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Must Have Mom

Best Family SUV: What Does The Toyota Highlander 2017 Offer Families?

Minnesota & Travel· Travel With Kids

14 Jan
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If you’re on the hunt for the best family SUV, the Toyota Highlander may be just right for your family. I’ll show you all the features it has to offer families and why we fell in love with it.

 

Toyota highlander review for families. Overview of Highlander features.

 

Best Family SUV | Toyota Highlander 2017

We had the opportunity to test out the Toyota Highlander on our recent vacation to Florida. I couldn’t wait to check out the features it had and see how it would work for our family. Now keep in mind that we are a family of six, two adults and four kids, so it’s a lot to ask of a midsize SUV to host us on vacation. Spoiler alert, I wasn’t disappointed in its size or features!

 

Toyota highlander review for families. Overview of Highlander features.

 

 

At first glance, the Toyota Highlander offers a gorgeous interior with comfortable seats and roomy seating for up to 8 passengers. The interior is luxurious, while still being functional for families. The Highlander offers three-row seating and up to 158.7 cu. ft. total cabin volume.  A one-step second-row sliding seat function on both driver and passenger sides makes entering the third-row easy. Third-row passengers even get a standard recline function.

 

 

Toyota highlander review for families. Overview of Highlander features.

 

If the kids are in the third row and you need to tell them to keep their hands off their brother, simply use the Driver Easy Speak. A microphone located in the overhead console amplifies the driver’s voice and broadcasts it, one-way, through the audio system’s rear speakers. That’s right moms and dads, no more need to yell to the back seat. Save your voice for later.

 

Toyota highlander review for families. Overview of Highlander features.

 

Best Family SUV Features

Perhaps one of my favorite features is the standard Toyota Safety Sense™ P driver assist system bundles cutting-edge active safety technologies. This driver assist system bundle includes Pre-Collision with Pedestrian Detection function featuring forward collision warning and Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist function, Automatic High Beams, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. What does that mean? It means if I start to drift out of my lane the vehicle will correct and put me back in my lane. If I get too close to the vehicle in front of me it will automatically apply the brake and keep me a set distance back. It will even turn my brights on and off for oncoming traffic. It’s quite impressive. I felt a bit like the Jetsons in my smart vehicle that does just about everything but drive for me. This puts it high on my “best family SUV” list.

 

Toyota highlander review. Best family SUV. Overview of Highlander features.

 

The dash is a sleek and impressive looking design. I like the long cubby area that gives plenty of room to store devices, keys, parking passes and the like. Or if you’re a mom it may house binkies, teething rings and wet wipes. Let’s keep it real moms.

 

Toyota highlander review for families. Overview of Highlander features.

 

The instrument panel is a plethora of information and I love the easy to read dials.

 

Toyota highlander review for families. Overview of Highlander features.

 

My favorite feature is the navigation system which hosts all sorts of features and information. Since we were traveling while we tested out the Toyota Highlander, it was especially invaluable to have easy access to navigation that got us from point A to point B without any issues. The one time we thought we knew where we were going and got ourselves lost, it easily got us back on track to our resort. It features The Weather Channel temperature updates and SiriusXM® Satellite Radio.

 

Toyota highlander review for families. Overview of Highlander features.

 

The heated and cooled seats were one of those little luxuries that everyone deserves to have. Being from northern Minnesota I typically have only used heated seats. Being in Florida, I quickly saw the value to having cooled seats as well! The driver and passenger can set them independently.

 

Toyota highlander review for families. Overview of Highlander features.

 

 

Another feature that every family should look for in the best family SUV is a backup camera. I can’t tell you how freaked out I get about accidentally backing over a child or animal. The Toyota Highlander has the coolest ever camera options. You can use the backup camera to easily back out of spots and see behind you, but you can also get a 360 degree look around the entire vehicle to ensure there aren’t any kiddos hiding in a blind spot. It’s amazing and life-saving.

 

Toyota highlander review for families. Overview of Highlander features.

