The 2011 Toyota Highlander

When it came to the limelight 10 years ago, the Highlander from Toyota was a leading light for mid-sized crossover SUV. Having borrowed heavily from the Toyota Camry, Toyota wondered whether many would love this “Camry Wagon.” Notable is that it has stuck with the truck-based construction.

As a result of a quiet, reasonably roomy interior, a smooth and reliable V6 engine, the Toyota Highlander remains in the league of most favored mid-sized SUVs. The 2011 Highlander brings fresh and updated styling with additional standard features. There’s a third row with a 50/50-split design for folding making it easier for cargo or passenger use.

The Toyota Highlander for this year maintains a quiet and smooth ride, seating seven passengers comfortably. The 2nd row seats have a 40/20/40-split mechanism to allow walk-through accessibility to 3rd row. The captain’s chairs with their fold-down armrests offer great comfort as well. As much as this SUV has great features, it still faces stiff competition from larger crossovers such especially those from General Motors such as the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia which offer more capacious interiors and even seating for eight! The Mazda CX-9, the completely re-designed Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer and Ford Flex are also advantageous but when it comes to SUV-style utility and passenger-car comfort.

The Toyota Highlander for 2011 comes in three trim levels namely the Base, Limited and SE trim levels. The Base model comes equipped with cast-aluminum 17-inch wheels, cloth upholstery, rear privacy glass, second row seats with 40/20/40 split-folding, reclining second-row seats, air conditioning, 6-speaker CD stereo plus auxiliary jack and a steering wheel with tilt-and-telescoping technology

The SE trim has power tail-gate, sunroof, fog lamps, roof rails, wind-shield wiper de-icer, climate control with dual zone, leather upholstery,  heated front seats, rearview mirror with auto-dim, upgraded audio system which is optional on the Base model, back-up camera, Satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity and streaming audio as well as a USB port.

The Limited Trim version has additional  chrome exterior, cast-aluminum 19-inch wheels, upgraded leather upholstery, automatic climate control with tri-zone, driver seat with 10-way-power , wood grain accents, keyless ignition and passenger seats with 4-way power.

Option lists for the 2011 Highlander vary by trim region and level. However, those available consist of upgraded 6-disc CD changer JBL audio system, navigation system and DVD entertainment system at the rear.

The Toyota Highlander for 2011 comes with different engines for different trim options. The Base model has a 2.7-liter engine producing 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. The transmission is a 6-speed automatic. Fuel economy estimates according to the EPA are 20 miles to the gallon for city/25 miles to the gallon for highway and 22 miles to the gallon combined. There is a V6, 3.5-liter rated at 270 horsepower and 248 pound-feet torque which is standard for the Limited trim and optional for the  SE and Base versions. Front-wheel drive and an automatic five-speed are standard while an option exists for all-wheel drive. The 2011 Highlander Limited sprints from a halt to 60 mph in a mere 7.5 seconds, making it one of the swiftest crossover SUVs on the road.