2006 Toyota Highlander Consumer Reviews

Ex-Jeep owner

Written by: Love my Toyota on 08/15/2008

Vehicle

2006 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Love my Toyota. Used to own 4 Jeep Grand Cherokees over the years, but quality and customer service deteriorated over the years. Purchased a Lexus GX 470 for the wife and loved it. Purchased a Highlander for myself. Nice how that works huh? After 47,000, no issues, just changed the engine oil every 5,000 miles, transmission fluid and tires. I will stick with the Toyota family of cars/trucks for good.

Favorite Features

V-6, drives like a car, smooth quiet ride.

Suggested Improvements

An adapter for iPods, built in radio antenna.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Great vehicle; legendary Toyota quality

Written by: Beachsixpack on 07/01/2008

Vehicle

2006 Toyota Highlander Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/3rd Row (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Excellent vehicle. Love the nav, leather seats, climate control, sunroof, nothing but good things to say. Gas mileage could be better, average 23-25 highway, about 20 around town.

Favorite Features

Navigation, sunroof, leather seats

Suggested Improvements

Gas mileage, and auto locking doors

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Hesitation

Written by: Linda on 05/17/2008

Vehicle

2006 Toyota Highlander Limited 4dr SUV w/3rd Row (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

This is my 4th Toyota, 2nd HL. 1st HL was a 2002 4cyl. Loved it so much that we decided to upgrade to a 2006 6 cyl Limited model. Boy what a mistake. It has no more power than the 4 cyl & the way it drives & shifts is such a disappointment. When I slow down it jerks like I missed a gear and then when you go to accelerate, there is such a hesitation that you don't know if it is going to go or just die. It really scares me when I'm in traffic. I've told the service dept about this for two years. 1st they said nothing was wrong, then they said it was a flaw in the chip & they had a new update that would fix that. That didn't work. Now they say it is normal & that that's the way it brain works.

Favorite Features

I love the size, lots of leg room for small SUV, great gas mileage, leather seats are comfortable and I think its overall appearance is great.

Suggested Improvements

Please do something about the driving hesitation and I think it would be the perfect vehicle.

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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So So SUV

Written by: bobby04 on 05/08/2008

Vehicle

2006 Toyota Highlander Sport 4dr SUV AWD w/3rd Row (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Purchased this vehicle in 2006 for my wife. After about 2 months we realized that this vehicle is not for us. It has the V6 but is very underpowered. It will hardly get out of it's own way. The seating is very uncomfortable. The most disappointing feature for us is the traction control feature. This cannot be turned off. While in light sand at the beach, the traction control locked up all wheels with the brakes as the wheels wanted to spin. This also happened in an icy condition last winter. Very disappointing. The quality of the vehicle is typical Toyota. It will probably outlast us all. If you are considering a Highlander, think about how you will use it and what your expectations are.

Favorite Features

Toyota quality. No others.

Suggested Improvements

More power. Traction control select switch. Softer and wider seats that don't make you feel like your sliding out all the time.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Wonderful Car

Written by: ToyLuv on 04/22/2008

Vehicle

2006 Toyota Highlander Limited 4dr SUV w/3rd Row (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

It has been more than 2 years since we purchased this SUV and still totally happy with it. No problems to report to date and still runs just like it did when new. More refined and quieter than our previous Acura MDX. Not to mention a lot better on gas. It gets 22 mpg in mixed driving the Acura only got 16 mpg. Only thing I want more is the Lexus RX's styling, maybe in a few years I will trade it in, but for now still happily motoring even after 34k miles.

Favorite Features

Refined ride, quiet and smooth, very detailed interior, great quality, Toyota reliability, decent gas mileage for this type of vehicle.

