2009 Toyota Highlander

• Overall
• Prices
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability
• Photos & Videos

Performance - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 Highlander offers strong engine power and a smooth ride, though most complain about its numb electric steering and sub-par handling. A plus for 2009 is a more powerful four-cylinder engine option, which should save on fuel economy compared to the standard V6.

• "Pleasant to drive, though not quite car-agile. Cornering lean is evident and steering response a bit slow on Base and Limited models; Sport is only slightly better. But overall control is fine, and the brake-pedal feel is firm and progressive." -- Consumer Guide
• "Performance could've used a bit of an increase in size. Some staffers went so far to say they had to double-check that it wasn't a hybrid Highlander they were driving, and not simply because of how quiet it is once you push the ignition button." -- AutoWeek
• "Ultimately, the Highlander's performance bends under its own weight, but doesn't break. It's a soft ride and electric power steering provides a solid, but not precise, feel. Making it bigger naturally has caused it to add about 300 pounds, tipping the scales at 4,000 pounds." -- Detroit News
• "Although the redesigned Highlander is considerably larger and heavier than before, it's still easier to drive than most midsize SUVs, even those of the crossover variety." -- Edmunds

Acceleration and Power

The 2009 Highlander comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that puts out 270 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque and is paired with a five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. For 2009, the Highlander also gets a four-cylinder engine option for the base trim. The 2.7-liter inline-four makes 189 horsepower. According to the EPA, 2WD V6 models achieve 18/24 mpg city/highway, while 4WD models achieve 17/23. Four-cylinder models have not yet been rated.

• "When Toyota introduced the redesigned Highlander for 2008, it defended the V-6-only drivetrain by saying four-cylinder buyers would drop down to a RAV4. Evidently that's changed: With gas prices as high as the junkies in "Pineapple Express," a four-cylinder Highlander seems like a good move." -- Cars.com
• "Borrowed from the just-introduced Venza, the Highlander's 2.7-liter I4 will put out 189 hp and, paired up with a 6-speed automatic transmission, ought to equal the traditional V6 in performance, if not power." -- Car Gurus
• "Although we hadn't yet driven a Highlander with the new, 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine at publishing time, we don't expect it to move the roughly 4000-pound Highlander with any real gusto. The V-6 is far better suited to hauling around a Highlander loaded to the gills with occupants and their stuff." -- Car and Driver
• "Models with the conventional V6 engine have good all-around power. They're peppy off the line and competent during midrange passing." -- Consumer Guide
• "In accelerating to 60 mph from a full stop, we timed the Highlander at 7.9 seconds, which is reasonably speedy for an SUV." -- BusinessWeek

Handling and Braking

Most find the Highlander has car-like manners and a soft ride. However, the Highlander's electric power-assist rack-and-pinion steering is a low point for its numb feel.

• "Among the best in class. Test AWD Limited floated smoothly over smaller bumps, though larger ones sometimes pounded through. Note that the Sport model has a sport suspension that rides more stiffly." -- Consumer Guide
• ""The suspension is tuned to give a quiet and supple ride that will absorb most road imperfections with ease, even when equipped with the optional 19-inch wheels." -- Car and Driver
• "The Highlanders handle like tall, thoughtfully engineered station wagons. Ask them to change direction, and they do it without the trucky reluctance one often encounters in real S.U.V.'s." -- New York Times
• "Since Camry based, Highlander has car-like manners. Ride is soft so you don't get beat up and bounced around the cabin. But handling is very minivan-like. Expect wide swings in corners, lean in turns, and loose, less-than-pinpoint steering with a tendency to wander." -- Chicago Tribune
• "Steering feel...with Toyota's new electric assistance, felt numb, offering little feedback from the road to the driver's hands. On paved roads, the steering delivers a small but constant vibration that contradicts the feeling of separation." -- Popular Mechanics