If you want three rows of seating in a Toyota SUV without buying the colossal Tundra-based Sequoia, you have two options. The Highlander crossover comes standard with three-row seating, and the truck-based 4Runner has an optional third-row bench. One is a recently redesigned, thoroughly modern family car and the other is an off-road runabout with decades of super-rad history. Which one makes more sense for you?
By Duncan Brady – MotorTrend
By Duncan Brady – MotorTrend
The Toyota Highlander has long been a go-to pick in the three-row SUV segment, but Subaru introduced an appealing alternative with the Ascent for 2019. Our rankings position the Ascent as the overall superior offering, but depending on your priorities and how you’ll use the vehicle, the Highlander could be a smarter buy. Keep reading to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of the 2021 Toyota Highlander and 2021 Subaru Ascent.
By Stefan Ogbac – MotorTrend
Family cars must be multi-talented; they need to haul gear with ease, keep your passengers comfortable, and be safe. Luckily, finding one that meets those criteria isn’t as difficult thanks to IntelliChoice, a division of the MotorTrend Group. The company just announced its 2020 Best Overall Value of the Year awards and we’re highlighting some winners here.
How does IntelliChoice determine the Best Value of the Year winners? By calculating the total cost to own a vehicle over five years and comparing that with the expected costs. Depreciation, insurance, repairs, financing, state fees, and fuel costs over five years are considered in determining which vehicles get the win. Keep reading for a full list of family cars that won their respective classes.
By Mark Rechtin – Words; Wes Allison – Photos – MotorTrend
Brand loyalty makes purchasing a new vehicle an easy call for most folks; you belong to a Ford family or a Toyota household, and you never cross that line.
But there also are plenty of people who are looking for the best deal, or the latest thing, or the most popular vehicle in their particular class, brand be damned. In the case of the Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander, both are the latest thing in the three-row sport-utility segment, and they’re perennial best-sellers, to boot. So, if you were new to either brand and looking to see what all the fuss is about, which would be the better choice?
By Miguel Cortina – Words; Wes Allison – Photos; Brandon Lim – Photos
You’ve heard them all—Batman vs. Superman, Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, Apple vs. Microsoft. For as long as humankind has been competitive, rivalries have existed, with some even defining different points in world history and pop culture. In the auto industry, it’s always been about Mustang vs. Camaro, but in the three-row SUV segment, there’s always been one essential matchup: Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander. They were both born as unibody crossovers with an independent rear suspension and demonstrated to the world that SUVs could also have the carlike driving abilities of minivans without the quirky looks, awkward proportions, and sliding doors.
