 What is up you guys? Welcome back to another one. If you are new to the channel, I am Gold Pony. I do new car truck SUV reviews on YouTube. And today we are in the new 2022 Toyota Highlander courtesy of Younger Toyota in Hagerstown, Maryland for more information on their inventory. Please feel free to check out the link in the description box below. So I made this one today because there's actually a couple of nice changes for the 2022 Highlander. Of course you have incredible reliability that of course is what Toyota is known for after all. We actually do get two years or 25,000 miles of complimentary maintenance as well. A lot of people don't necessarily know that so I always like to mention that. But ultimately in this video we'll be testing out and going over everything about this one from acceleration, braking, steering wheel, ride quality, sound system, exhaust clip, all of that fun stuff. So having said all of that, what do you guys say? Let's just go ahead and jump right into it. And as always, let's start with pricing. And so there will be several different trim levels for the 2022 Highlander. First one being the L, starting at $35,205. LE for $37,405. XLE for $40,405. XSE, which actually is the one we have today, starting at $42,000. Limited for $44,360. And platinum for $47,560. By the way, that was all pricing for the front wheel drive configuration. If you wanted to add all wheel drive simply add roughly $2,000 then to any of those prices. But regardless of trim level that you go with, the power plant on this thing is going to be the same. Powering the 2022 Highlander will be a 3.5 liter naturally aspirated V6, putting out 295 horsepower at 6,600 RPM, 263 pound feet of torque coming in at 4,700 RPM. Power set to front wheels or all wheels through an eight speed automatic, zero to 60 time, coming in at approximately 7.3 seconds. With MPG numbers coming in at 21 in the city, 29 on the highway for the front wheel drive, 20 in the city, 27 then on the highway for the all wheel drive, taking regular unleaded fuel. But said that before we do any kind of fun acceleration tests here in our 2022 Highlander, I did want to mention to you guys the drive modes. And so all of those drive mode adjustments are located directly behind the shifter. There's a toggle switch. There's also a circular dial. The toggle switch is going to give you your on road driving modes, which will include eco, normal and sport. Then the circular dial is actually going to give you mud and sand along with rock and dirt. And you do actually have a snow driving mode then as well, which is going to come in super handy, especially here in Western Maryland. But nonetheless, those drive modes will adjust things like the shift points, the throttle response and the all wheel drive system engagement. So now having gotten all that out of the way, what do you guys say? Let's go ahead and find a straightaway here. Let's put the Highlander to the test and let's see how quickly we can get our new 2022 Highlander here up to speed. All right you guys in three, two, one. Wow, that's actually really good. You know what? There's so many turbo charge engines out there right now. And yes, we all know they're more unreliable, but this naturally aspirated engine has a ton of power and it's extremely reliable as well. So it's really the best of both worlds. I don't know, I think I'm used to turbo lag at this point, even if it's just a little bit, but there's none of that of course, because this isn't a turbo charge engine. So it's instant acceleration from the get go and it's extremely reliable as well. So you gotta love it. But anyways, to go along with that acceleration as always, braking is equally important. So upfront you will find 13.3 inch ventilated front discs in the back, 13.3 inch solid rear discs. As far as that 60 to zero stopping distance goes, it actually comes in at 116 feet, which is incredibly impressive. Let me tell you guys, typically with SUVs, especially three row SUVs, it's coming in in the upper 120s. If not the 130s, I've seen as bad as 139 feet. So 116 feet, quite honestly, it's sports sedan good. So immediate stop in this thing, which is what you want because you're more than likely going to have some precious cargo sitting in the back seat. So definitely a good thing there. The braking feel is perfectly fine. I love it. Definitely leans towards the firmer side of things, which I personally appreciate. Then touching on suspension and handling upfront, you're gonna get an independent Mephireson strut front suspension in the back, trailing, wishbone type rear suspension, front stabilizer bar then as well. As far as ride quality goes, it's been perfectly fine on my short test drive here today. So definitely no issues with that. As far as steering feel goes, it leans a little bit more on the heavier side compared to a lot of other three-row SUVs I've tested. I'll put it that way. I mean, it's nothing crazy like a sports car, but comparing it to other three-row SUVs that I test, it's definitely on the heavier side, which I like. It gives you a better driver feedback. It instantly points you in the direction that you want to go. So I personally appreciate that. As far as cabin noise goes, you guys can tell, I'm actually going 52-ish miles per hour right now. So not a whole lot of exterior wind noise whatsoever coming into the cabin. You will get an acoustic laminative front windshield for all trim levels. And then if you