2007 Toyota Highlander Review
2007 Toyota Highlander Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Rides and handles like a Camry, smooth V6 engine or fuel-efficient four-cylinder, all major safety features standard.
Cons
- Poor access to optional third-row seat, bland personality, not as good a value as it once was.
What’s new
Front-seat side airbags and two-row side curtain airbags are standard on the 2007 Toyota Highlander. Toyota's midsize crossover SUV also gets revised headlights this year.
Edmunds says
With its fuel-efficient engine lineup, full complement of safety features and easygoing demeanor, the midsize Highlander has always been a solid choice for those who need SUV utility without unnecessary bulk. However, with several new crossovers entering the market this year, it's a good idea to explore your options before making a decision.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2007 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$202/mo for Highlander Base
Highlander Base
vs
$201/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Vehicle overview
Representing the seventh year of the model cycle, the 2007 Toyota Highlander is the oldest midsize crossover SUV on the market. Like most Toyotas, though, it was well designed from the start and has aged gracefully over the years. Key strengths include a comfortable ride, easy maneuverability in tight spaces, above-average gas mileage and a high-quality interior with ample room in the first and second rows. Toyota added a third-row seat in 2004 to keep up with newer rivals, but it's more of an afterthought than it is functional and buyers who need seven-passenger capacity will be better served by one of the Highlander's competitors. For families of four, though, the Toyota Highlander remains an acceptable choice, especially considering its many standard safety features and strong crash-test ratings.
Based on the 1997-2001 Camry platform, the Highlander immediately won over consumers with its refined driving dynamics. At a time when most SUVs in this price range were still built on truck platforms and were unwieldy to drive, Toyota gave buyers the equivalent of a tall station wagon with optional all-wheel drive and a choice of a frugal four-cylinder or a smooth V6 engine. Make no mistake: The Toyota Highlander has never been a particularly stylish or sporty vehicle. Rather, it's a highly practical and economical vehicle for buyers whose lives are consumed by children, commutes and grocery store runs.
The problem is that the Highlander's useful packaging has been copied many times over, and many peers are now doing it better. Perhaps the stiffest competition comes from Toyota's own RAV4, which is now almost as big as the Highlander and offers just as much headroom and legroom. In addition, the less expensive RAV handles better and can be equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 that's more powerful and fuel-efficient than the Highlander's 3.3-liter V6. Other competitors you'll want to consider include the Ford Edge; Honda Pilot; Hyundai Santa Fe; Mazda CX-7 and CX-9; Mitsubishi Outlander and Endeavor; Nissan Murano and the Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook triplets. All of these vehicles have their merits, but the well-rounded Pilot, Santa Fe and CX-9 are our top choices in this group. If you still want to purchase a 2007 Toyota Highlander, we won't stand in your way, but we would encourage you to test-drive a few other crossover SUVs before doing so.
Performance & mpg
There are two engine choices on the 2007 Toyota Highlander. Base models come standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder rated for 155 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. Optional on base Highlanders and standard on the Sport and Limited is a 3.3-liter V6 good for 215 hp and 222 lb-ft of torque. A four-speed automatic transmission is standard on four-cylinder models, while V6 Highlanders upgrade to a five-speed automatic. Buyers can get front-wheel drive (2WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) with either engine. Fuel economy ratings range from 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway on 2WD four-cylinder models to 18/24 on AWD V6 Highlanders. Tow ratings are on the light side, the maximum being 3,500 pounds on a properly equipped V6 model.
Safety
All 2007 Toyota Highlanders come with antilock disc brakes (with brake assist), stability control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags for the first and second rows. A tire-pressure warning system and whiplash-reducing front head restraints are also included. In NHTSA crash testing, the Highlander scored five stars (out of a possible five) for frontal-impact protection. In side-impact tests, it again received five stars for both front and rear passengers. In frontal-offset crash testing administered by the IIHS, the Toyota earned a "Good" rating (the best possible).
Driving
A fully independent suspension delivers a solid combination of comfort and control, although even in Sport trim, the Highlander favors ride quality over handling. One advantage the Highlander has over many of the newer midsize crossover SUVs is a lower curb weight, which gives it a more nimble feel than some of them. The base four-cylinder engine provides adequate power for those who travel light, but most 2007 Toyota Highlander buyers will prefer the V6, which provides smooth, capable acceleration in all situations.
Interior
The Highlander's passenger accommodations are reasonably spacious, but newer competitors offer more room in the second row. Ordering the third-row bench allows the Toyota to seat two additional passengers, preferably small ones, for a total capacity of seven. Unfortunately, the second-row seat's lack of a flip-and-fold mechanism makes for poor access to the third row and limits the seven-passenger Highlander's appeal for carpooling. When it's time to haul groceries, the third-row seat folds flat into the floor (without requiring removal of the headrests), opening up 39.7 cubic feet of cargo space. Drop the 60/40-split second-row seats and there are 80.6 cubes to go around.
