 4-cylinder hybrid engine is smaller than the XLE’s.

For such a versatile vehicle, the Avalon is also well-priced. The models and starting MSRP are as follows:

  • XLE: $31,340
  • XLE Premium: $33,195
  • XLE Touring: $35,000
  • Limited: $39,650
  • Hybrid XLE Premium: $35,555
  • Hybrid XLE Touring: $36,750
  • Hybrid Limited: $41,400

Now for the important question: what’s in it for the kids?

Our children are as discriminating as we are when it comes to entertainment. Luckily for them, even the base model comes complete with the Entune App Suite, in addition to a touchscreen CD player. A free ninety-day trial of Sirius Satellite Radio also comes with the vehicle. Kids will enjoy the roomy interior, the futuristic Entune display, and the fact that Mom and Dad are driving a cool car. The quiet cabin of the Avalon will almost certainly lull them to sleep, which provides a nice break for parents who have grown weary from the familiar refrain of “Are we there yet?”  We drove the Avalon on a wonderfully peaceful 5 hour road trip (10 hours total) during our week long test-drive of the Avalon and didn’t hear a single complaint from the two eight year old’s in the back seat.  Granted, they slept over half of the drive… need I say more?

For the adults, the hands-free options make life easier when commuting. The 17-inch alloy wheels also complement the car, adding to the sleek factor.

There are some really impressive features built into the 2014 Toyota Avalon, but none of them rival the standout performance of the well-crafted engines, in conjunction with the well-tuned suspension and the ability to stop on a dime. This family vehicle is one that performs its job exceedingly well while maintaining a high level of safety. What more could one ask for in a family car?

The Avalon leads the pack of new vehicles that suggest to us that maybe we can have it all!  If you’re looking for a smaller hybrid, check out our review of the Toyota Prius C, a hybrid hatchback.

 

Lexus RX suv

Lexus RX 450h Test Drive – A Safe, Family-Friendly, Luxury Hyrbid SUV

MSRP: Starting at $47,445
ESTIMATED MPG: 30–32 City / 28 HWY
ENGINE: V6 | 3.5 L | 295hp

Family Car Review - Test Drive

I recently test drove a Lexus RX 450h, a five-passenger luxury hybrid mid-sized crossover for a week and neither my kids or I wanted  to part with it.   Experiencing the luxury hybrid SUV for a week gave me some insight that parents who are looking for a safe, luxury suv will appreciate having.  The RX is available in three styles; the RX 450h that I drove for a week is the hybrid version of the RX.   The RX 350 is a regular gas model and the RX 350 F is the sport style.

Lexus RX suv

Being short (about 5’3″) can pose a challenge when adjusting a driver’s seat and steering wheel in many vehicles.   Because of my height, or lack of, I sometimes find it difficult to see the top of the speedometer and gauges because of the position of the steering wheel in relation to my height but between the seat and steering wheel adjustment options (tilt/telescopic) that the RX 450h offers, I was able to see all of the gauges and sit at a comfortably height.  The fact that the steering wheel is leather wrapped providing a comfortable and smooth grip, doesn’t hurt!

A full hybrid, the RX 450h can operate in electric only, gas-engine only or combined gas and electric modes.   The engine has multiple driving modes: Normal, Sport, ECO and EV, with a net 295-hp.  I accelerated from 0-60 in 7.9 seconds, pretty fast for a mid-sized SUV.  The RX 450h doesn’t make a big production out of being a hybrid.  There were no noticeable sputters, sometimes experienced with a hybrid vehicle, when the RX 450h switched from hybrid to gas or from an engine-off stop to a start which made the ride smooth and quiet. 

Safety First!

Parents will appreciate the 1-year subscription trial to SafetyConnect, a package that includes Stolen Vehicle Location, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), Automatic Collision Notification and Enhanced Roadside Assistance. SafetyConnect is linked to the 24-hour Safety Connect Response Center. The Heads Up Display in the dash keeps information clearly visible while driving. This feature projects information on the windshield, such as speed, audio, RPM and current gear.   To avoid a collision, the Pre-Collison System (PCS) will prepare Brake Assist (increasing the braking pressure) as well as retract the front seat belts and reduce the throttle.