were to go with the limited or the platinum trims, we'll actually get acoustic laminative front side glass then as well. So we don't have one of those two trims, but having said that, it's still perfectly fine, quite honestly. That's a good visibility. I don't have the third-row up right now, but I can see perfectly fine out the back without that third-row up. I put it that way because sometimes the third-row headrest tend to be beefy on other SUVs, but right now it looks perfectly fine. Brainsensing windshield wipers do come standard on the platinum trim level. And also with that platinum, you will find a 10-inch color head-up display projecting your speed, speed limit, and safety features then as well. But that pretty much rounds out the performance segment of this review, you guys. Let's now go ahead and take a look at the exterior of our brand new 2022 Toyota Highlander. All right, so here she is, you guys. The new 2022 Toyota Highlander finished in midnight black metallic. Just got it washed up. It looks pretty dang good, I gotta be honest. But anyways, let's go ahead and start up front on this one. Front grille, of course, is going to differ amongst the trim levels you got. They're going to get chrome, silver, or black surrounds dependent upon the particular trim level that you go with with the XSE being more of the sportier trim level, at least in appearance. That is why we're going to have gloss black surrounds which look dang good on a black exterior. So that's just my personal opinion. Silver accenting then found on the lower portion of that front bumper only if you go with the platinum trim level, that makes sense. It's more of the prestigious trim level, so to speak. To the sides, LED headlights do come standard on every single trim level across the board for added illumination at night. Automatic feature, of course, coming with that as well, meaning when it starts to get dark at night, those headlights will turn on automatically for you there. LED daytime running lights also coming standard. LED fog lights with the LE trim level and up if you wanted them. And then you actually get high output LED fog lights only for the limited and platinum trim levels. But I also wanted to add with that platinum trim level, you actually get adaptive front lighting, meaning when you're going around at bend at night, those headlights will swivel based on the direction of your steering angle, better help illuminating than what is around that bend. So it's kind of a safety feature in itself. And even the whole front fascia is going to differ amongst the trim levels. For example, if you look at this particular XSE trim level versus maybe an XLE, the XSE is going to have much more aggressive design as opposed to the LE trim level. So I wanted to mention that I also really liked the hood crease you guys can see here in the middle. That actually is very prominent when you're driving. I think it's a pretty cool look. It gives it more of a beefier feel when you're behind the wheel. But anyways, pretty much rounds out the front end of this one. Let's now go ahead and make our way to the side of the highlander. All right, so now since we are around to the side of this one, silver or gloss black roof rails come with the XLE trim level and up. Rear privacy glass is going to come standard for every single trim level across the board. Chrome Beltline molding or gloss black molding in our particular case, since we have the XSE trim level. Gloss black A-pillar, you're not going to be able to obviously tell with a black exterior, but if we have maybe a silver or white exterior or any other color really, there is going to be that gloss black A-pillar just above that side view mirror there. So I did want to emphasize that. Speaking of the side mirrors, they are body color power adjustable side mirrors. They are heated with LED integrated turn signals as well for every single trim level across the board. No matte cladding on the side skirts either. Bravo, Toyota, I love that they do this. So many SUVs out there put that matte black unpainted side skirts and Toyota doesn't do that with the highlander. So it looks so much more high end, so much more finished in my personal opinion. I particularly love it. Taking a look down to the wheel configuration, 18 inch alloys for the LLE and XLE trims, 20 inch machine finished alloys for the XSE, that obviously is what we have right now. 20 inch crimp alloys for the limited and 20 inch silver alloys for the platinum, but pretty much rounds out the side of this one. Let's now go ahead and make our way to the back. All right, so now since we all round to the back of this one, body color shark fin antenna all the way to the top. Just below that rear spoiler with the integrated brake light, a very aggressive looking rear spoiler as well. I like that. Just below that rear window wiper, LED tail lights then actually do come standard for every single trim level across the board. Gotta love that. Black rear bumper for the LLE and XLE trims, dark gray metallic finish for the limited and XSE trim levels, and then a gray metallic finish for the platinum. Then of course, just below it all, there will be a single exhaust outlet, slightly different configuration dependent upon the trim level that you go with. So for example, on the XSE, we have dual stainless steel tips, but having said that, I do believe you guys know what we have to do next. As always here is that exhaust clip. And so now since we