2007 Toyota Highlander models
A car-based midsize SUV, the 2007 Toyota Highlander comes in three trim levels: base, Sport and Limited. The base models are decently equipped with items like 16-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, a six-speaker CD stereo, full power accessories and keyless entry. The Highlander Sport spices things up with 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension (4WD models only), foglights, a color-keyed grille, chrome exterior trim, a power driver seat and a leather-wrapped steering wheel (with audio controls). The top-of-the-line Toyota Highlander Limited features automatic headlights, heated outside mirrors, a windshield wiper de-icer, a fold-flat third-row seat, automatic climate control, an upgraded eight-speaker JBL sound system and wood-grain interior trim.
Popular options for the Highlander include leather upholstery, a sunroof, an in-dash CD changer, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, a tow package and, on the Limited only, a navigation system. The third-row seat is optional on base and Sport models.
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Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2007 Toyota Highlander.
5 star(61%)
4 star(23%)
3 star(11%)
2 star(5%)
1 star(0%)
44 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.88 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Hwy Cruiser
Metro Atlanta, 09/19/2006
2007 Toyota Highlander Sport 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 5A)
My wife and I were shopping for a small/medium size SUV for our off-work vehicle. We were looking at several other SUVs out there before settling for the Highlander. It was not the best of the bunch but it was the best deal of them all. The RAV4 V6 and Murano definitely had more punch and characteristics. But the Highlander had the best value of the bunch. As expected, the fit & … finish is excellent. The V6 is more than adequate for everyday driving. The handling is better than I expected. It is quite balanced for a fwd. Great ergonomics all around. The chrome enhancement on the Sport model really freshens up the dull look of the base model. Can't beat the deal at 0% for 48 months.
5 out of 5 stars
Ol' Reliable-so reliable I traded in on a new one
Walter Maus, 08/12/2016
2007 Toyota Highlander Sport 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 5A)
I'm not a hi-mileage owner, but a daily user in all climates from weeks of knee-deep snow to 100-degree heat. This is the most reliable, competent vehicle I've ever owned, aside from a 1997 Camry. Only major repair was new rear brake rotors, calipers & pads at 90,000. Tows my 3500-lb boat with ease, but only for short distances (5-10 mi) about 4 times a year. Outstanding in sand or snow. … Very comfortable on annual 3,000-mile road trips, loaded with gear. Reliably gets 21 mpg at 70-mph Interstate speed, and 20 on routine driving at home in a semi-rural suburban area with little city-traffic driving. Not a speck of rust (except on the dealer-installed, aftermarket hitch bar), very water tight. Not hush-hush silent at road speeds, but not really noisy either. I was ambivalent about trading it in at 100,000mi because I think this reliable old friend of 9 years had another good 100,000 miles in it. But I gave in and traded for a new Highlander in Sept 2016.
4.88 out of 5 stars
Smooth, Solid Ride - 2007 Highlander
Jon, 09/19/2006
2007 Toyota Highlander Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/3rd Row (3.3L 6cyl 5A)
We've only owned our 2007 Toyota Highlander for about 10 days but we love it. We ordered a Limited RAV4 months ago and got tired of waiting for that to arrive. We waited about 100 days after ordering, and were told that it might be 100 more days. We saw the Highlander -- hadn't really considered it because we drew the line on price and fuel efficiency previously in going with the RAV, … but the price came down to the point we could afford it, and the gas mileage is acceptable, and the comfort is excellent. I'm a Toyota fan -- I drove a T-100 pickup to 230K miles with minimal expense. Although we're dissappointed with the non-availabiliy of the Limited RAV, it was a blessing in disguise --
4.75 out of 5 stars
review
C Jones, 01/15/2007
2007 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV AWD w/3rd Row (3.3L 6cyl 5A)
We were initially looking at the RAV4. It is a nice vehicle, but it doesn't come close the Highlander in terms of comfort and value. We got a V6 with 4 wheel drive and a 3rd seat for the price of a RAV4 with a V6. I think they are dealing on these because of the 6 year old body style. The ride is firm yet smooth and the handling is very carlike. The package that we bought has all of the … options we wanted without the leather and other things we didn't need. This thing goes like crazy in the snow and didn't misstep when going up a steep, snow covered dirt road. Thoroughly impressed.
2007 Highlander Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $24,880 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 22 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $202/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 39.7 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Highlander include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintMarginal
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