Top Car for families: Toyota Highlander
Monday, 3 January 2022
If you’re looking for a capable car for carting the whole family around, you’re really spoiled for choice these days. That makes it tougher to pick a winner for this category, but some 2021 models have really stepped up the game.
One of those is the new Toyota Highlander, which has managed to distinguish itself in a heavily crowded segment.
It comes in both petrol and petrol-hybrid flavours, every model seats seven, every model can tow, and every model gets the full Toyota Safety Sense active safety suite. I mean, that alone is reason enough to give the Highlander the award.
The Safety Sense suite alone adds a healthy amount of kit, like pre-collision avoidance, lane tracing assist, all-speeds adaptive cruise control and automatic high beam, as well as all-wheel drive.
**READ MORE:
* What will be the Stuff Top Car for 2021?
* The biggest motoring stories in 2021 (Part 1)
* The biggest motoring stories in 2021 (Part 2)
* First drive review: Toyota Highlander
**
Inexpensive, too, with the entry V6-powered GXL starting at $60,990 drive away. That’s a lot of car for the money, while opting for the cleaner hybrid four-cylinder adds three grand to the price of each variant, up to $74,990 for the fully kitted Limited ZR Hybrid.
That hybrid is the same unit as in the RAV4, modified to produce a smidge more power and torque (184kW of total system output versus 163kW), to better cope with the Highlander’s added size.
But, thanks to clever engineering in the chassis and suspension department, the Highlander doesn’t really feel that big. And that’s with an American-spec tune as well, which contributes to the ‘Lander’s fantastic comfort, welcome when dealing with bumpy roads, speed bumps or train crossings.
Sure, it might be a bit on the large side for some, but if you’ve got a growing family and want a car to last until the kids move out of home, the Highlander should be at the top of your list. Assuming the global shortages ease off in the near future, which they will in time.
Runner up: Seat Leon Sportstourer
If, however, you don’t need the sheer size of the Highlander, then our close runner-up, the Seat Leon Sportstourer, is a truly exceptional choice for a family that otherwise might default to an SUV just because it is the thing to do.
It might not be the same powerhouse the Cupra Leon VZ Sportstourer is, but for families, the more restrained Seat is the better pick.
It uses the smaller 1.5-litre turbo engine, but it gets mild hybrid technology to keep fuel use low - really low, with between 6 and 7L/100km possible in the real world.
Seat equips the Leon well from the outset, with eight airbags (including one between the seats), adaptive cruise control, Volkswagen’s tricky XDS electronic differential, keyless entry, and triple-zone air conditioning.
The only real reasons it didn’t take the top award are that you can’t give it lane-keeping assist (and you need to apply the $1600 Safety Assist package to get the good stuff), and the infotainment screen is too cluttered. Doesn’t take long to get used to, but it’s not as intuitive as the Toyota system.
But the Seat’s price is right at $44,990, and it will be eligible for a $2030 rebate after April 1, 2022.
Other contenders
Other cars we thought highly of in the family segment include the Subaru Outback, which is as fantastic as ever but costs a bit more than the Seat while offering largely the same amount of kit, and uses more fuel.
On the flip side, the Outback is one of the best vehicles in its segment for off-roading. The best car for you will depend on where your priorities lie.
You could also consider the Kia Sorento, now only available as a hybrid, or the excellent Kia Carnival if you like the idea of a plush people mover and don’t want an SUV.