2014 CARS

5 Models That Made a Mark in 2014

January 7, 2015 by admin Leave a Comment

With just over 16.5 million new vehicles sold in 2014, the US auto industry has returned to its pre-recession strength. Certainly, there is room for additional growth with 17 million units within reach. The auto industry is back and has returned in a significant way.

Models such as the Ford F-150 and Toyota Camry receive much press and they should: both are perennial segment leaders, the F-150 for nearly four decades running and the Camry for the past 13 years. Beyond the two leaders there are several other models that shine, including the following five that made a mark in 2014.

1. Toyota Corolla

Toyota’s Corolla has long served as a portal model to the Toyota brand. Purchase a Corolla, keep it for years, upgrade to a Camry and then pass your Corolla on to your son or daughter. This model’s reliability is of legends and it has the facts to back it up.

For some buyers, moving up to a Camry or any other vehicle is not part of the equation. Beginning in 2014, Toyota restyled the Corolla, making it slightly larger, sportier and an even better value than previously. Its most efficient model is rated at 42 mpg on the highway and a nicely-equipped model can be had for under $20,000.

Like the Camry, Toyota has a formula for success on its hands in the Corolla, once again the best selling compact model ahead of the Honda Civic. Corolla sales climbed by 12.3 percent in 2014 on 339,498 units sold.

2014 Toyota Corolla.

2. Nissan Sentra

Look at the compact segment and the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic routinely fight for top honors. Also weighing in is the Chevrolet Cruze, Hyundai Elantra and Ford Focus. Beginning in 2014, the redesigned Nissan Sentra made a name for itself, as its sales soared by a whopping 41.9 percent on 183,268 units sold.

New for 2014, the current generation Sentra is larger, more enticing and roomier than ever. Like the Corolla, a well-equipped model can be hand for under $20,000, a price point that appeals to a lot of families. The continuously variable transmission also ensures excellent fuel economy with the FE edition rated as high as 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

2014 Nissan Sentra.

3. Kia Soul

Kia has created a cult-like following with its Soul “urban hatchback car.” It is nearly inconceivable to examine this model without its anthropomorphic hamsters. Kia has weathered some criticism that its hipster characters are too humanlike, yet buyers do not seem to mind.

Indeed, in 2014 the second-generation Kia Soul was released, and this one has helped the Korean automaker gain market share. Sales surged by 23.1 percent last year on 145,316 models sold. What’s significant about that is both its Nissan and Scion competitors have struggled to serve the same market. Specifically, the Nissan Cube was canceled as the model year came to an end.

2014 Kia Soul.

4. Nissan Versa

Subcompact models typically do not sell especially well in the United States. Certainly, sales are greater than they were a decade ago, but with so many affordable and roomy compact models on the market, this sector is often bypassed for more spacious, but still affordable vehicles.

Nissan, however, has turned that convention on its ear, by delivering sedan and hatchback versions of its Versa subcompact without trouble. The company has also taken a two-prong marketing approach to the segment, by selling the five-door hatchback as the Versa Note and the four-door as the Versa sedan.

What buyers have found is a car that is unusually roomy for the segment, thrifty on fuel and can be purchased for about $15,000. The Versa may not be a family car, but 139,781 buyers in 2014 found that it meets their transportation needs. A 19.1 percent sales upsurge underscores the Versa’s strength.

2014 Nissan Versa Note.

5. Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is an SUV that acts more like a tall station wagon. That appearance is not lost on buyers who appreciate the vehicle’s roominess, utility and handling characteristics. Introduced in 1998, the Subaru Forester is now in its fourth generation. The current iteration is not a radical departure from the previous model and that is just fine with buyers.

For 2014, Forester sales surged by 29.4 percent to 159,953 vehicles sold. it was Subaru’s best selling model for the year and one of five model lines registering a sales boost of at least 17 percent. No wonder Subaru sales have doubled over the past five years — this once niche manufacturer has gone conventional.

2014 Subaru Forester.

Honorable Mention Models

There are other models that could just as easily found a place on our list. The Chevrolet Cruze is now in its sixth model year, however its sales do not show the customary end of product cycle decline. Indeed, Cruze sales rose by exactly 10 percent in 2014 to 273,060 units sold.

