There’s a movement underway in the sport utility market back to four-cylinder engines, and for 2009 Toyota has jumped onto the bandwagon with its popular Highlander model.

The base Highlander has the size and utility of an SUV, and now comes with a thrifty four-cylinder engine. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

While the base model 2008 Highlander sported Toyota’s 270-horsepower, 3.5-litre V6 with 248 lb-ft of torque as standard equipment, for 2009 the base Highlander comes equipped with a 187-horsepower, 2.7-litre inline-4 with 186 lb-ft.

Unlike the four-cylinder sport utilities of the past, which typically featured 4WD with a two-speed transfer case and standard-shift transmission, today’s four-cylinder sport utes often feature two-wheel drive. The Highlander is a case in point: the four-cylinder version comes only as a front-wheel drive vehicle with a six-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission. If you want 4WD, you’ll need to move up to the V6 Highlander.

All this leads me to wonder if there isn’t a new category opening up, because while the base Highlander is an eminently useful, practical and comfortable vehicle, the nearest it comes to “sport” is when you throw a bag of soccer balls in the back and take the kids to practice. But it's not really a crossover like the Venza. It’s more like an FUV — a Frugal Utility Vehicle.

The 2.7-litre, 16-valve inline-4 features variable valve timing and puts out 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

That said, the big 16-valve inline-4 fitted to the Highlander isn’t lacking for useable power. It’ll easily chirp the front tires coming off the line and haul the 1,840 kilogram (4,050 pound) Highlander from standstill to 100 km/h in a hair under 10 seconds. Thanks partly to the variable valve timing and partly to the six-speed transmission, the engine also delivers pretty impressive fuel economy considering the Highlander's size: 10.4 L/100km city and 7.3 L/100km highway.

If there’s a price to be paid with the four-cylinder it’s in noise levels and refinement: When pushed hard, the four-cylinder is a bit raspy and loud, and with only the front wheels being driven there’s a certain amount of torque steer under hard acceleration. Still, it gets the job done, and when driven in a civilized manner it delivers perfectly civilized performance.

The interior is comfortable and well-fitted, but relatively plain. The rear seat's innovative folding console makes the centre position suitable only for short trips. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

The suspension is similarly biased towards comfort, with fairly tall P245/65R17 tires on alloy wheels, relatively soft spring settings and lots of compliance over bumps. This is a vehicle that won’t get upset — or upset you — when swallowing potholes the size of ice cream cakes. However, I’d have preferred a bit more rebound damping in the shock absorbers because I found the Highlander tended to dance a bit over pavement undulations at highway speeds. Around corners, what the Highlander lacks in crispness it makes up for in predictability and a forgiving nature.

Instruments and controls are laid out in a logical manner, making the Highlander easy to live with. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

Inside, everything fits together as it should and the materials are generally of good quality, though there is a fair bit of hard plastic about. I quite liked the instruments, which are crisply lettered backlit white-on-black affairs with stylish inner red rings; easy to read and nice to look at. As one would expect from Toyota, all the major controls are laid out logically and are easy to reach, and one quickly feels at home behind the wheel.

The Highlander is advertised as a seven-passenger vehicle, and there are indeed seven seats perfectly suited for a quick field trip or taking a bunch of friends to the movies. But only four of those seats really qualify as suitable for a long-haul road trip: The third-row seats simply don’t have adult-size leg and shoulder room to accommodate two for a long trip, while the middle position in the second row is encumbered by being part of the “Centre Stow Seat” folding console.

There's lots of luggage room with the third row folded down. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

As a seat it’s bit skinny and hard. Folded down as a console, however, it makes the two rear seats quite luxurious, with their own drink holders to match their individual climate controls. I did wonder how the light beige cloth interior in my “Sandy Beach” metallic gold tester would fare under the assault of soda pop, dropped snacks and grime that seems to accompany children.

Even in basic form, the Highlander comes with a wide range of safety and convenience equipment: There’s vehicle stability control and advanced traction control, four-wheel ABS disc

The Highlander has refined styling. The base model comes with attractive alloy wheels. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, and a whole array of air bags including rollover-sensing side curtain airbags. Convenience items include privacy glass, accessory power outlet and audio auxiliary input. My tester came with an $1,805 upgrade package featuring rear A/C, 6-disc CD changer, steering wheel audio controls, 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat, roof rack, illuminated vanity mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, fog lamps and automatic headlamps. This bumped the price up to $35,985 (plus $1,440 delivery) from the base price of $32,180. Either way, it’s good value for the level of functionality and versatility you get with the Highlander, and with a starting price nearly $5,000 less than the V6 4WD Highlander you’ll have lots of money left over to sign up for tennis, karate, skiing and kayaking lessons. So your car can keep the utility, and you get the sport!

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