The RX has a voice activated navigation system and a hard drive that stores needed maps.  The optional voice activated navigation system offers real-time traffic and weather alerts.  I really like having real-time alerts when on road trips with my kids.  It’s nice to know when we might run into significant traffic and be given an alternate route.

Lexus RX 450 and 350

I all but refuse to drive a vehicle that doesn’t have a backup camera.  I’ve heard one too many stories about a child being injured or worse, because a driver didn’t see the child behind the car.  While our kids have been taught to never go off the sidewalk to our driveway when someone is in the driver seat, kids are impulsive and don’t always remember the rules.   The RX’s backup camera allowed me to see if kids were behind the vehicle before backing up.   The outside mirrors are heated to ensure constant visibility even in a snowstorm, something we don’t experience a lot of in Georgia but I’m sure those of you in the Northern states are all too aware of.  To also help with visibility, the front-door glass is water-repellent, and the rain-sensing intermittent windshield wipers keep water away.

The Blind Spot Monitor alerted me  when a vehicle entered my blind spot.   To help with parking, the Intuitive Parking Assist let me know where an object is, which is especially helpful during the parallel parking process, something I luckily don’t have to do often but wouldn’t be such a burden to do in a Lexus RX.

Other safety features include a four-sensor, four-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Traction Control (TRAC), Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) which help prevent a skid and the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) which keeps the wheels from slipping.

The Lexus RX has airbags galore.  It has 10 standard airbags.  The front-passenger seat is designed to detect whether the seat is occupied by an adult, a child or is vacant. In case the system detects a child or empty passenger seat, the system prevents the passenger’s front, side and knee airbags from being deployed. 

Once we got home from a long day at the lacrosse field, I was able to use HomeLink, a transceiver that enables the garage, home lighting, gate and home security systems, making for an easy transitioning after a long day.

How Comfortable is the 2014 Lexus RX?

The interior cabin is stealthily quiet.  Like I mentioned earlier, the driver’s seat is highly adjustable but the front passenger seat is as well.  In addition to being adjustable, the 10-way power-adjustable front seats that are both heated and ventilated for either cold mornings or hot afternoons.  The Lexus Memory System will remember the driver’s seat settings, outside mirrors and steering wheel and adjust accordingly.  My  husband is almost a full foot taller than me so a driver’s seat memory system is something we look for in a vehicle so we don’t have to go through the cumbersome task of adjusting the seat, mirrors, and steering wheel when we switch who’s driving.

Lexus RX 450h SUV test drive

My daughter loved that the RX’s rear seats recline; a feature not found in many mid-sized SUV’s.  The rear seats also slide forward to make room for the cargo area.  The back seat armrest provides a great little storage area for a book or dvd along with two cup holders.  Ensuring the kids devices are always fully charged was a breeze with the 120-volt outlet easily accessible to the kids.

The RX 450h cargo area holds an impressive 80.3 cu ft, the same as the non-hybrid RX 350 models.

What About Entertainment?

The 2014 Lexus RX 450 comes with a Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound Audio System, complete with a DVD/CD player and 15 speakers. There is also a USB for an iPOD as well as HD Radio with iTunes.  My daughter and her friend didn’t hesitate to jump in the backseat for a short road trip because of the dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system with 7-inch LCD screens behind the front headrests, along with wireless headsets and a wireless remote.  They enjoyed a movie while I enjoyed peace and quiet in the front cabin. 🙂

What Else?

MPG is a big deal for the 2015 Lexus RX 450h.  It gets 18 city, 25 highway and 21 combined.  The RX 450h accelerates from 0-60 in 7.7 seconds, should the need ever arise.

Lexus RX Models

  • RX350 starts at $40,795
  • RX350F Sport starts at $48,535
  • RX 450h starts at $47,445

If you’re budget is in the $40k-$50k range, you can feel confident that you won’t have to sacrifice comfort and style for reliability if your family chooses the Lexus RX 350 or 450h.

Go to Lexus.com to learn more about the Lexus RX and test drive a RX 450h at your local Lexus dealership!