The BMW 3 Series may have been split between 3 and 4 model lines, but the combined interest for these compact luxury cars continues to grow. In 2014, sales for the two lines were a collective 142,232 units for a 19 percent increase over 2013.

Sales figures supplied by Good Car Bad Car. Soul photo courtesy of Kia Motors.

Hot Hatch: Ford Fiesta ST

December 17, 2014 by admin 10 Comments

Ford’s smallest pocket rocket excites.

Ford Fiesta ST

The 2015 Ford Mustang has been promised to me, an upcoming press fleet vehicle that I’ve been anticipating for a long, long time. As I’ve been patiently waiting, an assortment of Lincoln and Ford vehicles have kept me busy, including one hot five-door hatchback that caught my attention and delivered a week’s worth of driving fun in its very small package.

None other than a Molten Orange Ford Fiesta ST showed up, a color that perfectly matches this vehicle’s lively personality. Just as a tiny cayenne pepper has an oversized bite, the Fiesta ST kicks out a lot of power thanks to its turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Indeed, 197 horsepower may not sound like a lot in these days of 300 to 700 plus horsepower, but when it powers a vehicle weighing just 2,742 pounds, then you have to take notice.

Ford Fiesta ST

Fiesta ST Design

There are a number of changes that Ford made to produce an ST model for the Fiesta. Up front, the Fiesta prominently displays a one-piece, hexagonal-mesh grille with a bright red ST badge. You will also find a front chin spoiler with a deep central splitter, black headlamp bezels, a full ST body kit and a high mount spoiler. It also has a rear diffuser and twinned bright tip exhaust outlets. This model serves notice that it is ready to perform — more about that later.

Inside, Ford took the standard cockpit and dressed it with multiple ST embellishments. All three analog gauges have red needles; the steering wheel is wrapped in leather and has an ST badge at its base. The gear shift knob is also wrapped in leather and has a satin chrome accent — you may have already guessed that the gear map is Molten Orange. Aluminum racing-inspired pedals — accelerator, clutch and brake — are also present. Most notably, the Ford Fiesta ST has Recaro bucket seats up front and a split folding Recaro bench seat to the rear.

Ford Fiesta ST

Sports Technologies Pricing

My test model, priced from $21,400 had several upgrades to bring its final price to $25,995. The Molten Orange metallic tricoat paint is a $595 upgrade, certainly worthwhile if you want to bring unmistakeable attention to this pocket rocket. A $1,995 Recaro package upgraded the leathering and added heat elements for both bucket seats. Navigation added $795 and 17-inch premium painted wheels came in at $375.

What makes the Fiesta an ST? For that matter, what does “ST” represent? Well, ST stands for Sports Technologies, a special performance level that is also applied to the Focus ST. Just this month Ford announced the creation of Ford Performance, a global initiative that unites Ford Racing, Team RS and Ford SVT under one umbrella. The new division will produce at least 12 new and updated models through 2020 — you can bet that the Fiesta ST will be one of them.

Ford Fiesta ST

Both ST models come equipped with high-output variants of Ford’s EcoBoost engines. EcoBoost is a Ford phrase for turbocharged engines with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing. The company’s Bridgend, United Kingdom, plant builds these engines and also assembles both ST models. Thus, while all other US- and Canadian-sold Fiestas come from Mexico, Britain supplies us with the STs.

Beyond the engines, these cars are outfitted with six-speed manual transmissions. They’re of the short-throw variety and should give anyone who isn’t familiar with a stick the confidence to drive one. ST models also come with enhanced European-inspired suspension and driving dynamics, three drive modes — standard, sport and OFF — and Bridgestone Potenza summer tires.

On the road, the Fiesta ST lives up to the hype. I might even say that it exceeds it.

Ford Fiesta ST

EcoBoost and a Manual Gearbox

In my book, the Fiesta ST has the two essential attributes a small performance car must have — a turbocharged engine and a manual transmission. To begin, the engine bangs out 197 horsepower and 202 foot-pounds of twist. Those numbers blow away the 120 horsepower and 112 foot-pounds of torque with the normally aspirated engine. Credit EcoBoost technology — turbocharged direct injection — with giving the ST’s engine the extra bite.

Ford didn’t stop there and for that you’ll be immensely grateful. The front-wheel drive Fiesta ST benefits from torque vectoring control, technology that utilizes the hatchback’s braking system to adjust the speed between the two front wheels. The result is improved handling while cornering and a reduction in understeer, the latter the bane of front-wheel drive cars with high performance engines.

