Few Quick thoughts at 6 months and about 7500 miles of ownership.

Likes:
1. Comfort...definitely a dad mobile but gets the job done
2. Front end looks/wheels
3. Acceleration...transmission is much smoother to me versus the 3rd gen
4. Auto A/C works better than other vehicles I've driven
5. Quiet at less than highway speeds
6. Road trip ability...one long 700 miler and one short 300 miler were very comfortable
7. Stereo works well as long as the signal in is good
8. Love the rear cross traffic alerts, the radar cruise control, and 360 camera
9. I think the instrument cluster screen works well and is easy to use.
10. I have the grey interior and think it looks great. We'll see how it holds up to use and abuse.

Dislikes
1. Gas mileage has been poor versus advertised figures. I have a heavy foot but have only averaged about 20 mph total because of several long distance trips
2. As others have said, road noise at highway speeds can be a nuisance
3. Auto A/C works well when active but there is a 20 second lag when car starts up which is annoying on hot summer days
4. Front parking sensors can be a nuisance, sometimes waiting in a drive thru they go off repeatedly when they detect car waiting in front. You can mute the beep, but the front camera keeps flashing on the screen
5. The rear cargo cover is a PITA to put away/set up.
6. I think the rear end looks too minivan-ish. I guess there are only so many geometries for the vehicle engineering to work, but I think the roundness doesn't match the chiseled feel of the front and sides

Overall, I am happy with the vehicle. My other choice was a CPO Q7 and although I still smile thinking about the speed the Audi had and prefer its looks, I still feel confident the Highlander will be the better choice on a 5 year+ ownership schedule (for my needs/use anyways). And, like a good American, I can fit my big gulp in the cup holders, something the Germans wouldn't let me do!

Now that the family ride is checked off, I am saving my pennies for my mid-life crisis fun car in a few years.

Your Dislikes:

1. Gas mileage is based on you doing the speed limit in both the city and on the highway. If you can curve your heavy foot and drive accordingly you will see your gas mileage improve.
2. Road noise on the highway can be fixed by changing your tires to a better brand. Car manufactures don't by the best tires for their vehicles, my 2020 Highlander tires had a lot more raod noise than my 2022 Highlander even though they are the same make and model. The manufacture likely changed the formula a bit.
3. When you get into your Highlander and press the BIG fan button a couple of times just after you turned your vehicle and rowed down the windows (like you should to let the heat out) the air should start to feel cold in less than 20 seconds.
4. Bah, as a rule of thump you should be able to see the vehicle in front of you back tires on the road way when stopped behind them, any closer and your are TOO CLOSE! lol
5. The rear end looks great, it sets the Highlander apart from its competitors.

 

I ensure you it is definitely a better choice than Audi talk about unreliable cars that is them right there. I know some guys at the import shop in town and they told me stay away from any Audi or Volkswagen made in the last 25 years or so unless it is an old model like how they made the classic beetle until 2003 then it would be ok but he said otherwise to run and don’t buy them.

 

Few Quick thoughts at 6 months and about 7500 miles of ownership.

Likes:
1. Comfort...definitely a dad mobile but gets the job done
2. Front end looks/wheels
3. Acceleration...transmission is much smoother to me versus the 3rd gen
4. Auto A/C works better than other vehicles I've driven
5. Quiet at less than highway speeds
6. Road trip ability...one long 700 miler and one short 300 miler were very comfortable
7. Stereo works well as long as the signal in is good
8. Love the rear cross traffic alerts, the radar cruise control, and 360 camera
9. I think the instrument cluster screen works well and is easy to use.
10. I have the grey interior and think it looks great. We'll see how it holds up to use and abuse.

