On the Limited's the SmartKey option is great
MPG for the V6 is better then the competition
The pop up rear window in the lift gate
Heated seats
BlueTooth
Rear Backup Camera
ITS QUIET!!
The Star safety system that integrates the Electronic Power Steering into driving dynamics and cancels out any torque steer when you are going straight and changes the amount of assist based on driving conditions
The Dual Climate control system that uses Artifical Intelligence logic to control the temp. You have to just set it and forget it or it will drive you crazy. (See last page of link)
Dual Zone Technology
The full time variable AC compressor that doesn't use a clutch
The engine mounts that cancel out engine vibration
If you are a DIY oil change guy, the V6 engine is one of the easiest engines to change oil that has come along in a while. Remove the filter housing access cover, remove the canister drain bolt (or not) and use the drain tool to empty the canister housing before you remove it. Replace the O-rings add a new filter and spin on the canister housing, drain the crankcase and refill...a piece of cake
Things that could be improved..
1) Highlander specific..Hood assist pistons ala Camry to raise the hood. The hood works like the RAV4 and you have to lift a heavy hood and stick the rod in it to keep it up.
2) All Toyota products...owner control over the programmable options.
It is a frustrating to have to go to the service department to get customizable settings changed when a lot other cars allow you to scroll through a menu on a display and turn things on or off.
On Toyota's with SmartKey the owner can change the smart key setting to open all doors at once but you still have to have the service department hook up the "Intelligent tester" to change the fob button settings to do the same thing.
The SmartKey and the Remote fob are two different systems.
3) All Toyota products..One feature I really liked when I owned a Grand Cherokee was the ability to select a "Headlights on with wipers" option. I prefer driving in the "winter Pacific Northwest high humidity" with my low beams on and not just DRL's.
4) Blue tooth...Auto discovery of phones that are registered when you get into the car. If two phones are on that are registered, the default should be to ask which phone to select. The dialog required to change phones for different drivers is not user friendly.