Suggested Improvements

Exterior styling too subtle.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Great SUV

Written by: Proud owner on 03/29/2008

Vehicle

2006 Toyota Highlander Limited 4dr SUV w/3rd Row (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I've had the car for almost two years, haven't had anything go wrong (knock on wood!). My first Toyota, I tried the RAV and a Buick Rendevous. The RAV seemed a tad too small, the Buick my husband didn't like. The size is perfect for us--just two but two dogs, one large, one medium, can both fit in the back seat, have plenty of cargo space left in back. Haven't used the third seat but wanted in case of emergency. Would agree good only for children. Rides smooth, easy to drive as a car, but the better and higher visibility of an SUV. Overall very satisfied and figure this to be a 10 yr vehicle.

Favorite Features

Heated seats-first vehicle with them and won't go without again. Great first and second row leg room. Good visibility out of the rear, easy to manuever in and out of parking lots, versatile hauling capabilities with the ability to lay down both 2nd and 3rd of seats. Large glove box and console.

Suggested Improvements

Third row seat could be larger and easier to access (done on 08). Seats could be a little longer. Air vents to the back seats (dog gets warm!).

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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2 years and running strong

Written by: Laura E. on 02/07/2008

Vehicle

2006 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV w/3rd Row (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I first wrote about my highlander from my first day of use. Now it is 2 years later and I love it even more! It handles icy and snowy conditions in Alaska like a dream. I can easily fit 15 bales of hay in it to haul for my horse. I can flip the seats and clean it out quickly, and my dog LOVES the back section with its own heater. I have just replaced the factory tires which wore out at about 48,000 miles. The air control box did break due to the severe cold we have experienced this winter (-30 degrees). But it was an easy fix by the dealer crew. Fuel economy remains strong as I am a careful driver. Road noise and a slipping mat in the third row are my only negatives.

Favorite Features

Style, comfort, ease of manuevering seats for cargo, fun to drive! BLASTS through snow.

Suggested Improvements

Second/third row AC vents, wider armrests, controls on steering wheel, better traction on back section pad for when a dog rides (slides it back toward door).

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Still Enjoying My HL After 2 Years!

Written by: Mercy58 on 01/21/2008

Vehicle

2006 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Bought my Highlander after test driving a Sienna; found the HL much easier to handle (I have a bad arm, so that's important to me). First Toyota, very pleased; just had 30,000 mile service done with no problems. It drives very well in the snow. Rides great after replacing original tires with good quality Michelins. I find it very easy to maneuver and visibility is good. Paint does scratch easily under door handles. Tranny hesitates a bit shifting down when turning into my steep uphill drive. 3rd row seat okay for children; too small for most adults. Overall I'm very happy with my HL!

Favorite Features

Sunroof, smooth ride, maneuverability, power driver's seat, user friendly dash controls, shifter position, interior roominess, interior colors (tan/silver), perfect height for entering/exiting (for me, 5'7"), quick acceleration, 3rd row seat folds flat for cargo storage.

Suggested Improvements

Better front seat cupholders! (They improved the center console on '08s.) Rear window glass opening independent of door would be nice. Wish these were standard on base model: compass/temp display, 6 disc CD changer, daytime running lights, middle seat heat/air vents, better quality tires.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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So far, so good

Written by: fleetcaptain on 12/16/2007

Vehicle

2006 Toyota Highlander Sport 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I have the hybrid. I love this car. Very reliable, no problems at 40k miles. I've towed several trailers over 900 miles each time, no problems.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

3 out 4 people found this review helpful

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hesitates, can't be fixed

Written by: matus on 09/27/2007

Vehicle

2006 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV AWD w/3rd Row (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

after 18 months I still can't trust this vehicle to accelerate when I step on the gas. It takes too long to shift, double shifts and hesitates. I've had to change the way I drive so I don't get slammed into. Interior space usage is not very efficient. Buyer's remorse. Toyota, after three trips to dealership says there's nothing wrong with it.

Favorite Features

With seats down the cargo space is like a small pickup. Gas mileage is pretty good.

Suggested Improvements

Put a different engine in it. Put the shift on the column or redesign the center console.

4 out 7 people found this review helpful

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