I currently have a 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser but want to slightly downsize.
If you’re looking to downsize into a new SUV, you should take a look at the 2009 Toyota Highlander. The Highlander is a few inches shorter in overall length, height and width, and it manages to only lose a few cubic feet of cargo space compared to your 1999 Land Cruiser. To see the specs of both side-by-side click here.
Because you’re coming from a 10-year-old Land Cruiser, you’ll find the Highlander to have a comparable, if not enhanced, luxury feel. In its up-level Limited model, the Highlander includes a keyless startup system, leather interior, automatic climate control plus options like a navigation system, JBL stereo, moonroof, rear DVD system and power tailgate.
The major difference between the two SUVs is that the Highlander is a crossover SUV riding on car-based chassis while the Land Cruiser is a truck-based SUV. Your 1999 Land Cruiser has additional towing capacity with a 6,500-pound rating; the Highlander can tow a maximum 5,000 pounds with the optional trailer package. The Land Cruiser has more ground clearance and offroad capability than the Highlander. If you do any heavy-duty driving, the Highlander might not be as well suited as a Land Cruiser.
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