Ford Fiesta ST

Let’s Drive!

I understood the full impact of this system while taking the Fiesta ST on my favorite drives — the twisty roads where I’ve given the likes of the Corvette Stingray, Dodge Challenger, BMW 4 Series, Porsche Cayman S and other models a work out. Rear-wheel drive all, each one handled the many twists and turns with ease. I’ve taken a number of all-wheel drive vehicles on the same loop, but very few front-wheel drive models. Unless they’re properly equipped.

Wisely, the Fiesta ST utilizes short-throw shifting, making gear shifts virtually a non-event. This was important to me on several road expanses where shifting is frequent and I simply wanted to concentrate on the steering.

Get ready for an unmistakeable, but slight side-to-side shift front body feeling as you take a curve and plunge into every twist of the road. You can feel torque vectoring control at work — it kicks in just before you think the Fiesta ST is going to move out of position. The feedback is pronounced and I anticipated the same, giving me the confidence to match my usual back road antics. Without a doubt, I wouldn’t have dared half the maneuvers I tried with an ordinary front-wheel drive model. Handling certainly is different from traditional rear-wheel drive sports models, but it still provides an enjoyable experience.

2015 Ford Fiesta ST

View manufacturer details and pricing

Ford Europe made a number of upgrades and enhancements to the ST’s suspension system that improves its handling. Up front, the suspension received changes to the springs, dampers, stabilizer bar, knuckle and a tweaking of suspension geometry. The Ford SVT team also adjusted the roll center position for added roll stiffness, the camber for stiffness and they shortened the steering arm length.

Braking improvements over the base model has four-wheel disc brakes all around. Larger brakes were placed up front with pad thickness bumped up by about 60 percent.

Ford Fiesta ST

To the rear, new springs and dampers are also present along with thicker twist beam gauge material, what Ford says comes in nearly 75 percent stiffer than the base model. The US spec model weighs about 130 pounds more than the European version, with thicker bumpers and a full size spare present. Even so, Ford engineers worked diligently to ensure that the two versions handle nearly the same.

Step on the accelerator and make quick work of the gear shifter and this model maintains its composure on the straightaway. Turbo lag is minimal and when you’re putting down for full throttle effect, overboost kicks in and you should nail 0 to 60 mph in about 7 seconds. It seems faster than that and it is certainly faster than most anything else in the segment.

Ford equips the Fiesta ST with Bridgestone Potenza rubber — summer-only tires that felt heavy on one 24-degree morning, but were absolutely fine as temperatures warmed to 50 degrees and my serious driving commenced mid-afternoon in central North Carolina. Credit the tires and the model’s lightweight frame with contributing to the Fiesta ST’s excellent braking characteristics.

Ford Fiesta ST

Ford Fiesta ST Considerations

So, why would anyone want a Fiesta ST? Likely, you’re already fond of compact cars and you aren’t particularly put off by something even smaller. In the subcompact class there are other performance models, including the Mini Cooper S and the Fiat 500 Abarth. The former choice is $10,000 pricier than the Fiesta ST and will likely cost you more to maintain in the long run. The latter has some serious kick, but it is simply smaller than the rest. And of course there is the Volkswagen GTI, the most popular small performance model. Like the Mini, the GTI makes for a pricey proposition.

Now that Ford has consolidated its performance models under the Ford Performance banner, we’re likely to see a host of new products that will appeal to people who want something other than the iconic Mustang. The Fiesta and Focus may have what you want and at price points that simply must be considered.

Ford Fiesta ST

2014 Ford Fiesta ST

Sticker price from $21,400
Price as tested: from $25,955
Seats 5 occupants
1.6-liter 16-valve turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine
197 horsepower @ 6,350 rpm
202 foot-pounds of torque @ 4,200 rpm
3.11 inches bore by 3.20 inches stroke
Engine compression ratio: 10.0-to-1
6-speed manual transmission
Wheelbase: 98 inches
Length: 160.1 inches
Width: 67.8 inches
Height: 57.2 inches
Passenger volume: 85.1 cubic feet
Storage volume: 10.1 cubic feet
Towing capacity: Not recommended
EPA: 26 mpg city, 35 mpg highway
Regular grade gasoline; premium recommended
Fuel tank: 12.4 gallons
Curb weight: From 2,742 pounds
IIHS safety rating: Top Safety Pick (2013)
Limited vehicle warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
Powertrain warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
Corrosion warranty: 5 years, unlimited miles
Vehicle assembly: Bridgend, UK

2014 Ford Fiesta ST photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine.

Mini Cooper S: Oh, Yes!