are around back of the Highlander, when it comes to opening that rear tailgate, it is a power tailgate. If you were to go with the LLE trim level and up, that is how you're going to go ahead and get that. There's a button on the key fob, if you wanted to open that up, there's a button on the tailgate itself, of course, and a button by the driver side lift need them as well. But once opened up, cargo capacity comes in at 16 cubic feet, even behind that third row. If you were to fold that third row down, that bumps it up to 48.4 cubic feet. And then with all rows folded down, it is going to come in at 84.3 cubic feet. It's definitely a good bit of space there. Also found in that cargo area, there are six cargo tie-down anchors. You will find a couple of grocery bag hooks back there. There is a rear cargo cover. If you were to go with the limited or platinum trim levels, and there's actually some in-floor storage, which I love seeing as well. And so I usually put my ice scraper back there, being in Western Maryland here. It's definitely something we use. So that is what I would recommend putting back there. But then making our way up to the third row legroom, that is going to come in at 27.7 inches. So for reference, I'm in even six feet tall. This is how much space I have back there. There is rear ventilation for all three rows. And the third row passengers actually do have a few cupholders back there then as well. But ultimately, the third row is best left for children because it is an eight ton of space, but it should be able to fit a child. Then making our way to the second row legroom, that comes in at a very impressive, adult friendly, 41 inches, again, for reference. I'm in even six feet tall. This is how much space I had in that second row. Bench sheeting can be found for the LLE and XLE trims. Captain's chairs, however, like we have today, can be found on the XSE Limited Platinum and available for the XLE. I know that's a popular question for the Highlander, so did want to specify that there. Second row window sunshades can be found with the XLE trim leveling up. I love that. If you go with the captain's chairs configurations, each captain's chair is going to give you kind of a folding armrest, which is pretty nice. If you go with the bench sheeting, you actually get a rear center armrest with cupholders. And if you go with the captain's chairs, again, you actually have cupholders between those two captain's chairs. So in case you were curious about where they were located, you actually can get heated second row seats then if you were to go with the Platinum and there are dual rear USB charging ports then for those second row passengers as well. And they actually can set their own temperatures as well. We'll get to that in a little bit, but making our way there to the front seats, cloth seating with the L and LE trim, soft tech's upholstery for the XLE and XSE trim levels, leather seating with the limited and Platinum, and new for 2022. There are now height adjustable power front seats for the XLE trim level and up. So that's one of the minor changes for the 2022 Highlander there. Eight-way power driver seat though, coming with the L and LE, and you will get power lumbar if you were to go with the XLE trim level and up. Heated and ventilated front seats coming with the limited and Platinum, and then heated front seats coming with the XLE trim level and up. Overall, seating was plenty comfortable. It always is in Toyota. I never have any issues there. So definitely a good vehicle to go on a nice row trip to Ocean City, Maryland with. But so then taking a look at the steering wheel, it is tilt and telescoping. It is leather wrapped for the LE trim level and up, and then heated for the limited and Platinum trim levels. Then making our way to the startup, let me start by showing you guys the key here. You do have your Toyota Highlander badging on the one side. And then when you flip it over, it's pretty basic, but it's got what you need. Lock, unlock, and that button to pop the rear hatch. But it is all keyless entry with a push button start for every single trim level across the board. So all I'm going to do here is simply put my foot on the brake and press that engine start button located just by the driver's right knee then. But so once started up, tachometer is all the way to your left. Speedometer is on your right. There is a fairly large digital display front and center to control what is on that digital display. There are steering wheel mounted controls found on the left side of the steering wheel there. And that gives you different information like digital speedometer, average miles per gallon at any given time, how many miles you have left until you hit empty, outside temperature, the list goes on. So pretty much everything you could possibly want on the digital portion of the gauges there. Then make our way to overall interior quality. There is a power moon roof for the XLE XSE, like we have today and the limited trim levels. But then if you were to go with the Platinum you will get a panoramic glass roof. So definitely a good bit more light with that one. Overhead sunglass holder coming with all trim levels. And it actually comes with the rear conversation mirror as Toyota calls it. I call it a school bus mirror. So you can essentially spy on the rear passengers. That's always fun. Audit dimming rear view mirror with homeland controls coming with the XLE trim level and up. And that's