 

 

2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition Review: A Luxurious Family Workhorse

MSRP: Starting at $41,977
ESTIMATED MPG: 13 City / 17 HWY
ENGINE: 4.0-liter V-6, 4.6-liter or 5.7-liter V-8

Family Car Review - Test Drive

The 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 is a workhorse disguised as a gorgeous pickup truck.   I have wanted to test drive a pickup truck for a long time.   Maybe it’s for my need to overcompensate for my shortness or because I want to feel tough on the road for once.  I am not an aggressive driver by any means so having the opportunity to drive an aggressive looking but fascinatingly pretty truck was impossible to pass up.   The Tundra 1794 handled our busy everyday family-life of hauling kids and their equipment to sports practices, taking several 7-year old girls to get ice cream, and driving up our local ‘mountain’, with incredible ease.

2014 Toyota Tundra 1794

The 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 is a beautiful 4-door truck with a safe, luxurious family-sized cab and many utilitarian features.  It is the top of the line among Tundra’s, and that means it offers the best dashboard technology which will please the geekiest of Moms and Dads, like me. 😉 The price is top of the line, too, jumping over $44,000 compared to the base model’s $26,000 price tag.

Powertrain vs. Fuel Economy

The 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 offers the 5.7 iForce V8.  This 32-valve engine cranks up 381 horsepower and an even better 401 lb-ft of torque. That’s significantly better than the other V8 engine with 310/327 hp/torque and the V6 engine with 270/278 hp/torque. The 6-speed automatic is paired with the V8. Rear wheel drive is a Tundra standard. Fuel economy is only 13 mpg/city and 18 mpg/highway. For a Dad who loves to tow, this high horsepower is a must. For a Mom who is worried about gas prices, the 1794 is a bit of a long shot but it sure is fun to drive!

Safety

Safety equipment includes child-related features such LATCH car seat connectors. This should keep kids’ car seats in place in an accident. Side impact beams and eight airbags should protect precious cargo. The active safety systems provide electronically-controlled stability and traction. The 1794 gains front and rear parking assist sonar systems in addition to its standard rearview camera. Mom and Dad will appreciate the help even when it’s just backing out of a familiar driveway.  A blind spot monitor is an important option, especially since it comes with rear cross traffic alerts for reverse maneuvers. The 1794 tightens up security by adding a glass breakage sensor to its anti-theft feature.

2014 Toyota Tundra 1794

Exterior

When I saw the Tundra 1794 being driven into my driveway I got goosebumps.  It’s massive size, ravishing red color, and bold silver grille took my breathe away.   The 1794 exterior exchanges the color-keyed bumper for a silver one with chrome end-caps and a chrome grille surround.  You can even opt to exchange the 1794’s 20-inch alloys for chrome ones.   The liftgate has an easy lower/lift feature that will moms and dads with kids who have to haul a lot of sports equipment to practice and games happy.  When it came time to put my son’s lacrosse gear in the truck bed and take it out, my 14-year-old welcomed the easy lower liftgate.   A windshield wiper de-icer and power-defrost mirrors take care of wet weather problems.  The 1794 adds embedded turn signals to the power-folding side mirrors, a must-have in my opinion.

Toyota Tundra 1794 Grille

Interior

The 1794 definitely upgrades the Tundra cabin.  It exchanges fabric for premium perforated leather. It adds ventilation and heating to the front seats.  It adds a dual zone climate system, which operates with both Mom’s and Dad’s input. To keep the kids cool, the rear window is a vertical-slide, power-operated one. I especially appreciated the 10-way power driver seat. I am 5’1″ and was worried that I wouldn’t reach the pedals easily but the practically endless driver seat adjustment options allowed me to get comfortable and ready for a drive quickly.  Front seat passengers will be pleased with their own 6-way power seat.

My kids found plenty of places to stash stuff since the cabin has numerous cup and bottle holders and the largest front cabin storage unit I’ve ever seen!   My daughter stored coloring books and more in the storage compartment.  As far as the back seat was concerned, my kids were in heaven.  You have to see the interior of the Tundra in order to believe it when I saw it’s gigantic!  Madelyn, 8-years-old, could barely touch the front seat with her toes.. great for me as she thinks that pushing on my seat with her feet is “giving me a back massage”.  I’ll take a professional masseuse, thank you. 🙂  The Tundra’s split rear seat folds away for extra cargo space, in the rare case that you’d need more cargo space.  Perhaps for a large stroller?