December 1, 2014 by admin 3 Comments

Small car…big fun!

A Mini Cooper S will all the trimmings.

Ah, Mini! You stole my heart and in more than one way. Your iconic, good looks are what caught my eyes and, yes, I managed to put up with the decaling found on the side mirrors, along the doors and on top of the roof just fine. What I liked best about you is that you’re so full of personality as you bring a rare, premium feel to the small car segment.

I don’t usually write love letters to my weekly drivers and my thoughts about a recent Mini Cooper S model shouldn’t be considered such. Rather, Mini served up a model that was just a lot of fun and for the following nine reasons.

1. British at its best. Sure, Mini is now owned by German automaker BMW. Its distinct Britishness may be gone, but what you have left is a very good model. The current Mini is larger than the original, but the styling cues remain the same. Whatever made the original a worthy model in its own right has only been enhanced by BMW’s influence. Yes, it is still assembled in Oxford, England with its engine from Germany and the transmission from Japan courtesy of Aisin.

Unique decaling marked this special edition model.

2. Kissed by BMW. Speaking about BMW, the German make’s influence on the model is undeniable. As tested, the Cooper S is powered by a 2.0-liter twin turbo four-cylinder engine — it is the same engine that powers the BMW 2 Series. In the Mini it is tuned tamer, but the four banger still cranks out 189 horsepower and 207 foot-pounds of torque. With just 2,700 pounds of weight to push around, it lives up to its “S” or sport appellation with distinction.

2014 Mini Cooper S

View manufacturer details and pricing

3. A manual transmission, but not this time. Alas, the test model did not come with a six-speed manual transmission. Instead, a six-speed automatic was served. Nevertheless, much driving fun was realized by putting the transmission in sport mode and using the paddle shifters. My personal preference is nearly always a manual (when one is available), but the fast shifting automatic gets the job done and does so with fun. Take each curve and twist of the road with full confidence with this smart handling Mini.

A dual paneled sunroof with more decaling.

4. Upscale seating for the driver. There is no small car that I’ve driven over the past few years that offers the seating comfort of the Cooper S. Mini outfits the Cooper S with highly supportive and comfortable sport buck seats, covered in cloth and with leather sides. It wasn’t just the support it provided that made the difference: a seat extender aced it for this diminutive people mover. That’s a feature typically found in luxury cars.

5. Not too bad for the front passenger. Uh, forget the back seat. The Mini Cooper seats four, but the back seat is, well, a token addition. Two children in booster seats can fit, but getting a car seat in and out would be a big challenge. Don’t punish adults by sitting in the leg-squishing rear seat even for a short drive. The front passenger seat is quite comfortable and also offers a seat extender. Push the seat all the way to the back and you have copious amounts of legroom. At the expense of anyone in the rear, of course.

The well-rounded Mini Cooper S interior.

6. Round is in. Very in. If you like personality in your small cars, the Mini Cooper S does not disappoint. The well-rounded interior makes use of a circular theme nearly everywhere. Behind the steering wheel is a circular speedometer with a half moon tachometer on its left side. The center screen, however, is the heart and soul of the car with its own circular design trimmed by glowing mood lighting. Circular knobs, rounded-tip switches, a circular shifter seat and a BMW-like iDrive control dial along with round speakers and near round headrests are also included. Rounded headlamps with circular LED lights are another feature of this model.

7. Limited storage, but then. Small cars have very little storage room, right? Well, Mini tries really hard to provide room, by making space where you might otherwise not find it. The glove box is small, but there is a secondary box above it in the instrument panel. The folding driver’s arm rest has space large enough to hold your smartphone. Two cup holders are up front and one is in the back. Importantly, there is a hidden, sectioned storage compartment underneath the rear storage area. Fold down the rear seats and you’ll get 38 cubic feet of storage space.