for up to three different garage doors there. Tri-zone climate control for every single trim level across the board. So driver, passenger and rear passengers can all set their own temperatures. Wireless phone charger with the XLE trim level and up. Ambient interior lighting for the limited of Platinum. Driver voice projection system found just in front of the driver side visor here. That's for every single trim level across the board. So you really get to be a school bus driver then. But overall interior quality is actually pretty incredible. I gotta be honest for this price point you have some contrast stitching just above the passenger side glove box. I like this red and black contrast soft text upholstery that we have in this one. There's even a cool little carbon fiber-ish look just above the passenger side glove box as well. You have some added storage just above that passenger side glove box and just below the infotainment screen. Typically that's storage that's eaten up by something else in other vehicles. So I like that Toyota added it here on the Highlander. Just in front of the shifter you have a decent amount of storage there perhaps for a cell phone. Three USB charging ports, 12 volt power outlet. You also have dual cup holders. There's an electric mechanical parking brake. And within the center armrest is actually where you're going to find your wireless phone charger and of course, decent amount of storage with the 12 volt power outlet in there as well. So overall I love the contrast colors and overall interior quality is pretty dang good in this thing. But now let's go ahead and make our way to the tech display here. Eight inch color touch screen display essentially coming standard on all trim levels but the Platinum, Platinum's gonna bump that up to a 12.3 inch color touch screen display. Bluetooth and audio streaming do come standard. Android Auto Apple CarPlay coming standard for all trim levels. But if you were to go with the LE trim level and up it's then wireless Android Auto Apple CarPlay. So you gotta love that factory navigation system coming with the limited of Platinum. Of course you can check out your radio information up there. By the way, when it comes to the sound systems you will find six speakers for the L, LE, XLE and XSE trim. So although we have the XSE we actually do have an upgraded sound system with ours today. We have an 11 speaker JBL sound system available for our XSE and coming standard with the limited of Platinum. So having said that, what do you guys say? Let's go ahead and turn on some Christmas music since we're in December and let's test out the clarity of this one. I'll be home. Those old songs don't really showcase the capabilities of these new sound systems if I'm being honest but I can tell there was a good bit of bass. Pretty good clarity although that song was probably recorded in the 30s maybe. I don't know. Yeah, that sound system was plenty fine. JBL, I used to have a JBL subwoofer back in the day one of my old cars. So they're definitely a very reputable company. But so the last thing I wanted to mention to you guys on that infotainment screen is when you do put the Highlander in reverse you of course will find a rear view camera coming standard across the board. And if you were to go with the Platinum you're gonna get a 360 degree camera with a digital rear view mirror which essentially gives you that rear view camera within that rear view mirror which is pretty darn cool. But anyways that is always is going to lead us into safety. And so to start the Highlander is an IIHS top safety pick plus which is the very highest designation given by IIHS and that pretty much does it all right there. Front side side carrying airbags do come standard driver's knee airbag as well. In the back you're gonna have latch aka lower anchors and tethers for children for the rear car seats. Rear child door locks, tire pressure monitoring system but also for all trim levels you will get Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 plus which gives you a pre-collision system with the pedestrian detection, dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert, automatic high beams, lane tracing assist and road sign assist then as well. Then if you were to go with the LE trim level and up you're gonna get a blind spot monitoring system with rear cross traffic alert. And lastly, limited and platinum trims are going to add front and rear parking sensors along with automatic braking then as well. So overall when it comes to my final thoughts this thing is excellent safety. That IIHS top safety pick plus rating pretty much says it all right there. Great reliability as we all know just pick up a consumer reports magazine and you're gonna see confirmation that this thing has incredible reliability basically. Brilliant braking as well. I was kind of surprised to see a three row SUV coming in at 116 feet from 60 to zero. That's incredibly impressive. As far as room for improvement goes, quite honestly there's only two things. A full digital gauge cluster would be freaking awesome in this thing. And that third row is a bit snug so they can figure out a way to make that a little bit more space than the third row. Not that it's necessary because I mean you got the Sequoia and other Toyota SUVs that give more but still it would be nice but that is about it for this one you guys. Thank you so much for watching. 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