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- Toyota's best-selling three-row SUV family
has a lot to offer:
refinement, comfort, technology, the list goes on.
But how about sportiness?
It's got that too.
Meet Highlander XSE.
This grade is a new addition
to the fourth-generation lineup,
the very first XSE in Highlander's history,
and what an addition it is.
Let me show you around.
So what's in a name?
Well, for Toyota, an L indicates an emphasis on refinement,
while an S steers things more toward excitement.
Meanwhile, adding an X means the feature list
has been taken up a notch.
So a Highlander XSE?
Sporty - and jampacked with great features.
And it definitely looks the part;
I absolutely love this bold new front end.
Check out its distinctive front bumper,
mesh grille and lower spoiler,
and its unique design for the LED headlamp cluster
with these black accents and daytime running light strips.
Along the sides, check out the two-tone design
on these massive 20-inch alloy wheels.
And these black side mirrors, black window moldings,
and enhanced rocker panels?
All unique to XSE.
Even up top, we're standing out with these black roof rails,
and the same around back here,
where we've got this lower spoiler
and these twin exhaust tips,
another first for the Highlander family.
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And what about the interior?
Let's see.
So as expected, it's the same story in here.
XSE packs a seriously sporty interior,
which stands out all the more given we're sitting
in a three-row midsize SUV.
While grade-exclusive black SofTex-trimmed seating
with fabric inserts comes standard,
this available red-and-black leather-trimmed interior
is where it's at for me,
especially given it's a no-cost option.
But either way, it's not just seating.
There's other XSE-specific details,
like this red contrast stitching here,
running across the instrument panel,
which also sports a carbon fiber finish for XSE.
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All right, so Highlander XSE talks the talk,
but does it walk the walk?
You bet it does,
and that goes far beyond packing a 295-horsepower V6
under the hood,
although that certainly adds to the excitement.
But XSE goes further with a sport-tuned suspension
that adds just the right amount of sportiness
to the drive experience.
The steering feels more alert and responsive,
there's less body roll around corners,
and the increased overall stiffness
really helps deliver a sense of control and confidence
without sacrificing Highlander's legendary ride quality.
And if you wanna go all out? Then an XSE
with Highlander's Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive
is your answer.
This extremely smart system
can actively manage power distribution
not just from front to rear, but side to side as well.
Combined with the Multi-terrain Select dial here,
a standard feature with XSE all-wheel drive
that lets you pick a traction mode based on the terrain,
and this Highlander's ready
for whatever adventure you're planning, on or off the road.
Okay, so let's hit on some highlights from XSE's tech story.
For starters, we've got this 8-inch touchscreen system
running Toyota's Audio Multimedia platform,
which has standard compatibility with Apple CarPlay,
Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM
with three-month all access trial subscription.
And if you're like me,
the type that's not afraid to turn it up,
you're going to also want to pair it
with this available 1200-watt, 11-speaker JBL sound system.
But it's not all about entertainment.
Safety technology is also a priority here.
Like all current Highlander grades,
XSE features Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+.
This active safety suite brings along
some great enhancements, like intersection support
and emergency steering assist functionality
for the Pre-Collision System,
and curve speed management
for the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
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So as the name implies, Highlander XSE delivers big
on a promise of style, performance and technology.
And its confidence-inspiring drive isn't limited to the road
where the Highlander experience is already legendary,
but also when the going gets rougher,
thanks to its awesome range of available traction solutions.
Now top it all off
with Toyota's unbeatable long-term quality and value story,
which includes the no-cost ToyotaCare maintenance plan,
and it's obvious why Highlander XSE
is the sporty midsize SUV to beat.
Head over to toyota.com/highlander to find out more.
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