The exterior styling of the Highlander is attractive but very subtle-definitely more a grocery getter than attention grabber.  Still the 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels and chrome features including exterior door handles and grille surround give the LTD a bit of bling.

The Highlander is one of those vehicles that just puts you at ease.  The body has nice fit and finish and a solid feeling when you close doors.  When driving, the interior is quiet and seems to create a clear separation from the rest of the world.

The 270 HP at 6,200 RPM and 248 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,700 RPM means there is plenty of power at the ready.  Of course, that performance weighs somewhat on fuel economy, with the highlander coming in at 17 MPG city and 23 MPG highway for our four-wheel model.  You gain 1 MPG if you choose the two-wheel-drive model, or there is a hybrid version available that improves city mileage to 25 and highway to 27.

As this is basically the modern-day equivalent of the "Family Truckster," it is appropriate that it has the full complement of safety features, including Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control with ABS brakes, driver and front passenger front and side airbags, driver-knee airbag, third-row roll-sensing side-curtain airbags, and driver and front passenger active headrests. 

 
The Highlander LTD 4X4 pricing on our test model begins at $34,150, but the DVD rear-seat entertainment system added $1,780 and the Navigation system with a four-disc in-dash CD changer and nine speakers $2,505. 

 
The heated front seats, power rear door, auto rear A/C, rear spoiler, sunroof, cross-bars, and cargo mat push the price all the way up to $42,059.  For that money, you get a plush, powerful, and capable vehicle from a company with an outstanding reputation for quality.