- suv 183,263
- Bend, OR
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- autoshopper.com
- suv 183,263 red automatic
2004 toyota highlander review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. More seats, more power to haul more people, more stuff. introductionthe 2004 toyota highlander comes with more powerful engines, new safety features, and optional seating for up to seven passengers. Adding to the improved responsiveness these changes bring is a new five-speed automatic transmission. The suspension has been revised, producing a very soft ride quality. And minor structural changes have been made to improve space efficiency inside. in spite of these revisions, the highlander remains the easiest of motoring companions. Getting in and out couldn't be easier. Its flexible interior makes it easy to various combinations of people and cargo. Seating for five comes standard, but 2004 models offer an optional third-row seat to carry up to seven passengers, though they'd be cramped. The third row folds flat and the second-row seat folds nearly so, revealing 80 cubic feet of cargo space, more than a toyota 4runner. The highlander can swallow impromptu flea-markets buys with ease, and tote them home despite sudden worsening of the weather. A choice of engines is available: a 2. 4-liter inline-4 comes standard, revised for 2004 and rated at 160 horsepower. A new 3. 3-liter v6 that produces 230 horsepower is optional on the base highlander and standard on the limited. The all-wheel-drive model 25,480) is similarly equipped. Other options: tilt-and-slide glass sunroof 900), in-dash six-cd changer 595). The optional rear-seat dvd system 1,770) includes two wireless headphones, rca input jacks for video games, and a household-style 115-volt ac power outlet. Gps navigation 2,200) is offered on limited only. A towing package 160) includes trailer wiring plus an upgraded radiator, transmission oil cooler, and 130-amp alternator. we recommend the optional side-curtain and seat-mounted side-impact airbags 680), which are designed to protect the heads and torsos of passengers in the first two rows. Highlander's airbags are more sophisticated for 2004. Sensors in both front seats adjust the frontal airbags to react appropriately to the severity of the collision and the weight of the passengers. walkaroundthe toyota highlander looks smart and trim, falling somewhere between the edgy high style of the rav4 and the muscular purposefulness of the 4runner. There's a slight family resemblance between the highlander and the lexus rx 330, although the highlander looks more dressed down, rather like wearing faded jeans and a favorite windbreaker instead of dry-clean-only lunch-with-the-ladies attire. highlander is actually slightly larger inside, as measured by total epa interior volume, than the rx 330, although the lexus has slightly more cargo volume. highlander's front bumper, light clusters and grille are new for 2004. The bumper cover has sharper lines molded into it, so its shape is better defined than before. The grille's horizontal bars are bolder and better defined, while the various elements of the light clusters seem to blend together more smoothly. Similar changes have been made around back. At either end, however, the difference is so subtle that only the most dedicated toyota-watcher is likely to notice. the highlander no longer represents the latest in design, however. While the lexus rx 330, which uses the same basic chassis architecture as the highlander, is now in its second generation, the highlander is still in its first generation of design. The highlander lacks the cutting-edge design of the nissan murano, and its front and rear overhangs are relatively large. entry, both for cargo and for people, is easier in the highlander than in truck-based suvs. With its more car-like step-in and lift-into, the highlander is even friendly to wearers of tight skirts. Not so the usual truck-based suv. while the toyota 4runner is basically a truck, the highlander is essentially a car. Like a car, the highlander uses unit-body construction rather than having a separate frame. Two-wheel-drive versions are front-wheel drive, not rear-wheel drive. The 4runner is the opposite of each of those. For commuting and transporting the family, the highlander is the better choice. Properly equipped, highlander can tow up to 2,500 pounds, not much by truck standards. interiorfew vehicles are easier to get in and out of than the toyota highlander. Neither climbing up nor stepping down is required. This makes the highlander one of the most convenient vehicles on the planet for running daily errands. These seats are flat and lean, but supportive and comfortable and adjust to suit various-size drivers. Part of the appeal of suvs is the ease of seeing out at every angle. The sloping hood of the highlander makes the forward view even more encompassing. the second row seats up to three passengers, but is better for two. It's split 60/40 and folds down with a cleverly articulated seat bottom. It folds fairly flat but not perfectly flat. The second-row seat slides forward to make access to the third row easier, and to provide more legroom for third-row passengers. toyota intends for the third row to be used only occasionally. We found sitting in the third row uncomfortable. Also, the side-curtain airbags do not protect third-row passengers as they are designed to do in a toyota sienna minivan. A third-row seat folds flat into the floor, with no need to remove the headrests. Power window buttons are right there on the doors. Radio and heater controls use simple dials and amply sized buttons and operate intuitively. V6 models come with aluminum interior accents. Interior trim and fabrics in all highlanders have been upgraded for 2004. 2004 limited models come with simulated maple-burl dash trim and door scuff plates, but the fake wood on the center stack looks like fake wood. The standard climate control is a single-zone system. the shifter is uniquely positioned more as a part of the dash than on a central console. This opens up the space between the front seats. It also lends an open, unconfined air to the cockpit. Map pockets, visor mirrors, and front and rear auxiliary power outlets are provided. The driver's window has one-touch auto-down. highlander provides a large amount of cargo space: 80. 6 cubic feet with the second- and third-row seats folded. The second row does not fold perfectly flat, but the third row folds flat and does not take up cargo space. Most people end up riding around with the second-row in place for passengers and the third row folded flat into the floor, leaving nearly 40 cubic feet of space available for stuff. Opening up the third-r. Bucket Seats✔ Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Climate Control✔ Cruise Control✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Air Conditioning✔ CD Changer✔ Aluminum Wheels
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