2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 interior

Technology

The 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 offers top-of-the-line technology.  There’s an Entune screen with easy touch buttons and a premium JBL Audio system. Even GPS navigation is standard and the voice, along with all Toyota’s I’ve tested lately, is incredible polite and soothing.  I feel like I needed to say thank you after each directional command.  You also get regular Tundra standards such as Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel controls, and streaming audio from sources including Pandora and iHeart radio.  For the price tag, the 2014 Tundra 1794 definitely packs in the luxuries, safety features, dash tech and utility prowess.
2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 storage

Utility

Dads who want a utility vehicle will find that the Tundra is one useful machine for the worksite, for hauling and for towing. To start, ground clearance is a generous 10.4 inches.  The towing package is standard and includes the receiver, 4/7 pin connector, tow/haul mode, and engine components like the oil and transmission coolers. This makes the Tundra CrewMax 1794 capable of towing 10,000 pounds. By comparison the standard Tundra can tow less than 7,000 pounds. Trailer sway control is standard, making this comparable to Ford F150 and similar brands.
Toyota Tundra test drive review
The only drawback I can think of after driving this stunning truck for a week is its low fuel economy.  That being said, I am hard-pressed to think the average driver of a pickup truck is as concerned about getting 30+mpg as they are being able to haul a good amount of stuff in the bed while enjoying a luxury driving experience.
The look on my daughter’s face is what she thought of the Tundra!  She and I relaxed in the bed of the Tundra 1794 Edition for a couple of hours while my son practiced Lacrosse.  We had a blast!
Toyota Tundra bed
Find a Toyota dealership near you and take the Tundra for a drive!
In order to facilitate this review, Toyota provided me with a 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 for one week.  All opinions are my own.
2014 Toyota Highlander Review

2014 Toyota Highlander: A Quiet and Powerful Family SUV

MSRP: Starting at $27,650
ESTIMATED MPG: 19 City / 25 HWY

Family Car Review - Test Drive

You’ve probably seen the commercials for the new 2014 Toyota Highlander.  The one where the Muppets burst into a house of bored family members one of which is looking up Old Faithful on his tablet.  “If you wanna see Old Faithful don’t be such a couch potato” the Muppets say.  “Yea just go check out the thing for yourself. We ain’t got no room for boring.”, sing the Muppets.  The family and the Muppets visit Old Faithful. That’s the way to do it; why just look amazing places up on your tablet when you hop in the car and drive there?

The 2014 Toyota Highlander is the 3rd generation of Highlander and it has been redesigned with bold new exterior styling, family friendly features and the latest in advanced safety and audio technology.  All of this while still maintaining it’s Toyota DNA of quality, durability and reliability.  The Highlander is available in front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations, with a choice of six trim levels: LE (FWD only), LE V6, LE Plus V6, XLE V6, Limited V6 and Limited Platinum V6. The LE is powered by a 185-hp 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine, while all other trims get the 270-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine.  The Highlander ranges in price from $29,000 to about $47,000.

2014 Toyota Highlander Review

Before I go into detail about the 2014 Toyota Highlander, let me tell you about some of the features I look for in a vehicle and why.

  • I am a mother of two.  I have a 14 year old son and a 7 year old daughter.
  • My son plays Lacrosse which requires transporting his very large Lacrosse stick and other (smelly) equipment to and from practices and games therefore I need ample trunk/cargo storage space.
  • My 7-year-old likes to have playdates and I want to have enough seating for everyone to sit comfortably and safely in my vehicle so I look for ample (4+ seats) and easy access seating.
  • My kids and I drink a ton of water so I need at least one cup holder per passenger if not more.  During road trips I switch between water and Diet Coke.  You know how that is.   
  • I like to be cold but my kids and husband would be happy to stay in the desert for a few days so I appreciate dual and/or 3 zone climate control.
  • I have back issues from a car accident and use my heated seat 90% of the time I’m in the car, even in the summer so having heated seats is very important to me.
  • I drive a lot of short distances (to and from sports, etc) and don’t want to fill up my tank every few days which is where good city driving mileage comes in.
  • Back to having two kids…before I had a vehicle with a backup camera, it took about 10 minutes for me to back out of my driveway.  Not exactly 10 minutes but longer than now.  I  couldn’t help but wonder if one of the kids had run out to tell me goodbye again.  A backup camera is a must!
  • I am short; 5’1″ to be exact.  Being short makes it difficult for me to see further than the hood of some vehicles like my husband’s Ford Mustang (hello phonebook seating).   I look for highly adjustable seats and when the seats are programmable that is even better.
  • Last but not least, my kids are kids.  They enjoy watching a movie during road trips and I enjoy the peace and quiet I get when they watch a movie with their wireless headphones.  A DVD entertainment system is very nice and helpful to have.

