Its increased size puts the 2008 Toyota Highlander in the heart of the midsize SUV market. The new Highlander is about the same size as the Honda Pilot. Highlander's 95.4 cubic feet of cargo room is more than all but a handful of competitors in the popular midsize class.

At 188.4 inches overall, the 2008 Highlander 3.8 inches longer than the pre-2008 models. It's also 3.3 inches wider and 3.8 inches taller, and the wheelbase has grown from 106.9 to 109.8 inches. The weight is up some 300 pounds.

Highlander fits in the middle of Toyota's three-pronged midsize SUV lineup. Highlander features softer styling than the midsize 4Runner SUV and the retro-styled FJ Cruiser; truck-based platforms, rugged suspensions and low-range transfer cases make 4Runner and FJ Cruiser highly capable off road. The Highlander is based on the same architecture that hosts the Camry and Avalon sedans. Highlander's all-wheel-drive systems are designed for taming slippery pavement and wintry conditions, not for climbing rocks and traversing rough terrain.

The design of the Highlander is cleaner than that of the pre-2008 models. It is accentuated by a side character line that leads into pronounced wheel arches. The look is more muscular than the previous-generation models, tending more toward SUV than station wagon. Available 19-inch alloy wheels add to the more muscular stance.

Alloy wheels come standard, so every Highlander looks well-equipped. Hybrid models are differentiated by blue-tinted lighting, a special grille, and unique alloy wheels.