2024 Toyota Highlander: The Familiar Face Wins with New Tricks The Toyota Highlander is a household name in the mid-size SUV world, a trusted friend that families have relied on for years. For 2024, the Highlander returns with a familiar smile, but with some smart upgrades that keep it relevant and competitive. Is it still the SUV king for practical families? Let's take it for a spin and find out. Familiarity Breeds Comfort: Hop inside the 2024 Highlander and you'll feel like you're slipping into a well-worn pair of sneakers. The layout is familiar, with intuitive controls and a no-nonsense approach to functionality. The cabin is spacious and accommodating, easily swallowing eight passengers in the optional third-row configuration. Second-row seats slide and recline for maximum comfort, making long trips a breeze. Cargo space is generous, whether you're hauling groceries or camping gear. It's the epitome of practical design, honed to perfection over generations. New Tricks Up Its Sleeve: But don't mistake familiarity for stagnation. The 2024 Highlander boasts some welcome upgrades. The infotainment system, once a weak spot, now features a responsive touchscreen with crisp graphics and standard Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay®. A panoramic sunroof brightens the interior, while wireless phone charging and heated seats add a touch of luxury. Advanced driver-assistance features like lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control are standard, giving you peace of mind on the road. Powertrain Choices for Every Preference: Under the hood, the Highlander offers a trio of powertrains to suit diverse needs. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder is fuel-efficient, perfect for urban commuting. For those seeking more pep, the 3.5-liter V6 delivers smooth power and effortless highway cruising. And for the eco-conscious crowd, the Highlander Hybrid joins the party, offering impressive fuel economy without sacrificing performance. You choose the soundtrack, the Highlander plays it. Not All Heroes Wear Capes, Some Drive Highlanders: But the true strength of the Highlander lies in its unwavering reliability and confidence. It tackles city streets with ease, navigates highway miles effortlessly, and even ventures into light off-road terrain with optional all-wheel drive. It's not the most exciting SUV on the market, but it's a dependable sidekick, always ready for your next adventure, big or small. Verdict: The 2024 Toyota Highlander isn't a flashy reboot, but rather a thoughtful evolution of a beloved classic. It retains its core strengths of practicality, spaciousness, and reliability while adding modern tech and improved features. It's not the trendiest, but it's the friend you can always count on, the one who's there for the school runs, the road trips, and everything in between. If you prioritize functionality, dependability, and value above all else, the Highlander remains a champion in the mid-size SUV ring. Thanks for listening to Quiet Please. Remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts.