I’ve been having several people asking me when I’ll finally review a Toyota Highlander. This time has come!

The timing was perfect because it was the vehicle I was able to test drive during my family’s annual vacation to California. This time around was special, though, because we took a special road trip from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe (Squaw Valley) in it.

Before I say anything else, even if a Highlander isn’t the kind of vehicle you’re in the market to own, it’s at least the perfect one to rent while on vacation.

Even though there are just three of us in my family, we hauled around a lot of luggage, being that we flew in from Nashville. Not to mention, our road trip was also a “travelling family reunion.” In other words, we were part of a caravan in which extended family members were rotating in and out of the car.

The Highlander was the perfect size; seating 7 plus cargo space. With an average MPG of 20, I could have made it all the way from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe and back on the same tank, had it not been for some extra trips to neighboring towns like Truckee. Doing so much driving in an unfamiliar part of the country, the special backup camera was especially helpful.

In what turned about to be a perfect coincidence, Toyota happens to be the official sponsor of Squaw Valley, where we stayed. I had no idea going into this.

So on display there at The Village At Squaw Valley, they featured several other Toyotas, all of which I have previously reviewed: the Rav4, the Tacoma, the Prius, and today, the Highlander.

Just a couple of months ago, my sister and her husband traded in their Mazda Tribute for a Highlander, and I’ve heard nothing but positives the whole time. They love theirs.

So in addition to me saying the Highlander made the perfect complimentary vehicle for an all-American rugged road trip, my sister is very satisfied with it as her main car.

And she did a lot of research before buying it. She admitted to me that all my many Toyota reviews helped convince her. (We were raised in a very pro-Ford home.)

Similarly, my wife loved the Highlander, saying that she loved how “roomy” it is and that “it’s high enough off the ground that it makes me feel like I’d be safe in a crash.”

Lastly, my son said his favorite part about riding in the Highlander was that he could see out all the windows. And on a mountainous road trip to Lake Tahoe, that matters!

Here are the stats:

3.5 DOHC V6 Engine with Dual WT-i

6 Spd Auto Trans; 5,000 lb Tow Capacity

7 passenger

Annual Fuel Cost: $2,600

20 MPG combined: 18 city/24 highway

Cost As Shown: $44,450.00

Thanks for checking out my very anticipated review of the 2014 Toyota Highlander. I hope you enjoyed it!