Tired of our '06 Rav4...'08+ Highlander Advice?

[helixtimestwo]

My wife and I are thinking about trading in her 2006 RAV4 Sport for an ’08+ Highlander. While the RAV4 has killer gas mileage for an SUV and is an attractive vehicle (imo), it’s starting to not fit our needs…namely: space, power, comfort and towing capacity.

We like the newest HL body style/feature improvements (compared to the rav4) and are willing to compromise the 25% loss in gas mileage..but first wanted to solicit your advice.

Our biggest complaint with the rav4 is the comfort…I am a tall fellow (74”) and have found the driver seat does not retract far enough for my knees to extend. Also, the rav4 sport seats (non-leather) don’t have a level of ‘give’ to where they are comfortable. We constantly find ourselves slipping out of the seat ‘groove’, causing poor ergonomics and lower back pain on intermediate/long trips. The rear 60/40 back seats are no better.

Also, the level of cabin noise between 40-60 mph is unacceptable. I will attribute some of the issue to semi-worn tires, but have heard similar complaints from other rav4 motorists.

Lastly, how comfortable is the HL ride? I don’t expect it to be as cloud-like as a Lexus GS300, but is it more mini-van-ish or closer to a trucklike experience?

It would probably help to mention we are hoping the baseline V6 can meet our requirements…but won’t rule out an upgraded trim line if it is that big an improvement. I guess most of my questions could be answered if I just took a test drive, but I wanted to run it by you all; the expert HL motorists.

So how about it? Tell me about the ride quality, (base model) seat comfort and cabin noise…

Love all the good info on this site...thanks in advance..!

[JMSinMaryland]

Originally Posted by helixtimestwo

Our biggest complaint with the rav4 is the comfort…I am a tall fellow (74”) and have found the driver seat does not retract far enough for my knees to extend.

Also, the level of cabin noise between 40-60 mph is unacceptable. I will attribute some of the issue to semi-worn tires, but have heard similar complaints from other rav4 motorists.

Lastly, how comfortable is the HL ride? I don’t expect it to be as cloud-like as a Lexus GS300, but is it more mini-van-ish or closer to a trucklike experience?

So how about it? Tell me about the ride quality, (base model) seat comfort and cabin noise…

1. I'm 6'6 (78 inches) and fit very comfortably into our 2009 HL V6 AWD.

2. Mileage with the aforementioned V6 AWD is 17city/24hwy.

3. The cabin of the HL is very quiet, we've driven from Maryland to Florida and back and I have no complaints.

4. The car is more car like than truck like, in fact the ride is not truck like at all.

5. I have a $65k Sequoia and a $35k Highlander, if I could only keep one, bye bye Sequoia.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by helixtimestwo

My wife and I are thinking about trading in her 2006 RAV4 Sport for an ’08+ Highlander. While the RAV4 has killer gas mileage for an SUV and is an attractive vehicle (imo), it’s starting to not fit our needs…namely: space, power, comfort and towing capacity.

We like the newest HL body style/feature improvements (compared to the rav4) and are willing to compromise the 25% loss in gas mileage..but first wanted to solicit your advice.

Our biggest complaint with the rav4 is the comfort…I am a tall fellow (74”) and have found the driver seat does not retract far enough for my knees to extend. Also, the rav4 sport seats (non-leather) don’t have a level of ‘give’ to where they are comfortable. We constantly find ourselves slipping out of the seat ‘groove’, causing poor ergonomics and lower back pain on intermediate/long trips. The rear 60/40 back seats are no better.

Also, the level of cabin noise between 40-60 mph is unacceptable. I will attribute some of the issue to semi-worn tires, but have heard similar complaints from other rav4 motorists.

Lastly, how comfortable is the HL ride? I don’t expect it to be as cloud-like as a Lexus GS300, but is it more mini-van-ish or closer to a trucklike experience?

It would probably help to mention we are hoping the baseline V6 can meet our requirements…but won’t rule out an upgraded trim line if it is that big an improvement. I guess most of my questions could be answered if I just took a test drive, but I wanted to run it by you all; the expert HL motorists.