8. Enjoy the intersection of fuel economy and performance. Perhaps the best feature of the Mini Cooper S is that it combines excellent performance with superior fuel economy. Instead of the standard turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, you get a twin-turbo four-cylinder engine. You enjoy excellent off the mark acceleration and can pass anything on the highway with certainty. Moreover, this model delivers 27 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway — impressive numbers that won’t have you regretting the extra power.

Small hatchback with a hidden storage compartment.

9. The power to surprise. Sure, it is an option, but having head-up display is a nice feature. Especially when it appears on a small screen that emerges from the dashboard to project the speed limit. Personally, I would have designed a more comprehensive system to show navigational directional arrows and the local speed limit. Still, the optional navigation system was a welcome surprise. Other nice features included the dual panel sun roof — the decals on top of the roof provided a visual statement. Not my taste, but maybe yours?

Maxi Fun

Boil it down and the Mini Cooper S delivers a lot of fun in a small package. But it does come at a premium price: from $23,600. As tested, my model costs an eyebrow raising $36,895, reflecting several upgrades to include: a $4,500 “fully loaded” package with navigation, $1,500 for the automatic transmission, $500 for the automatic dimming mirrors which, by the way, fold in. Other upgrades included: cloth and leatherette seats ($750), special metallic paint ($500), a cold weather package ($600), park assist (($1,000) and the head-up display ($500). That price rivals the BMW 1 Series, a model that BMW no longer sells in the US.

TwinPower Turbo courtesy of BMW powers the Cooper S.

2014 Mini Cooper S

Sticker price from $23,600
Price as tested: from $36,895
Seats 4 occupants
2.0-liter 16-valve four-cylinder gasoline engine
189 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
207 foot-pounds of torque @ 1,250 rpm
3.2 inches bore by 3.27 inches stroke
Engine compression ratio: 11.0-to-1
6-speed automatic transmission
Wheelbase: 98.2 inches
Length: 151.9 inches
Width: 59.1 inches
Height: 55.7 inches
Passenger volume: NR
Storage volume: 8.7/38.0 cubic feet
Towing capacity: N/A
EPA: 27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway
Premium grade gasoline
Fuel tank: 11.6 gallons
Curb weight: From 2,760 pounds
IIHS safety rating: Good for moderate overlap front
Limited vehicle warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
Powertrain warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
Corrosion warranty: 12 years
Vehicle assembly: Oxford, UK

Honda Accord Hybrid Aims for 49 MPG Rating

June 24, 2013 by admin 3 Comments

Honda is about to have its second go around with the Honda Accord Hybrid, but this time it has aimed higher. The new model, slated to go on sale in Oct., is expected to deliver 49 mpg around the city and 45 mpg on the highway. That’s far better than the earlier V-6 powered model that was big on performance, but not so much on fuel efficiency.

Blue highlights mark the Honda Accord Hybrid.

Honda Accord Hybrid

The new Honda Accord Hybrid will be assembled in Marysville, Ohio, a first for Honda. The new hybrid features a two-model powertrain, one that it shares with the Accord Plug-in Hybrid, now available for sale. The SPORT HYBRID Intelligent Multi Mode Driver powertrain enables the sedan to pass through three driving modes: EV Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive in a bid to provide maximum fuel efficiency and performance as needed.

The hybrid Accord utilizes a lithium-ion battery pack that sends electricity to the electric motor to power the sedan at low speeds and at what Honda calls “medium high cruising.” When the Honda Accord Hybrid operates in “hybrid drive” both the 124-kilowatt electric motor and an all-new 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine team up to provide maximum acceleration power.

In “engine drive” the Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine takes over and sends power to the wheels while also replenishing the battery pack. As with all hybrids, regenerative braking is employed to send kinetic energy to the battery pack.

Exterior and Interior Treatments

With the Honda Accord Hybrid, slight changes to the fascia are apparent. A blue-accented grille and light lenses, unique hybrid badging and LED daytime running lights are found. Honda also outfitted this front-wheel-drive five-passenger sedan with a special wheel design and a rear decklid spoiler.

Inside, an electroluminescent gauge display provides real-time fuel economy and energy flow information. The sedan also comes equipped with LaneWatch™ blind-spot display, an innovative safety feature already used in the gasoline-only Accord. The hybrid also makes available lane departure warning and forward collision alert, an 8-inch color display, perforated leather-trimmed seating surfaces, its cloud-based HondaLink™ featuring Aha radio compatibility, a seven-speaker audio system with Bluetooth® streaming audio, Pandora® interface and XM® Radio, and a multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines.

