Thanks to DriveShop for the test drive opportunity.
It’s been a year now since I started doing car reviews for Drive Shop. We’ve had everything from a sporty Mazda, a trendy Soul and even a Sedona minivan. But honestly my favorite so far has been the Toyota Highlander XLE.
The Toyota Highlander is the perfect vehicle for the family who wants to avoid a minivan. Some of the other mid-size SUVs we have driven just feel too small for our family of 5 (which are all growing more by inches at a time it seems). But the Highlander seems to offer the most interior room.
The 2nd row captains seats make getting to the 3rd row a breeze. And the twins really loved the cup holder console. While it might not be as comfortable as our van for a 10 hour trip to the beach (or 12 to Canada), I think it would be totally doable in the Highlander!
As a blogger you know I am all about my devices. And recently I shared my Fitbit hack for charging. Well here is a new one! I just love the “tech tray” in the Toyota Highlander! (ok, they call it the in dash shelf, but tech tray sounds flashier IMO). It’s the perfect place to charge up your device on route (thread your cord down through to the outlet). Also, I found myself less likely to want to check my phone since it was “stored” away on the shelf.
And you know a mom is all about that trunk space. With the 3rd row seats up, there was plenty of room for an average sized grocery run. Fold down one side (or both) of the 3rd row and you have Kroger Mega Event sized trunk space.
Ok last point… Hubs says I always need to include the “6 foot 6 factor” in these reviews. Of all the midsize SUVs we have driven, this one gets the highest rating from my tall man. Not a perfect sightline- but pretty close.
See more details on the Toyota Highlander here.
Writing on this blog has given me a platform to share with you about ways to save- time, money and sanity. A new twist on this is the opportunity to test drive some great vehicles. I hope my “mom’s take” on these cars will be helpful information if you are looking to purchase a new ride.
Looking forward to my next DriveShop test drive and review. All opinions are mine, of course!
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