I drove Toyota’s Highlander – its brilliance lies in its blandness

YOU always have an idea of how popular your car is.

In the same way as you spot someone wearing the same trainers as you on the street, the minute you buy a new car, you start noticing others on the road.

That’s how I know the Toyota Highlander isn’t doing big showroom numbers.

I’ve been driving one for a month now and can count on one hand the number of fellow Highlander drivers I’ve seen in that time. The reason why is just as hard to spot.

Maybe because a seven-seater as big as a bus — the Highlander is huge — is still niche, even in these days of SUV obsession. It’s not like you see the Hyundai Santa Fe or Peugeot 5008, Highlander’s key rivals, everywhere you go.

But if you do need a car that can carry six passengers and commands a similar view of the road to a JCB, the Highlander isn’t a bad way to go at all.

Its brilliance lies in its blandness. It is ultra-functional, designed and built with just one thing in mind: Family life.

The third row of seats is big enough for a couple of adults, although you wouldn’t want to spend too long in there if you’re 6ft or above. Kids are more than comfortable, though, and you don’t need to go on a diet to access them.

It’s like looking into the mouth of the Channel Tunnel when the rear doors are open. There are thoughtful little touches throughout, like the sun blinds built into the back windows. Parents of babies will know exactly why that’s a good thing.

Unlike the more stylish 5008 and Santa Fe, the interior is dull – but it does its job very well. The middle seats slide forward and back, while the front seats are electrically adjustable as standard and offer a huge range of movement.

'Petrol-electric hybrid'

Those seats are made from leather not because it looks swanky but because it is easier to wipe clean, while there are enough charger sockets to power the stockroom at Currys.

Being a Toyota, the Highlander is available only as a petrol-electric hybrid. You don’t need to plug it in and real-world fuel economy is around 32-34mpg. Not bad for a land barge.

So, back to the question of why there are so few Highlanders on the road. It’s possibly because the RAV4 is so big these days it’s enough for most families.

Only those committed to breeding their own five-a-side team need something this hefty. The RAV4 still comes with all of Toyota’s famous practicality and build quality, plus it offers the plug-in hybrid option, which is attractive for school-runners looking to save on fuel.

More likely, though, is Highlander’s price. Starting at £53,650 it’s only a grand less than a Land Rover Discovery. Even on a pay monthly scheme, it comes out around the same cost as much more premium alternatives.

This means Highlander’s stay in the UK could be short-lived. Toyota has no problem removing unpopular cars from its forecourts. It wasn’t long ago it stopped selling the Camry here.

Given its size and easy driving style, you can be sure the US market is hoovering up Highlanders.

It’s a shame, though. I’m all for no-nonsense cars that put the user before fashion.