 

 

Perhaps one of the most impressive new innovations is the Stop and Start Engine System. This new system allows the engine to shut off when the vehicle comes to a complete stop, and then restarts when the driver’s foot lifts from the brake pedal. Stop and Start is designed to reduce emissions, help reduce fuel consumption, and provide a quieter in-cabin experience for passengers when the vehicle is at a complete stop.

 

Toyota highlander review for families. Overview of Highlander features.

 

I’ve saved the MOST impressive fact for last. Here is my family (minus my hubby who is taking the photo) and we fit ALL of us AND our luggage in the Toyota Highlander. That’s right all six of us, 6 backpacks and two enormous suitcases fit in the Highlander. I was shocked that this midsize SUV could pack us all in. We are quite a crew.

 

All in all, the Toyota Highlander is where luxury, safety and performance collide to create the best family SUV. Got questions? Leave them in the comments or join us on Facebook to chat! Want to know how we afford to travel with four kids in tow? Check out my post here on using rewards to get free travel for your whole family!

 

Pin Best Family SUV | Toyota Highlander:

Favorite features of the Toyota Highlander SUV for families

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lois Christensen says

    January 15, 2018 at 6:58 pm

    What a great looking car! I love the idea of the backup camera. Looks like you all were able to fit in there too with plenty of room.

    Reply
  2. Cat says

    January 15, 2018 at 7:41 pm

    We are totally a Toyota family! I love the RAV4 but have not driven the Highlander yet. That may be my next test drive!

    Reply
  3. Amy Desrosiers says

    January 15, 2018 at 7:51 pm

    This looks like the perfect road trip vehicle for my family of 5. I need to request one when we go on vacation this year.

    Reply
  4. Claudia Krusch says

    January 15, 2018 at 10:18 pm

    It looks like a great vehicle for road trips1 Love how spacious it is!

    Reply
  5. Chelley Martinka says

    January 15, 2018 at 10:26 pm

    I have always loved Toyotas- such great, reliable cars!

    Reply
  6. Tara says

    January 15, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    What a great looking vehicle! I love that it seats 8! My family would fit great in it.

    Reply
  7. Nicole Elliott says

    January 16, 2018 at 9:55 am

    Looks like you had an amazing time! It really is amazing what a difference a great, reliable vehicle with great features does in making the difference on road trips!

    Reply
  8. Virginia says

    April 19, 2018 at 7:50 am

    We test drove a Highlander and absolutely love it! My only concern is that when my 9-year-old daughter sits in the middle row, her eye level is below the window. Did you notice that with your children, and if so, was it a problem for them?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      May 4, 2018 at 5:26 pm

      Hmm I didn’t notice that with my children. Perhaps you could try a backless booster seat for her? I’m not sure how big/small she is.

      Reply
  9. Daria says

    June 19, 2018 at 9:35 am

    How was the rear climate control for the kiddos? I always feel like my daughter is roasting in her carseat because no air blows on her!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      June 20, 2018 at 10:15 am

      My kids were very comfortable despite the hot outdoor temps!

      Reply
  10. Katie Scott says

    April 10, 2019 at 7:20 am

    Do you have any photos of how you packed your luggage? We just got a Highlander and I have serious doubts that it will fit our luggage. :/

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      April 10, 2019 at 11:52 am

      Oh I wish I had a photo! It definitely fit all of us and our luggage as that was our only means of transportation to and from the airport haha. This was a while ago, but I believe we had three kids sit across the center seating and one kiddo in the backseat with the other half of the backseat folded down to accommodate the larger suitcase. I hope that helps 🙂

      Reply
  11. Michelle says

    June 25, 2019 at 11:12 am

    What trim package was this vehicle?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      June 25, 2019 at 7:18 pm

      Oh I am not sure! Sorry I can’t be more help.

      Reply

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Meet Sarah

Meet Sarah, the mom behind Must Have Mom, where she shares easy solutions to simplify everyday life for busy families. As a mom to four young children she knows what it's like trying to be supermom and keep your sanity. This is the place for moms to unite and enjoy the crazy journey of motherhood. Read More…

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