2022 Toyota Highlander

The Highlander's brief is quite simple: keep it comfy. We find the XSE model and its sportier suspension a bit odd, but even that particular model errs on the side of comfort. Since this is essentially a family car, it only needs to go forwards, backwards, and sideways without falling over. Preferably, the passengers should be comfortable as well.

Toyota hits the mark perfectly. The damping is spot-on, ensuring all passengers enjoy a ride smoother than a tall glass of warm milk. It does have a Sport mode, however, which is an oddity in a vehicle like this. Push the button and the throttle response is more aggressive. You can chuck it around a bit, and you'll be surprised at how agile it is - for a family carrier, that is - but it's still no Mazda CX-9. While it can hustle, it doesn't feel particularly happy about it. You get the feeling that it's going to call the PTA and report you for irresponsible driving. Cruising at the top legal speed in the USA is effortless and seems to be within the Highlander's comfort zone.

The suspension is also perfectly happy in mild off-road situations. It copes with a gravel road very well. You can load the whole family and explore the gravel roads in your area. You'd be surprised at the hidden gems you'll find on such trips. The only limiting factor is ground clearance, but since the Highlander doesn't have a transfer case or low-range, it was never built to do more than drive down a pleasant gravel road. The 4Runner caters to that segment.

The Highlander is an honest vehicle, and we respect that. Toyota's ad campaign shows happy kids and dusty gravel roads, no oversteering or a dubbed V8 soundtrack. This is a car that knows exactly what it is, and doesn't try to be more than that.

To us, the Highlander needs to be good in two departments. Firstly, as a people carrier. It ticks that box effortlessly if you ignore the tight third-row space, providing a comfortable and compliant ride. The standard features are just enough to keep everyone happy and entertained. Secondly, a family car needs to be safe. The addition of Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5+ suite last year deserves high praise. The rest of the package is more average. The engines aren't as advanced or powerful as the power plants in some rivals, but at least you know nothing will go wrong. The Highlander is comfortable, dependable, and safe. It's like your house, but on wheels.

There are more exciting and engaging cars out there, but if reliability, safety, and comfort are high on your list of must-haves, the Highlander is well worth looking at.

These two vehicles are remarkably similar, though Honda doesn't offer a hybrid derivative. Both are powered by a 3.5-liter naturally-aspirated V6 gas engine mated to an automatic gearbox, with AWD available as an extra. Neither is particularly stylish, following the basic design language of their respective manufacturers. Their interiors also favor ruggedness and logic above all else. It's worth noting that the Honda's third row offers four more inches of legroom, making it the default choice if ferrying passengers is the main consideration.

The Pilot is better to drive and more comfortable - and that's about it. The Highlander and Pilot are essentially neck-and-neck, which is why we used to go with the Honda, which offered a better ride. Last year, Toyota shot into the lead thanks to its Top Safety Pick+ award. As a vehicle that will constantly be ferrying families, safety matters more than anything else. For that reason, we choose the Highlander.

The Ford Explorer makes life extremely difficult for the Highlander. The 2022 Ford Explorer matches Toyota's safety standard and adds a reasonable amount of fun for the driver. This family crossover is proof that you don't need to give up joy to transport a family. The base engine produces 300 hp and has a tow rating of 5,300 lbs. Ford's V6 hybrid powertrain packs an even more powerful 318-hp punch. The Explorer is even more spacious, the interior is more modern, and the ride is more balanced. It hits the list of targets right in the middle, and even though the upper trims are quite expensive, we think the Ford is worth it. It's equally as safe, too, but its biggest downfall is the interior quality, which feels cheaper and not as solidly put together as the Toyota.