Safety and the Competition

The standard Honda Accord has received both a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and an NCAP 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score. Honda expects the hybrid to be similarly recognized.

Competition in the midsize hybrid sedan segment continues to heat up. Both the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the Ford Fusion Hybrid are established players, and deliver fuel economy above 40 mpg. The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Kia Optima Hybrid are two additional players featuring bold styling, ample standard content and very good fuel efficiency. Among all hybrid models, the Toyota Prius continues to dominate the market, offering four models to choose from. The hybrid market remains small, but with its outstanding fuel economy, the Honda Accord Hybrid may get a serious look.

See Also — 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid Makes 48 MPG

Honda Accord Hybrid photos courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

All-New 2014 Toyota Highlander Takes a Bow

March 27, 2013 by admin 3 Comments

The third generation Toyota Highlander has made its debut, taking a bow at the 2013 New York International Auto Show. The 2014 model receives a new exterior design and offers an upgraded, premium interior with technological and safety updates. This midsize crossover sport utility vehicle seats up to eight and features standard front-wheel-drive or optional all-wheel-drive. The new model goes on sale in early 2014.

Bold, Fresh Design

The 2014 Toyota Highlander is a clean sheet design, featuring improved aerodynamics, a slightly lower roofline and sculptured side-door panels. Toyota says that the new model measures a half-inch wider and three inches longer overall. A trapezoidal grille, wraparound headlight and more pronounced fenders help to burnish this models image.

Three powertrain choices are available including a 2.7-liter four cylinder engine that is standard with FWD models. Optionally, a 3.5-liter V-6 engine is standard with AWD models. Both engines are paired with a six-speed electronic controlled transmission.

Toyota is the worlds leader in hybrids and the Highlander Hybrid represents the third powertrain arrangement. The V-6 engine, an electric motor and a continuously variable transmission are present with this all-wheel-drive model. The current model gets an even 28 mpg around the city and 28 mpg on the highway according to the U.S. Department of Energy no word yet whether well see the 30 mpg cracked with the latest edition.

Toyota Highlander Interior

Toyota is placing emphasis on interior refinement for the new Highlander, a vehicle that competes in a segment that includes the Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder, Chevrolet Traverse, Dodge Durango and Ford Flex to name a few. Those refinements include a soft touch instrument panel, standard seat stitching and brightwork embellishments.

The new Highlander also features a wood-grain pattern trim across the front dash and door trim. Perforated leather-trim seats are optional, an upgrade from the standard premium cloth seats offered. Leather touches can also be found on the shift knob and around the steering wheel. Knit roof lining and available second row sunshades bring further refinement to the cabin.

Toyota squeezes out an eighth seating position by placing a bench seat in the second row position. The third row offers a split folding seat that also seats three. Buyers, however, may choose to lose the bench seat by replacing it with a pair of optional captains chairs that also come with a collapsible tray with cupholders. In any case Toyota says that much of the interior layout improvements provide more room for third-row passengers and also yields a 34 percent increase in standard storage capacity.

Multimedia and Infotainment

Standard across the Toyota Highlander line is the brands Entune™ multimedia system. It represents a display audio system with a 6.1-inch touchscreen; Bluetooth connectivity and voice recognition are included. Optionally, shoppers can choose an eight-inch touchscreen system, while Toyota’s Entune™ app suite with12 JBL speakers can also be had.

Rear seating passengers can get connected too via an available entertainment system. This rear seating system offers an RCA coaxial input terminal located at the rear of the center console, what makes the connection of external devices, including gaming systems, possible.

Safety Features

Every 2014 Toyota Highlander model will come with eight airbags and will be outfitted with stability control, traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, anti-lock brakes, brake assist, hill start assist and Toyotas smart stop system. All models will feature a rear backup camera; AWD models come with AWD LOCK, enabling the driver to switch to full-time AWD at low speeds. When engaged, the system sends torque to the rear wheels for improved traction on more challenging surfaces.

Several optional safety features are new to the Toyota Highlander line for 2014. These include: rear parking sonar, a blind spot monitor, lane departure alert, rear cross traffic alert, and a collision warning system.

Photos courtesy of Toyota Motors Sales, Inc.