A parent’s life can be dictated by routine and sometimes that can make everyday activities feel a little mundane. Luckily, we live in one of the most exciting eras for automobile design and function, even in the “family car” segment. Heck, I’ve driven minivans that elicit as much excitement as a sports car. So with a wealth of cool and edgy vehicles readily available, the 2022 Toyota Highlander has stiff competition. To boot, it isn’t exactly the first vehicle you think of when considering a trendy car list.
That’s why the new Bronze edition is such a game changer. Suddenly the Highlander is a head turner and inspires a closer look from new admirers. A fresh look on a current vehicle is welcomed because the Highlander is an awesome vehicle and the Bronze edition makes it even better. It’s a functional family car with an extended range thanks to its hybrid design. But the pleasant surprise is that with Bronze edition designs, the highlander is now walking that proverbial catwalk and climbing that trendy list.
What This Dad Digs About the 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition
The Bronze – Since 2020, the Highlander has sported a modern aesthetic that is both bold and family oriented. In other words, Toyota played it safe. With the Bronze edition, Toyota is bringing sexy back with visual flair that stands out with surprisingly little effort. The bronze colored 18 inch wheels are the centerpoint of this edition’s exterior and not only are they beautiful, they mesh perfectly with the available body color options: white, black, and “cement”. Thankfully our test vehicle came in that ominous “cement” color which is basically a mixture of blue and grey. Alone, it’s a magnificent matte color option but with those Bronze rims…(Chef’s kiss).
On the inside, the most prominent feature included with this Bronze edition is the geometric patterned cloth covering the seats, intermingled with the SofTex material and complimentary stitching. It’s a classy touch that impressed both my wife and my children. To round it off, this edition comes with a handful of less obvious features like a snazzy kickplate that greets you as you open the door and some ambient lighting. But the real stars of the show are those bronze wheels and the matte “Cement” paint job. The Highlander is immediately edgier in this edition and it seems fitting for Toyota to bring some excitement to their hybrid offering. It will definitely turn heads in the vehicle waiting line to pick up the kids at school.
Reliably Hybrid as Ever – A kickass edition should be exclusive and if the Bronze edition is what you’re looking for, you’ll only find it in the Highlander hybrid model. That’s good news though – Toyota knows how to build an efficient, reliable hybrid drivetrain and it shows in the Highlander hybrid. Under the hood sits a 2.5-liter inline-four engine paired with three electric motors. Two of those motors sit up on the front axel and the third is on the rear. This combination of power will produce up to 243 horsepower – more than enough for your run-of-the-mill parental lifestyle.
I managed to get an average of 32-33 miles per gallon on the majority of my urban, city crawling trips in the Highlander hybrid. That’s a little less than the 35 miles per gallon Toyota says is the norm. I didn’t mind the discrepancy because I tend to have a heavy foot and with the drastic weather changes in Texas, I’m sure I used up some of the vehicle’s power for creature comforts. As comfortable as the ride was, these hybrid mileage numbers only impress further and I appreciate the fewer gas station visits required.
Made for Sitting – To say that the Highlander offers a comfortable ride is an understatement. There is a familiar ease that comes with driving it, even if it’s your first time in a Highlander. The hybrid version isn’t going to wow you with launching power or aggressively tight handling – after all this is a family hauler and most driving done in it will be measured. Even with a four cylinder engine, there was enough power to weave through city traffic and the transition up the gears is smooth. Handling is soft but feels appropriate, supplying the driver with an uncanny sense of driving a larger sized vehicle.
I was able to fit a large dolly in the rear of the 2022 Toyota Highlander, with the third row seats down.
The wide seats and the quiet cabin also do their part in building a relaxing driving experience. I’m a fan of Toyota’s wide seats and with the new Bronze edition aesthetics, including the Softex material, this Highlander was made for “sitting’”. Doing that sitting in the included third row is a bit challenging though but there is ample storage space. With all the seats up, the Highlander offers an average 16 cubic feet of space. With the third row up, however, a roomy 48.4 cubic-ft of space opens up, ready for adventuring or shopping. Put that second row of seats down and a total of 84.3 cubic feet of space becomes available. Not too shabby.
Reasonable Price – Opting for the gasoline-only Highlander will set you back over $36k for the base model, but the Bronze Edition comes in at $10k more at $46,895. Remember though, the Bronze Edition only comes on the Hybrid edition so considering the gasoline savings, this is an extremely reasonable price for an exclusive automobile trim. Toyota tends to retain their resale value over other brands too, so that’s an added bonus. Moreover, the swanky cool exterior features the Bronze edition brings give the Highlander the edge it always needed.
Don’t forget that the Highlander comes standard with Toyota’s award winning Safety Sense technology package that includes things like pre-collision pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, and proactive driving assist. Combined with a solid back up cam and blind spot monitoring, these tried-and-true safety features are invaluable.
What Gets This Dad’s Downvote
Wonky Dashboard Design – Beauty is in the eye of the driver but the dashboard design and layout in the Highlander is too angular and wonky for my taste. It’s not exclusive to the Highlander – Toyota uses this same design in some of its other SUVs – but it doesn’t add any appeal to any of those vehicles either. Look for yourself and tell me you don’t see what looks like a giant spatula mounted on the dash, serving up the infotainment screen and climate controls. It doesn’t help that this year’s Highlander still comes with Toyota’s clunky and outdated user interface software. A better system is on the horizon and it’s already being used in the 2023 Tundra but this version is lackluster.
The Third Row Squeeze – No surprise here but the Highlander’s third row can not be described as spacious. With only 27.7 inches of legroom available and low seats, adults will find their knees practically at their nose. The second row of seats does slide forward an extra two inches in this model but that may not be enough. Children will have a better time back there and if you have a four-member family like mine, that third row will most likely spend more time laying flat to offer more cargo space.
Dad’s Final Word
The minute I saw the Bronze wheels, I was hooked. Except the initial Bronze wheels I was admiring were on the 40th anniversary edition of the Toyota 4Runner. If you haven’t seen it, you should (I briefly mentioned it in this review). It’s a retro inspired work of art that utilizes linear graphics and dark colors to accentuate the Bronze wheels. They are limited in quantity and are a dream come true for 4Runner fans.
When I inquired about information regarding this limited edition 4Runner, my friendly Toyota contact said, “Have you seen the Highlander Bronze edition?” I was instantly intrigued and when I laid eyes on the grey/blue “cement” paint job, I knew I wanted to test drive it. Highlanders are reliable vehicles but pairing the aesthetics of the Bronze edition with Toyota’s hybrid expertise was a genius move. And it doesn’t disappoint.
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition is the definition of curb appeal. Something about the color combinations made me want to stare at it everytime I parked it and walked away. More strangers than I expected approached me during my week with the Highlander and asked what model it was. It was fun watching heads turn and catching parents at my daughters school do a double take when I pulled up into the parking lot.
Good looks, however, are nothing if the vehicle drives terribly. Thankfully the Highlander is anything but a terrible drive. It remains true to Toyota’s reliable history of producing efficient vehicles – a positive for any Dad Driver. Like a mullet, the Bronze Edition of the Highlander is “business” where it counts but all “party” where it matters.
Phillip is a filmmaker, an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and craft beer aficionado. He writes about cars, car tech, and various other cool Dad things. He lives, works and plays in Dallas, Texas.
