Overview & Reviews
Toyota's car-based Highlander SUV receives no changes this year.
- Roomy interior, car-like ride and handling, spunky V6 engine.
- Rear seat is uncomfortably low, no third-row seat, limited towing and off-road abilities.
User Reviews:
Showing 11 through 20 of 229.00-
Toyota Highlander - 2002 Toyota Highlander
By Gary (Atlanta) - February 6 - 10:00 amWell built, solid, easy to drive. Steering is a bit vague and requires some attention on the highway to track. Great, smooth brakes. Quiet with just a bit of wind noise. Good seating and comfortable ride - a bit on the choppy side at times, but controlled and compliant. Definitely not a truck but not quite a car. Great switch feel and controls and good visibility. Some body roll, but its not a sports car! Weve had zero defects and problems since new: its now been 3 months. If you need a car but require more storage than a car and want more head, leg and shoulder room than a car, this is it. Great vehicle for 4 adults on a trip!. We didnt buy it for off-roading, so cant comment on that.
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Excellent with a few quirks - 2002 Toyota Highlander
By drewdog - August 4 - 10:00 amI love this thing! Lots of power, lots of space, great sound system, handles well for its size/weight, mileage is good too. Only minor issues: slippery leather, poor stock tires, break shims had to be replaced on one wheel (bought it used at 30k miles though).
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SUV that drives like a Car - 2002 Toyota Highlander
By I500X - October 20 - 12:00 pmIve driven a few cars of similar size and type. They dont compare to this cars performance! The Highlander has great handling that gives the driver a nice feel for the road.. the steering is sharp.. the acceleration is good.. the brakes are excellent! The interior is pretty solid.. the only complaints i have is that it gets noisy at high speeds and the sound system could be better. Ive been using the Highlander for trips, moving boxes/furniture, moving heavy materials, and everyday use! Its very useful to have a larger car but the Highlander is not so large that it becomes bulky. It still feels like a car, rather than the truck (unlike the 4Runner).
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I had the bad one - 2002 Toyota Highlander
By hong wang - March 2 - 10:00 amAt the begining, I was really happy with the SUV. And two weeks later, I noticed my garage floor had fluids.Went to the dealer and they found out the transmission fluid was leaking and replaced seal. A few months later, I drove the car with sun roof little open and it was raining. A few hours later, water started dripping from inside right above both driver and passanger windows. Dealer found out the drainage pipe was broken inside of the car. I also installed the hood protector. If I drive the car over 45mph, the wind noise is so high that it hurts your ear. Finally I have to use tape to seal the gap between the protector and the hood.
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Ride on the Edge of America - 2002 Toyota Highlander
By bill geery - February 21 - 3:28 am -
Best SUV Ive owned - 2002 Toyota Highlander
By davidm53 - January 29 - 2:00 amI have owned Explorers (2), 4-Runner, Jeep, and GMC. The Highlander is by far the best one, based on the comfort and driveability. Toyota is right on by designing an SUV that drives like a car. When I get in my daughters Explorer, it feels like Im riding in a rough old buggy.
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A Highlander in NYC - 2002 Toyota Highlander
By Len K - January 29 - 2:00 amI love my Highlander. Its comfortable, convenient and reliable. The 6Cyl version has enough kick to get on to the BQE (or any other express way), but the 4 Cyl. needs more power. The ride is smooth even on unpaved roads and NYC beatup highways. Inconvenient elbow rests. They are too close to the drivers body and height is not adjustable. The cup holders without the center console can hold a 1 liter bottle, but the center console has small, inconvenient cup holders. The center console could be higher for more storage space and more functionality. The fog lamps switch (to the left of the steering wheel) is hard to see and use. I would reccomend it to anybody without any hesitation.
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A mix of strong and weak points - 2002 Toyota Highlander
By Dave N. - December 16 - 3:46 pmMy lease on this Highlander runs out soon and I am undecided whether I should buy it, or turn it in. Its been very reliable, with one odd recurring problem: if you dont tighten the gas cap completely, a light comes on to indicate a problem with the emission controls. To get it reset, you have to take the vehicle to a dealer! It is heavy and feels ponderous. Fuel efficiency (19 mpg) is OK for a two-ton vehicle, but acceleration is mediocre even with the V6. The seats are not very comfortable on long trips. The controls on the steering column are confusing at night. The deep, narrow console between the front seats is horrible; stuff at the bottom is impossible to reach!
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200k Miles on Mine! - 2002 Toyota Highlander
By virginiagirl1 - July 15 - 2:14 amI bought this car new in 2002 and now have 200,000 miles on it, which to me is amazing. Ive owned a couple of Toyotas in the past (Celica, Corolla, Camry), but this one has lasted the longest. No problems except AC knob broke last year and cost $900 to repair/replace (had to remove dash to replace a knob? That doesnt make sense to me). I know its on borrowed time, so am looking to replace soon....Also own a 2008 HL limited, but I like this "original" better.
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best in class - 2002 Toyota Highlander
By older&wiser - June 19 - 10:00 amdrove both 4 & 6 cy., and chose the 4 for gas mileage. Its fine for majority of driving, but if you ever have to stop on an incline, and then start uphill again it may take you to Christmas to get to the top! I test drove Explorer, Pathfinder, CR-V, Santa Fe, Escape, and Jeep Liberty. Highlanders quality far better than any of those. I have bought nine new cars in my life, and this was the most unpleasant transaction Ive had. The dealership was the most impersonal, uncaring, arrogant salesmen Ive ever dealt with, especially AFTER the sale. Wouldnt return phone calls.
