One day, my perspective on vehicles shifted dramatically. It started with a phone call about a serious car accident involving my sister-in-law. She was driving through an intersection when another car, ignoring a red light, collided with her. The impact was so forceful it flipped her car onto its roof. My nephew, her three-year-old son, was in the back seat. Miraculously, both emerged from the wreckage completely unharmed. The vehicle that played a part in their safety? A first-generation Toyota Highlander. This incident brought the Toyota Highlander into sharp focus for me, highlighting its real-world safety and reliability in protecting families.
2014 toyota highlander exterior front
So, when the opportunity arose to test drive the new 2014 Toyota Highlander, I was genuinely interested. Toyota’s investment in marketing this vehicle, including Super Bowl ads and collaborations with The Muppets, signaled its importance in their lineup. Toyota’s strategy in the mid-size SUV segment has long been two-pronged: the rugged, body-on-frame 4Runner and the car-based, family-friendly Highlander. While the 4Runner traditionally appeals to a more masculine audience, the Highlander has been favored by women. However, with the 2014 redesign, Toyota clearly aimed to inject a more assertive, “butch” aesthetic into the Highlander. The front grille, reminiscent of the 4Runner, features a bolder, more open design. The body sides are more sculpted, giving the vehicle a more truck-like stance. It’s also grown slightly, about half an inch wider and four inches longer. The visual result is definitely polarizing – a design you’ll either love or dislike. While personally, I lean towards the latter, I commend Toyota for taking a bold design direction, ensuring the 2014 Highlander will stand out on the road, unlike its more understated predecessors.
Premium Interior and Tech in the 2014 Highlander
Stepping inside the 2014 Toyota Highlander, particularly in the XLE and Platinum trims, reveals where this SUV truly excels. The interior material quality is exceptional, showcasing meticulous attention to detail in the dashboard layout. The XLE and Limited models boast an impressive eight-inch high-resolution touchscreen in the center console, while the base LE trim features a six-inch screen. A particularly thoughtful touch is the extended storage tray spanning from the center of the dash to the passenger door, ideal for storing electronic devices and other small items. Cleverly positioned portals above the USB jacks allow for neat cable management. In a market saturated with CUVs and sedans, these subtle yet functional details are what truly distinguish a vehicle. Toyota’s focus on organization and convenience is a standout feature of the 2014 Highlander’s interior design.
Spacious and Family-Friendly Cabin of the 2014 Highlander
A common complaint about previous Highlander models, particularly from owners of the 2013 version, was the limited space in the second row. Concerns about maneuvering around cramped seats while installing child car seats were frequently voiced. Toyota addressed these concerns head-on with the 2014 Highlander. Engineers significantly increased both legroom and hip room in the second and third rows by moving them back approximately three inches. Cargo space behind the third row also saw a substantial increase of 34 percent, providing ample room for strollers, golf bags, and other family essentials. For added comfort in colder climates, heated second-row seats are available on the Platinum trim level, further enhancing the family-friendly appeal of the 2014 Toyota Highlander.
2014 toyota highlander interior dashboard
Driving Experience in the 2014 Highlander: City and Highway
My primary focus during the test drive was the 2014 Highlander’s driving dynamics, especially considering I daily drive a competitor vehicle, the Ford Flex. Navigating the Highlander through the streets of Santa Barbara, it felt noticeably wide, which was slightly concerning on narrower side streets. However, overall, the driving experience in the city was pleasant. Toyota prioritized noise reduction in this new model, incorporating 30% more sound deadening material and a new windshield. The result is remarkable – the cabin is exceptionally quiet, almost isolating the driver from the outside environment. While this isolation might not always be desired, it can be a welcome feature during long commutes or road trips. Even with the panoramic sunroof open, noise levels remained impressively low. The driver’s seat offered comfortable cushioning, although it retained the lumbar controls that were less favored in the Avalon. One area needing improvement was braking; the brakes felt surprisingly mushy, requiring significant pedal pressure for effective deceleration from speeds above 35 mph.
Performance in the Mountains: Engine and Transmission of the 2014 Highlander
Taking the 2014 Highlander into mountainous terrain revealed some limitations. Two engine options are available for the 2014 Highlander (excluding the Hybrid): a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 185 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque (LE trim only) and a 3.5-liter six-cylinder generating 270 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque (available on all trims). With a curb weight ranging from 4,100 to 4,500 lbs depending on the trim, even the V6 engine felt somewhat underpowered. Toyota did not provide the four-cylinder model for testing, perhaps acknowledging its performance limitations. The six-speed automatic transmission exhibited frequent downshifting even on mild inclines. Ideally, downshifting would be followed by holding the lower gear, but the transmission often engaged in constant gear hunting while navigating uphill and downhill sections near Santa Ynez. To achieve a consistently smooth driving experience, more aggressive acceleration was required, a driving style unlikely to be adopted by typical CUV drivers. Furthermore, the electric power steering displayed unusual behavior at higher speeds in the mountains. There was a noticeable lag, allowing several degrees of steering wheel movement before the front wheels responded, which could be disconcerting when tackling mountain corners at speed.
Suspension and Handling of the 2014 Highlander
The new double-wishbone rear suspension in the 2014 Highlander was a clear improvement. The rear of the vehicle exhibited significantly less bounce than expected for a vehicle of its size. In fact, the reviewer noted wishing Toyota had implemented a wishbone suspension in the front as well. The considerable weight over the front of the vehicle placed significant strain on the MacPherson struts during cornering, resulting in noticeable body roll.
Market Position and Pricing of the 2014 Highlander
Toyota anticipated the refreshed 2014 Highlander to be a major success in the competitive mid-size CUV segment, a crucial market for all automakers. Their sales target for the 2014 model was a 10 percent increase over the 2013 model, aiming for over 140,000 units, all manufactured in Franklin, Indiana. As the only significantly refreshed competitor in this segment for 2014, Toyota’s sales projections appeared reasonable. They successfully maintained a sub-$30,000 starting price for the base LE trim, at $29,215 for a front-wheel-drive four-cylinder model. However, the 2014 Highlander also crossed the $40,000 threshold for the first time with the Limited trim, reaching $41,100 for the all-wheel-drive version, a $1,700 increase over the previous model. The new Platinum Limited trim was priced at $43,590 (including an optional Driver Technology Package with Pre-Collision system, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert, Automatic High Beam Headlights, and Safety Connect), while the Hybrid Limited Platinum model approached the $50,000 mark at $49,790. It was predicted that the bulk of sales would come from the mid-range LE Plus and XLE trims, priced at $34,200 and $37,500, respectively.
Conclusion: Is the 2014 Toyota Highlander a Good Choice?
Overall, the 2014 Toyota Highlander is a strong contender in the mid-size SUV class, placing it among top competitors like the Ford Explorer and Grand Cherokee, provided you don’t frequently drive in mountainous regions or require significant towing capability. Despite its bolder new styling, it is unlikely to detract sales from its more rugged sibling, the 4Runner, as they cater to distinct customer needs. The 2014 Highlander is poised to retain its existing customer base and attract owners of competing vehicles, assuming potential buyers can look past its somewhat controversial front grille. For families seeking a safe, spacious, and well-equipped SUV, the 2014 Toyota Highlander is definitely worth considering.