Dislikes
1. Gas mileage has been poor versus advertised figures. I have a heavy foot but have only averaged about 20 mph total because of several long distance trips
2. As others have said, road noise at highway speeds can be a nuisance
3. Auto A/C works well when active but there is a 20 second lag when car starts up which is annoying on hot summer days
4. Front parking sensors can be a nuisance, sometimes waiting in a drive thru they go off repeatedly when they detect car waiting in front. You can mute the beep, but the front camera keeps flashing on the screen
5. The rear cargo cover is a PITA to put away/set up.
6. I think the rear end looks too minivan-ish. I guess there are only so many geometries for the vehicle engineering to work, but I think the roundness doesn't match the chiseled feel of the front and sides

Overall, I am happy with the vehicle. My other choice was a CPO Q7 and although I still smile thinking about the speed the Audi had and prefer its looks, I still feel confident the Highlander will be the better choice on a 5 year+ ownership schedule (for my needs/use anyways). And, like a good American, I can fit my big gulp in the cup holders, something the Germans wouldn't let me do!

Now that the family ride is checked off, I am saving my pennies for my mid-life crisis fun car in a few years.

Just a quick question, what dealer in Houston did you buy your Highlander from? I'm looking around the market and it seems that almost every dealership is charging over which sucks, and I'd rather negotiate on a Limited trim. Thanks!

 

You can try Fred Haas Toyota. Talk to Nate Murphy DIRECTLY through the Car Pro website from a radio show and see what he can do for you.

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www.carprousa.com

 

I don't know if that's just the floor sticker. I've not used their website, but the radio host Jerry Reynolds said to go through the website and talk to their contact, which is Nate. That way Jerry knows about it and you won't have a 2-bit sales person trying to BS you.

Of course, not sure if he's able to do better than the floor sticker or willing. Just try it, doesn't cost anything to ask.

Also see what others are talking about markups over MSRP for Texas dealers:

GR86 - Texas Dealers Info

Hey y'all, Thought I would get us started here in the Texas category. Let's put dealer information on the GR86 here. I'm in the Austin area and have only heard back from two dealers. Charles Maund Toyota - Austin $2000 markup Taking $500 refundable deposits Toyota of Cedar Park - Leander I...

www.gr86.org

 

.....Also see what others are talking about markups over MSRP for Texas dealers:......

GR86 - Texas Dealers Info

Hey y'all, Thought I would get us started here in the Texas category. Let's put dealer information on the GR86 here. I'm in the Austin area and have only heard back from two dealers. Charles Maund Toyota - Austin $2000 markup Taking $500 refundable deposits Toyota of Cedar Park - Leander I...

www.gr86.org

I agree. Don't be afraid to shop DFW, Austin, San Antonio, well anywhere in Texas that has a Toyota dealer within reasonable distance. you might be surprised.

 

I tried using the Car Pro (Jerry Reynolds) site years ago. My experience was not that awesome as I realized that I found better pricing on the car I wanted without Car Pro pricing. I found Jerry to be nothing more than a Car dealer pimp, with dealers paying for his advice to customers to shop their dealerships. Jerry wants you to think he is your friend in the car business, but in reality, he is just trying to get customers for his paying dealerships. Someone has to pay for those dealers to be on his recommendation list, and guess who that is? The Customers!

 

Many "influencers" on YouTube and social media are paid advertisers, but amazingly a lot of people don't realize that. That's how they make money off their followers - companies provide free products and/or some other compensation in exchange for the influencers to talk about them and say good things about them. You don't make money from the fact that you have thousands of followers; you make money from selling the content somehow to that big audience. It's just like TV commercials - the bigger the audience for the show, the more money the network can charge for advertising time.

 

Just took a 2000+ mile trip N/S across the USA and back. Got between 27-28mpg avg loaded with 6 people cargo carrier and AC on Auto the whole time. I checked my actual avg per tank computer vs actual fuel added/miles driven and discovered it was almost the same, so stopped checking after 2 fill ups of 300+ miles. There were some flat stretches that I drove 70-75mph on flat stretches where I was avging 29.5. I’m thrilled with the way it drives and rides and mpg is fantastic.

 

Yeah, Jerry the radio show is sponsored by dealerships as he disclosed. He claimed to vet them keeping the ones treating his listeners better. Jerry doesn't hide the fact that the prices may not be the lowest, but at least you're not supposed to get any BS.

Shop around and get multiple quotes really is the best way.