2012 Toyota Highlander consumer reviews

We bought the base 4 cylinder Highlander with the cold package. On the negative side the fabric used on the seats stains easily & is hard to clean. Also, the manually adjustable driver's seat has limited settings & no adjustable lumbar. On the plus side we have gone 15,000 miles with absolutely no problems! Although salesmen discouraged us from getting a 4 cyl., we have not had an incident with lack of power. Yes it is a little noisier & shifts more often but getting 21 mpg in town & 25+ on the highway is a big plus. If we were buying again we would get the tech package with the upgraded seats, outside temp guage & other goodies we miss from our 2004 Sienna.

After several months of researching and deliberating, we made our 2012 Toyota Highlander purchase. After we narrowed our selection to the Highlander, we deliberated about a year or two old used one vs. a new one and decided to go with the model,color and equipment we really needed and wanted and went with a new,4wd, SE gas model and we couldn't more pleased. It is perfect and should serve us well for many years as we keep our vehicles longer than many people. It is a joy to drive and ride in. We were interested in quality and value so we really only considered Toyota and Honda. We have only had it 3 months but not regretted our decision and feel it will be a reliable vehicle and a relief come winter with our Kansas snow and ice. I do wish it got a little better gas mileage as we don't seem to get quite the in-town mileage it boasts but we had read similar reviews before buying and expected this. We were pleased with our highway mpg. All in all, we are totally pleased with our Highlander.

This is the 2nd Highlander I've owned. My first one I had for 10 years. If I wasn't a single mom, and warranty etc, wasn't so important to me, I would have kept my first one. It never let me down. The interior room these Highlanders have is a big plus. I love the Tech package as it gives me all the bells and whistles I need and also curbs my vanity on having a sporty, good looking vehicle to drive. Thanks Toyota, for making such a great vehicle.

I really enjoy the interior comfort and roominess that the Highlander affords. This is the basic model and I'm used to a few more gadgets than is on my car. I didn't think I'd miss an outside temperature gauge or radio controls on the steering wheel, but apparently I do as I'm always reaching for them. The vehicle is about 6-8 inches higher than is comfortable for me to enter but not bad to exit as I just kind of slide out. I knew it was a bit to high when I purchased it so it's was my call on that one. I'm used to a vehicle that gets better gas milage than the Highlander, but I knew that going in also, and I must say with gas prices ballooning out of control it is a concern. The only real negative that I have to comment on is the power of the Highlander. I feel like I really have to push it at times to get it to move, but once it's going it seems to handle all kinds of traffic smoothly. I really love the 2 tone interior coloration, I was so tired of all charcoal so the beige and black/grey is refreshing and a real joy to take a ride in.

Nice ride, sporty look, great design! Vehicle gets great mileage on trips. I would recommend this vehicle to others. Controls are easy to adjust.

We bought our 2012 highlander 6 months ago. We do a mixture of urban and highway driving. It rides great. Great acceleration ,lots of room. We just love it

We love our 2012 Highlander Limited. Comfortable ride and very nice features. Not good mileage but acceptable.

Excellent car that offers comfort and reliability, fully loaded costs a little more but was well worth it....get all accessories you want before you buy as the cost goes up as an add-on after you purchase the car

I have owned only Toyotas for 35 years and have never been disappointed until now. I switched to the Highlander from a Sienna.I have found the steering miserable, you could zip a Sienna into any parking space, this thing takes a couple in and outs to get in the space evenly. 7 passenger is a joke, more like 6 people and a midget (sorry, small person) that is over 9 so they do not need a car seat. I figured 7 person, actually only need seating for 6, should be okay. But you have to make a choice of groceries or kids, not both.

Found the Highlander with al the features we could want, an SE package, in Indianapolis through their on-site listing and drove 1-1/2 hours to visit the dealership on Monday to test drive and put an offer on the SUV. We had experience with driving a RAV-4, but wanted something with a little more room and a little more power and towing ability - might tow a trailer in the future. Extremely pleased with the SE version which has all the creature comforts we need, cold weather package, tow-prep, and other ammenties like Blue Tooth and MP-3 that allow us to use our other devices more easily. With all the remote door / back hatch opening, universal garage door opener, heated seats, etc. we are more than satisfied with our purchase. All of the controls features are very intuitive and easy to use, and the fit and quality of finish and materials is quite nice - we like the brushed nickle look. The leather seats are also a nice option that I have avoided for years, because of the "sticky" nature of hot leather....but this is quite comfortable, and the optimal material for heated seats. I have bought Toyotas in Dayton, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky in the past, and have found my experience in Indianapolis to be superior to all others.