Refreshing or Revolting 2014 Toyota Highlander Your eyes are not deceiving you – the refreshed 2014 Toyota Highlander is larger than its predecessor. As previously reported, the overall length of the new Highlander has increased from 188.4 to 191.1 inches and its overall width jumps from 75.2 to 75.8 inches. Perhaps more significant is that Toyota has widened the 3rd row by 4.3 inches, which allows room for three people and boosts the Highlander passenger capacity from 7 to 8.
2014 Toyota Highlander Refreshing or Revolting
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| 2014 Toyota Highlander Refreshing or Revolting |
2014 Toyota Highlander Refreshing or Revolting
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| 2014 Toyota Highlander Refreshing or Revolting |
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| 2014 Toyota Highlander Refreshing or Revolting |
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2014 Toyota Highlander Refreshing or Revolting
2014 toyota highlander side view 22 300x187 imageAdditionally, the 2014 Highlander has a new look, both inside and out. The front fascia is much bolder and more aggressive, thanks to its taller grille and larger headlights that extend well into the front fender. The side profile also showcases a few notable changes from the black plastic cladding that frames the wheel wells and the upward kinks featured on the front and rear-three quarter window trim. Character line creases are more pronounced, including the one below the beltline and right above the rocker panel. Finally, new wheel designs wrap up the changes on the side.
The refreshed Highlander has taillights that extend horizontally into the tailgate. The taillight design is fairly simple, with a red bar stacked on top of a clear bar. The lower edge of the rear glass window is more V-shaped, while the “Highlander” badge moves from the trim piece above the license frame to the lower edge of the tailgate. In its place is a larger Toyota badge.
Interior updates are fairly substantial as well. Like other recent Toyota and Lexus models, the dashboard and center stack have a more horizontal layout. For the 2014 Highlander, the center stack starts with an LCD on top, followed by a touch screen infotainment system below it. Directly underneath the climate control switchgear is a storage shelf, which continues to the 2014 Toyota Highlander dash view2 300x187 imagepassenger side air vent. The Limited model featured in press photos showcases metallic and wood-like accents. Those sitting in the driver’s seat will notice a new three-spoke steering wheel and an instrument panel with a larger LCD information screen flanked by round and simple gauges. The layout for the center tunnel is largely the same, though the new gear shifter is chunkier and appears more substantial.
Do you think Toyota did a good job updating the larger 2014 Highlander? Sound off below.
Last week we featured the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, which karyun41 described as “sleek and aerodynamic, just like its sexy older brother which is the CLS. The interior also looks very nice.” Optima13000, however, said it “looks a little goofy, but compared to the dated C-Class this is much better.”
Source: Toyota
