2013 Toyota Highlander consumer reviews

We needed more space for our family and the highlander was perfect! The vehicle rides smoothly and the features are perfect.

I had a 2013 toyota highlander with 14000 miles on lt. It was a great car/suv. It perform very well in snow (I live in Colorado). However, I had a crash during a lane change which could not have been more than 20 miles per hour and as I stand by the car on the road, it was in pieces, my muffler felt off, my whole car was in pieces and my front end looked like a Dodge truck with an open fender. I was in shock. I couldnt believe my car looked likd that after a maybe 20 miles per hour crash.

I bought the Highlander because it had the 3rd row for transporting the family without having to go the minivan route. I only bought the basic model with 4 cyl but it has surprising power, certainly not sluggish at all. In the 3 years I have had the car I have not had any issues at all and I am very happy with my purchase. The interior is not exciting but I am happy with it. The seats are comfortable on long journeys. I like the exterior styling.

I recently purchased a 2013 SE Toyota Highlander back in November 2015. I had a 2004 Limited Toyota Highlander. A semi-tractor trailer totaled my 04 as he went through a red light. In comparison, there were features that I liked on the 04 better; for example: the 04 had a Captains seat i.e. an armrest on the drivers side. On the 13 it is a little awkward reaching for the power buttons because of the door handle. On the 13 I find it difficult to reach back for the belt seat. The belt seat is positioned a little high on my neck. However, the 13 has a lot of power i.e.it has a lot of "get up and go," and like most new cars it has Bluetooth, XM, CD player that plays only CD. On my 04 I was able to add 7 CDs at a time. I like the Highlander. It is the best riding and driving car I ever had.

I have to say my 2013 Highlander limited is the best car I've ever had. We bought a new 2008 basic AWD V6 and I was very happy with it and could have driven it for 300Kmi but in OCT of 2014 we got an offer in the mail from our dealer for 15K trade value on a newer model. So we looked at the 14's and 15's but were left a little disappointed with some of the subtle changes they made and were about to go. Then they showed us this 2013 limited. Used with 900 miles one owner had it for a year. Needless to say we were sold and after 5 hours of horse trading we settled on a price. I love all the extra feathers this one has. Nav system, JBL stereo, Bluetooth, Power seats, moon roof, and tail gate. Heated leather seats and climate control. The ride is smooth and quiet even on back roads. Mild off road is no problem and we go in comfort. Snow. I have chains for it but have never used them. We travel snow country every year. The desert heat is no issue for it either. I crack open the moon roof an inch and it keeps the heat from building up too much. The A/C cools it down very fast. Plenty of room inside for the grand kids and all their stuff. I can pull up to 5000 lbs (Does use more gas though) I love the power tail gate and flip up rear window. Very handy. I get 17-18 mpg in town and 22-24 mpg on the highway. Yes I think this will be the last car I have to buy, with care it will have no problem going 300Kmi. If your looking at buying one all the models are good but the limited is worth the extra $$.

This is a follow on review to my Aug entry. I replaced the OEM tires with Bridgestone Ecopias. Still not satisfied I swapped out the 19 inch rims with 17 inch rims from a used HL and bought another set Ecopia tires. The ride significantly improved and tire impact harshness eliminated. This is still a SUV so a 2007 Camry will ride better. After the purchase my wife rented a 2014 HL LE plus for a biz trip. The 2014 is significantly quieter and slightly smoother over small bumps but has tire impact harshness because of the 60 v 65 tire profile. I prefer our 2013 HL for its airy cabin, less aggressive appearance and seats. Fuel mileage 22/27.

