2018 / 2019 Toyota Highlander - Still King Of The Hill?

Toyota's Highlander has long been one of the best selling three row crossovers for active families, but is it the best? For 2018 Toyota made some changes to make sure their mid-size CUV stays competitive and we don't expect any changes for 2019. Toyota Safety Sense is now standard on all trims and includes autonomous braking, lane keeping and adaptive cruise control. V6 models also benefit from a new 8-speed automatic and hybrid trims get a new V6 engine. Can that help the Highlander keep up with the new 2019 Pilot or 2019 Sorento?

  Stephen Hendricks
I was interested in your take on the Highlander since it was one of the vehicles we considered when we replaced our 2012 Kia Sorento a few months ago. The Toyota did have a few advantages over the 2018 Sorento we eventually purchased.

The most notable were the eight speed transmission versus the six speed unit in the KIA (now replaced with an eight speed for 2019), lane keeping assist (again, now standard on the KIA for 2019), and the trick rear window opening in the Highlander. On the whole, however, the KIA offered much more at considerably less money ($8,000 off MSRP in our case) than the comparable top trim of the non-hybrid V6/AWD Highlander. A longer warranty (bumper to bumper and drivetrain).

Apple Carplay and Android Auto. A much, much better infotainment system including real-time traffic navigation (included with a five year subscription). More upscale interior including Nappa leather seating, etc. The Sorento is slightly smaller on the outside than the Highlander, as you noted. Frankly, though, that was an advantage as far as we were concerned. Marginally easier to maneuver and park in the city.

 And on the interior the Sorento had more room, especially leg room in the third row, than the Highlander. Neither vehicle, of course, is adequate for seven or eight passengers for more than short trips. But of the two, the KIA is more accommodating. Our 14 y/o daughter and her girlfriends find it preferable to the second row presumably to get as far away as possible from her parents. We found the Highlander a good choice. Just not as good as the SX-L Sorento. And for thousands of dollars less in real world pricing, there was no contest.

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