2011 Toyota Highlander Limited Suv~warranty~tow Pkg~prem Sound Pkg~no Accidents! on 2040-cars

EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: Hefty, pricey, but also near perfect: That's what this flagship version of the Highlander seems to be. In the past, Highlanders seemed to be a little underwhelming--nice enough vehicles, for sure, utilitarian and functional, yes, but nothing too special. This one, with all of this equipment, changes that perception from the moment you settle in behind the wheel. This is one substantial vehicle, with all the bells and whistles one could ever want.

The vehicle looks more stylish than its predecessors, with sharp paint and sheetmetal and a very upscale feel to the interior. It's a good-looking, right-sized vehicle that offers a third row and a third seat between the captain chairs in the second row in case you need max people hauling capacity.

Power from the 3.5-liter V6 is strong, and while a five-speed automatic may not be state of the art, it does the job and is easily manageable via the slap shifter. The steering is a little vague and seemingly needs regular, slight corrections to stay on course, but most drivers probably won't notice. The ride is smooth and quiet, and despite what feels like quite a bit of overall weight, the body roll seems well controlled.

If you can afford to go this far on sticker for what starts as a much less expensive vehicle, the Highlander Limited gives you a lot of vehicle for the money.

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: I downright enjoyed my travels in this troop transporter of a truck. It's freakin' huge, but it doesn't drive like a monster. In fact, the Highlander is well-civilized in most situations. Even when striking through expressway curves at a decent rate of speed, this ute doesn't come unnerved. The roll is reasonable--even a bit better--than most in this segment. The steering pickup is light off center but offers responsive feedback farther into maneuvers; these big wheels add weight, but not overly so.

So, yes, it handles a bit better than many vehicles in class. The Highlander is also well-powered. I thought this was a V8 at first blush, as the 270 horses are channeled efficiently and there's strong push all the way to redline. The five-speed automatic is simple and efficient. Upshifts are smooth as the revs build but not in an angry fashion. Launches are energetic, and passing is no sweat.

This Highlander is also well-suited to daily driving, cushioning road imperfections, train tracks and nearly anything in its path. The suspension is impressive, and the shocks are not excessively bouncy; whack a pothole, and this Toyota hardly blanches. This is much more relaxed than some trucks, which pitch and roll with every obstacle.

The looks are spot-on, in my view. The Highlander has sleek styling and extends back. The lines have a horizontal flow, almost reminiscent of when car styling took cues from locomotives, and there are curves around the wheel wells that make for attractive accents. The greenhouse and pillars also set off the appearance well, looking sleek and swift in contrast to many top-heavy-looking vehicles in this segment. The cabin is luxuriously appointed (as it should be for $43,000), and the door panels feel soft and pleasing. The cabin is reasonably quiet with just a hint of engine din creeping in.

My only preference would be to slash some of the electronic goodies to get the price down a bit. But if you're in the market for a ship like this, you probably want to check most of the option boxes because it will likely be a long-term member of your personal fleet--and it would be a good one.