Now that you know the story of my life and what I look for in a vehicle, let’s move on to my experience with the 2014 Toyota Highlander.

For purposes of this review I am going to focus on my favorite Highlander model, the Limited.  The Limited is just above the mid-range model, the XLE, priced at $36,040. For purposes of this review, I test-drove the Highlander Limited for one week which starts at $39,640 and is the only model below in cost to the Hybrid model.

2014 Toyota Highlander

If you have young children, they probably spend quite a bit of time in the car. Between appointments, playdates, daycare or school, and family outings, it may even seem like your family lives in the car sometimes. To make that time enjoyable, safe, and affordable, consider getting a vehicle like the 2014 Toyota Highlander.

Highlander Safety

There are a myriad of safety features on the Highlander, like the Star Safety System that has six different ways to keep you from crashing, ventilated disk brakes, backup camera, blind spot monitor, advanced airbag system, child safety seat restraints, and automatic tire pressure monitor. You’re less likely to crash driving a Highlander, but if you do crash, you’re more likely to remain uninjured.

Highlander Comfort

As far as seating goes, it’s always better to go with too many seats than too few. You never know when friends or extended family will want to take a road trip. This vehicle can seat up to eight people, and to add to the spacious comfort, the back seats recline for napping.  The Limited model seats 7, with the middle row being two captain chairs.

Highlander Engine and MPG

For an eight-passenger vehicle, it also gets good gas mileage. At 19 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon on the highway, it’s an affordable way to transport your kids or a whole group. It also has a pretty big engine – it can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

Highlander Entertainment

One of the best things about the Highlander is that both kids and adults will be entertained. With the touch screen in the front, you can listen to music, buy movie tickets, and look at different dining options. There’s also an option to put a DVD system in for the kids.

Highlander Price

The 2014 Toyota Highlander is a top-notch vehicle and may seem expensive at first glance, but if you can swing it, it’s worth every penny.  If you add on many features, it could cost you over $40,000, but starting at just under $30,000, it can actually cost around the average price of a new vehicle.

2014 Toyota Highlander Interior

My favorite features of the 2014 Toyota Highlander include:

  • Seating for 7 to 8 passengers
  • In-dash shelf built into the dashboard – great for keys, phones, wallet
  • Oversized center console that is big enough to fit a purse or diaper bag
  • Backup camera (I can’t do without one of these since having one)
  • Second and third row air vents
  • Panoramic Moonroof
  • SiriusXM w/NavTraffic satellite radio
  • Entune Audio Systems which include hands-free Bluetooth streaming technology and advanced voice recognition
  • Lane Departure Alert (love this added safety feature!)
  • 6.1 inch standard touchscreen
  • Three zone climate control
  • Tilt and telescopic steering wheel – great for shorties like me!
  • Universal remote transmitter (for garage doors)
  • Heated and ventilated front seats
  • 8 inch ground clearance; great for people like me who like to feel higher up than I do in a sedan which has an average ground clearance of 5-6 inches. The ground clearance on the Highlander is about an higher than the average minivan.

I took the Highlander for a drive on some twisty and bumpy roads to see how it would perform and was impressed with the smooth handling and stable steering during those drives.  The 248 lbs.-feet of torque and 270 horsepower surely contributed to the Highlander’s speedy 0-60 acceleration of just under 8 seconds.  Just as impressive was the quiet cabin during any type of ride whether on the highway, bumpy roads or to soccer  practice on local roads.   This is something I appreciate as a parent. I appreciate being able to hear what my child sitting in the 3rd row is saying to me without having to use a walkie-talkie.

Choosing a vehicle is a big decision, perhaps only second to buying a house. This means you will want to thoroughly research any vehicle before making a decision. By choosing the 2014 Toyota Highlander, you can rest assure that you are driving your family in a vehicle that is safe, comfortable, and gets good gas mileage.

Find a Toyota dealership near you and take the Highlander for a spin with your family.  It just might be the perfect SUV for your family!

What do you think about the Toyota Highlander?

I was provided with a 2014 Toyota Highlander Limited for one week to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.