Subaru built this three-row hauler for families who prioritize crash protection and winter capability over fuel bills, and the tradeoff is real. The turbo four moves 4,500 pounds with surprising punch, standard AWD handles snow confidently, and the safety structure is legitimately impressive (owners walk away from nasty wrecks). But 17 mpg in mixed driving will hurt every week, and the 2019-2020 models had CVT failures serious enough to warrant full transmission swaps at 40-70k miles. The third row barely fits kids, let alone adults. If you're shopping used, the 2019-2020s are a hard pass, aim for 2023+ when Subaru finally debugged the powertrain. Buy this if you need the safety, the AWD, and can stomach premium gas at SUV-worst efficiency. Skip it if you actually need three usable rows or want a vehicle that won't punish you at the pump, the Honda Pilot does both jobs better.
The Toyota Highlander shows a sharp generational divide: pre-2020 models earn strong loyalty with owners reporting 200k-300k mile longevity, while 2020-2023 models face systematic 8-speed transmission complaints and class action lawsuits. The 2024-2026 hybrids have a fire recall related to inverter assembly. Many buyers question the Toyota premium, noting Kia and Hyundai offer better value with more features. The announced 2027 EV-only transition with limited range concerns families who use Highlanders for long trips. Current owners praise comfort and practicality, but value perception is a major pain point.