Here's what you're actually buying: a truck that refuses to quit. Owners routinely push 250k-400k miles on original drivetrains, and the only thing that kills the old ones is frame rust, not mechanical failure. But the 5th gen (2010-2024) makes you pay for that immortality with 16 mpg, a ride like a lumber wagon, and an interior that feels frozen in 2005. You're spending $50k-$60k on something bulletproof but outdated, and unless you're actually using the body-on-frame toughness off-road, a Highlander does the daily-driver job better for less. The brand-new 6th gen modernizes with a turbo-4 and hybrid, but it's too green to trust, dealers are tacking $10k markups onto polarizing styling, and they killed the fold-flat rear seats. If you off-road seriously or want a vehicle that outlives your mortgage, grab a clean 4th gen V8 or late 5th gen and accept the compromises. If you're pavement-only, this is an expensive way to burn gas.
This subcompact crossover splits opinion among the handful of owners vocal enough to post about it. One survived a serious crash with only bruising, crediting the safety systems and structure. But the DSG transmission's behavior annoys some drivers, and there are scattered complaints about rear brakes wearing prematurely, infotainment glitches, and EVAP codes that send owners back to the dealer. One tech reports seeing brake issues frequently on Taos and Jetta models. With so few long-term ownership reports available, it's hard to say whether these are isolated cases or patterns. If you value crash safety and can tolerate some quirks, it might work. If you want proven reliability, wait for more data or look elsewhere.