So how about it? Tell me about the ride quality, (base model) seat comfort and cabin noise…

Love all the good info on this site...thanks in advance..!

First, let me say to Toyota Nation!

As far as mileage is concerned, there's definitely a range of mileage being reported. I seem to be on the high end with 19/20 city and 27/28 highway, but even with less mileage than that the HL is still outstanding in its class of SUV. I find it a very quiet ride, and have no complaints. I'd also say the ride is more truckish, and the ride is rougher with added weight aboard. Overall, though, it's pretty tame compared to most trucks. Let me put it this way, I own an Avalon too and I enjoy driving and am more comfortable in the Highlander, especially on long road trips.

The main thing you need to be aware of is the Highlanders have a tendency to be noisy with interior rattles and squeaks. I'm one of the luckier ones with only two very minor rattles under very specific conditions (front windshield rattles slightly when it's cold out, and there's a rattle in the right 2nd row passenger seat area but only when I'm driving alone and the gas tank is mostly full). If I were in the market again I'd still buy the Highlander. I love mine.

[helixtimestwo]

Thanks for the replies..

I've been reading up on the rattles and squeaks, interior 'complaints', etc.. but there seem to be very few regretful HL owners. I've also noticed few private sellers on autotrader and cars dot com; I think that speaks to owner satisfaction.

There are some $22k-ish HLs in acceptable driving distance and 1 for $2k more local (all base V6s, <45k mi)...our trade-in is desirable, clean and low miles (4.6 out of 5 overall IMO)...plus big T sales are taking a hit from all the recall nonsense..

but am I dreaming to hope for a sub-$20k HL..?

[HLanderR]

I strongly considered purchasing a new Rav and used HL. The Rav is an excellent, fuel efficient vehicle, but is more of a station wagon vs SUV/CUV. I say this because (as I'm sure you're aware) most of the useful cargo volume in the Rav is vertical, and more importantly the vehicle weighs ~150 pounds less than a 3rd gen Avalon (or equivalent to a 2nd gen Avalon). Nearly every used AWD HL I viewed online is a "one owner" rental.

My 08+ HL is (so far) rattle-free, nearly Avalon quiet on the highway, and rides quite well here in the mountains (smaller rims found on base & SE models). Overall a great vehicle and not too thirsty if you practice "energy management." I get about 19.5mpg combined with mostly hilly city driving and 23 on the highway at ~80mph.

Towing: You can tow 5000# without trailer brakes thanks to the massive calipers on the HL. Compare this to 3500# with the Rav; trailer brakes required when towing loads greater than 500#.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by HLanderR

My 08+ HL is (so far) rattle-free, nearly Avalon quiet on the highway, and rides quite well here in the mountains (smaller rims found on base & SE models).

Just an opinion, but my Highlander is definitely more quiet than my Avalon at freeway speeds, and at slower speeds they're comparable.

[htwo]

The base should suit you fine. 5K towing, seven seat capability and more room all around for the added price is a worth while investment. At least in the US, you have more options.

I'd love to get a FWD V6, but am set on the FWD I4. I'm not a huge guy (just tall) and my wife is short and light so I have no need for V6 performance. My trailer weights 2K, which is plenty for the I4 to handle during the summer. I currently have a AWD 5.9L Durango. I no longer have my 27' TT and no longer need the big V8, as it gets 12mpg with just me driving it on a good day. My wife's also learning to drive (finally) and she's scared of the Durango as I've modified it to be a performance towing machine.

The only thing that ticks me off, is the price. just over $32K here for a base FWD I4 Highlander in Ontario, and down in the US, it can be had with similar options for $4K less! Ah well. I'm waiting for one of the local dealers to get an I4 in for a test drive. Currently they're all V6 AWD models, which I don't need (no FWD V6 in Canada). I test drove a Sport V6 AWD, but it was a bit much both in capability and price. Not to mention long term maintenance will be high as well.

Best thing to do is to take what you would on a road trip out to the dealer. Load up a demo unit and go for a drive and see how the vehicle performs. I like to drive vehicles with a snug cabin, but I find the Rav4 a bit claustrophobic.