Test drive Toyota Highlander: when "third" is not superfluous - part 2

 The new Toyota Highlander is about comfort and silence, not about sharp turns on the verge of a foul. The choice of driving modes hardly affects the general character: in "eco" - the reaction of the motor to the accelerator is slightly smoother, in "sport" - a little sharper and the steering wheel becomes heavier. Although the 3.5-liter V6 and 8-st. Automatic transmission "can", if you ask: acceleration 0-100 km / h in 8.7 seconds - almost at the level of the promises of the passport and, in general, a decent result for a 2-ton colossus with a 7-seater cabin. By the way, about the salon ...

 The conversation about the inner world of the car should be divided into two parts. The first is general questions about space and fit. Everything is fine here: a lot of space in the first and second row of seats, enough in the third. The front seats offer huge adjustment ranges and a ventilation system, which is not superfluous for a single leather interior. The second row passengers have their own bonuses: a separate "climate" zone, heating on the left / right, sun curtains on the windows, sofa adjustments (forward / backward, according to the angle of the backrest). The rear passengers in the third row are also not deprived: there is enough space above the head and in the width of the cabin, you can adjust the angle of the backrest, there are ventilation deflectors. There are only remarks about the low position of the seats, which is why the knees are raised high - but this remark applies in principle to all 3-row crossovers. You can rest assured that in its class, the new Toyota Highlander is among the best in terms of space and living conditions for passengers of all rows of seats, including the third.

 However, the Toyota Highlander crossover is among the worst in terms of interior decoration, or rather, the front panel. And this is the second part of the conversation about the new salon. Nominally, there is soft plastic, decorative stitching, and comfortable front seats with a beautiful design. But the front fascia is entirely composed of gray and black panels that look too simple for the car's status and price. It seems that there is a wood-like finish, but only on the center console (around the automatic lever) and small inserts on the doors, plus all this is again made in dark gray. Or here's another example: hands rest on a beautiful steering wheel with pleasant skin. But in a city traffic jam or on a highway, outstretched fingers beat drum rolls on the visor of the instruments, which is made of frankly hard plastic. You see, it's not a problem in the presence of hard plastic somewhere down there, at the bottom of the center console. But it clearly should not be in a place that the driver can often contact, right? In general, the price list of the Toyota Highlander model also includes a brown interior with a black ceiling - perhaps it will look and feel better. But for now: too simple black-and-gray interior is one of the obvious "mistakes" of this model, especially considering the price.