Highlight Car of the Week; 2004-2005 Toyota Highlander

If Steve Harvey had us on Family Feud and asked us to describe the Toyota Highlander in one word; it would have to be versatile. Toyota debuted the Highlander in 2004 and the vehicle has been impressing consumers among used cars in Alexandria, Va since. Released in response to the increasing popularity of crossovers and light, sport utility vehicles the Toyota Highlander has been a beautiful marriage between the easy drivability of a sedan and the increased usages of an SUV. It often feels like the Highlander was a product of mad scientists mashing up the best qualities of the popular Camry and 4Runner to create an incredibly successful offspring. We at Airport Auto Sales on our Buy Here Pay Here lot love the Highlander for growing families or the young adult going to school. The overall durability and diversity of the Highlander means that it is not only a reliable choice; but a safe choice.

Similar to the Camry and 4Runner, the Highlander has an unremarkable exterior. Nothing about the body screams dangerous or exciting. However; something about the body style reminds us of the hot dad at the pool who has just enough understated chest muscles to catch your eye. Something about the underemphasized ridges and tones makes the vehicle more alluring and attractive to us. And just like the hot pool dad, it ages well with time like a fine wine. Among the used cars in Alexandria, Va and on our Buy Here Pay Here lot the Toyota Highlander is one of the best at hiding its true age thanks to relatively few changes in designs over the years. Another trademark the vehicle has become well known for over the years is its reliability and durability.

Thanks to an overall well designed 2.4 L four cylinder engine with 155 horsepower or a 3.3 L V6 with 220 horsepower, many Highlander drivers are cruising into the 200K mile range without any major concerns. The four cylinder offers an amazing 22 city and 25 highway mpg but is only offered with two rows of seating. For the elusive third row option drivers will have to upgrade to the better V6 option for the vehicle that still produces an admirable 19 city and 23 highway mpg. The third row is fairly small for the vehicle and truly only sits two children but can be highly valuable for the growing family. The V6 option is perfect for the road trip family or college driver that needs a small U-Haul for extra luggage. However; the shorter height of the Highlander does mean that attaching luggage to the roof is relatively easy.

The driveability of the Toyota Highlander is much like the interior; quiet and comfortable. Among its crossover competitors on our Buy Here Pay Here lot, the Highlander drives most like a simple sedan with the most visibility thanks to sleek frame-pillar designs. The vehicle also ranks highly with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration earning five stars for front, side, and rollover collisions. The Highlander also has more safety features than its competitors among used cars in Alexandria, Va with electronic stability and traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, anti-lock brakes, and emergency brake assist.

Overall, the 2004-2005 Toyota Highlander is an excellent choice for a growing family on the move or a young student who might need to move a few bigger items into a dorm. The Highlander is most noted for being easy to drive, extremely reliable, and exceptionally versatile. These vehicles often only see one to two owners in their lifetime because of their great dependability so be sure to check them out when one is available!