Page 3 of 6
2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid – Comfort
Front Comfort
With ample leg, head and shoulder room all but the very tallest front passengers will find the Highlander comfortable. The 10-way power driver’s seat is supportive and easy to tailor to your liking. Combined with the tilt-telescoping steering wheel, finding the right position was a snap. The wheel itself is leather wrapped and carries audio, climate, phone and voice controls. Missing was any seat memory function. While providing good comfort, the passenger seat has only four-way adjustment. When raised, the adjustable headrests were loose and didn’t feel well anchored. Dense padding covers the center armrest, while the door armrests are softer.
Second Row Comfort
Mounted on sliders, outboard reclining seats are comfortable, but taller passengers don’t have much leg support. Headrests on these are more solidly attached. Door armrests are identical to those up front, while the fold down armrests have minimal padding and sit at an awkward height. There is noticeably less head and shoulder room, while legroom and foot room are good. The space between the seats has a removable insert to accommodate a third passenger, but for an adult this spot wont’ be comfortable. It’s narrow and small, with less cushioning and legroom. The alternative is a center console that adds two cupholders and some storage.
Third Row Comfort
Like most third-row seats in medium sized SUVs, these are best suited for children. Access is only from the passenger side, and while a 5-foot, 8-inch editor had little trouble getting in, it would be a challenge for larger people. While a medium-height adult will fit if the second row seat is moved forward, the seat bottom is small and sits low, leaving no leg support. The headrests are barely padded, making the thought of striking them with force unpleasant. The seats are a compromise to allow for a flat cargo floor.
Interior Noise
It’s like riding inside a phonograph needle that’s playing a recording of TV static. Road noise is intrusive at highway speeds –tire hum and every bump; wind noise less so. With the third-row seat folded down, highway noise is diminished. At moderate speeds, drivetrain noise is noticeable. The audio system can cover for some of this, but the Highlander is noisier than other crossovers we’ve driven. Over rough pavement, there were a few rattles.
Visibility
Large side view mirrors somewhat make up for some visibility challenges to the sides and rear. Over the left shoulder is good. Over the right shoulder is only OK because of the second row headrest and the height of the rear side window. With the third row seat and headrests up, the view straight back is like a tunnel. Even with the third row folded down, the backup camera is welcome addition. The image is bright and clear even at night. To the front, the windshield pillar on the left gets in the way when looking ahead for left-hand turns.
|