We have the 2013 Plus V6 2wd. We've had it for a year and 15K miles. My wife LOVES it and wouldn't change thing, except for adding a power liftgate (included in the 2014 Plus pkg). I, however, have a few issues with it. I'll include my favorites at the end, as well. . I'm 5'9" and have to push the driver's seat all the way back to get comfortable. With back problems, I like the power lumbar support, but the seat gets uncomfortable after an hour or so. We make a 7hr road trip at least once a month, but usually opt to take the other car that gets better MPG. . I can't get the steering wheel in a position where it is comfortable to use AND still see the speedometer. It's usually blocking hwy speeds from 60-80mph. Do I really need a clear view of the tachometer at the expense of the speedometer in a mommy-mobile? My wife couldn't even tell you what the tach does, if you asked her. . I also am unable to get into a position where I can rest an arm on the door or center armrest and still control the steering wheel, such as you'd want for long roadtrips. . If you're lucky enough to snag one of the second row captain's chairs, you have a level of comfort that is unfair to anyone else. They're even more comfortable than the front seats. I'd rather that the seats are more comparable than to give the kids more of a reason to fight. . When I flip the sun visor open, it's too low for me to see the road without slouching in my seat. I didn't know 5'9" was really that tall, but I have lots of height issues in this vehicle. Although, it fits my 5'3" wife, the target consumer, like they custom fit it for her. . The radio has more features than the 2012, but seems like an aftermarket swap, rather than original equipment. The screen display dims when the headlights turn on, but doesn't respond when you adjust the brightness of your dashboard lights. . Speaking of dashboard lights, they automatically adjust to conditions, such as driving under a bridge, tunnel, etc. There is no way to stop this, not even by turning the lights all the way off. I think they should adjust automatically only when set to auto mode. . The 2013 doesn't tell you which tire is low when the TPMS light comes on. I believe the 2012 did this. The spare tire also has a sensor and it is VERY difficult to check the spare tire pressure without lowering it from under the car. When the light comes on, it's a big ordeal. . The HL loves to drive in a straight line at an easy pace (like you would expect from a tall Camry). Although it outperformed the Pathfinder, Pilot, and EVEN the CX-9 in tests, the experience is quite squirrely. The suspension dampens bumps well, but every time the driver presses the gas or brake, the car jerks. You literally feel every change in input from the driver. When I hit the gas a little too hard turning out into traffic, the traction control takes a while to kick in. It'll wait for a good 2 rotational wheel-spin and a nice squeal from the tire, before it wakes up. . Now, for my favorites: The number one reason we bought the HL... The rear a/c vents are in the roof, not the back of the driver's armrest. Knee-level vents are going to do absolutely nothing for a screaming kid in a rear facing carseat in the blazing 100 degree summer heat. You'd be surprised at how many SUVs are losing the roof vents when they're redesigned. . The bluetooth function is awesome. Our HL doesn't have navigation, but the stereo will announce directions from your iPhone. I can also use Siri, although I have to press the button on my phone. It's a win for me because I don't have to take my eyes off the road. . It's one of the last in the midsize class that actually looks like an SUV. Additionally, my almost-base-model HL has just as much curb appeal as the Limited. . It gets MPG comparable to others in its class, it can tow 5K lbs, it has a cool disappearing seat that impresses men of all ages, etc. . Bottom line: my wife loves it and I can afford it!!!

We replaced a 2010 Honda Odessey Touring with a slightly used HL Limited...2,000 miles on odometer. Vans have a better ride due to the wheelbase. However, the HL Limited was the best alternative, has a smoother drivetrain, and is more luxurious. The 2013 seats are more comfortable than the 2014 HL constructed of plastic leather and memory foam. You end up sitting in a bucket after 5 min. The 2013 HL ride was too harsh with its 19 inch Bridgestone 400 tires. Replaced the tires with Bridgestone Ecopia's. the ecopia's ride characteristics are similar to a 235/65/18 tire. The change in comfort and noise is remarkable.

I purchased a V6 AWD base model. here are my impressions after driving 32,000 miles in 15 months: it never needed any repairs, nothing malfunctioned. it is powerful, smooth, with an average of 19 mpg city and 23 hwy. it handles well highways as well as moderate-difficulty off road trails. it even did ok on more difficult ones, excellent traction and power, but the 8''ground clearance was barely enough. If you go off road more than occasionally, you should consider buying the 4 runner. very few features are less than perfect: driving uphill on cruise control the engine jumps from 2000 to 4000 rpm while it drops at about 2500rpm if you turn it off, and it accelerates 3-5mph uphill. for trips longer than 4-5 hours the base model seats need more lumbar support, otherwise you will have horrible back pain. I purchased a lower back cushion on amazon but I suggest you choose the upgraded seats from the beginning if you plan driving it a lot. the rearview camera is an useful option for parking downtown. I had it installed a few months later at the dealer for 350$. I also installed aftermarket roof rails with cross bars and a towing hitch for my bicycle rack. they do the job well and cost half than original toyota parts. loaded with two 15-foot kayaks and 3 bicycles you barely see any change in handling or gas consumption. this is one strong good-for-all vehicle, very reasonable on gas and maintenance.

I bought a 2013 Highlander right before having my first child. It was the best choice I could have ever made. This vehicle is so reliable and comfortable to drive. It is definitely a family car! The associate Cesar Alvarez that helped me knew just what to suggest when I asked for a family and comfort car.