Toyota Highlander base model is more than basic transport

Individually, American motorists seem like reasonably smart people. Collectively, they're goofy.

Last summer when gasoline prices shot past $4 a gallon, buyers deserted big pickup trucks and SUVs. They beat down dealership doors to pay premium prices for hybrids and small economy cars.

Then gas prices dropped back down to about $2 a gallon and people were out buying the big land arks again -- not as many, of course, but that was because of the recession. And, oh yes, sales of the high-mileage hybrids and small cars stagnated.

There are some glimmers that at least the vehicle manufacturers get it. They're prepping for a future that is green and lean.

Meanwhile, there are some stopgaps that make eminent sense, like the 2009 Toyota Highlander base model with a four-cylinder engine.

It's a midsize, car-based crossover utility vehicle with front-wheel drive, a budget-conscious price, good fuel economy and virtually all the equipment anyone would need.

The Highlander originally was conceived as a six-cylinder vehicle, with front- or all-wheel drive and a range of prices, depending on the number of options.

Six-cylinder models, with 270 horsepower, range in price from $28,345 to $35,265. The front-drive models are rated by the government at 18/24 miles to the gallon, while the all-wheel-drivers get 17/23.

Of course, Toyota is the world's leader in hybrids, so if you want better fuel economy you can order a Highlander Hybrid with a fuel consumption rating of 27/25. But then you can spend up to $41,765. It recalls a famous statement many years ago by an American Motors executive, who said U.S. buyers wanted fuel economy -- and would pay anything to get it.

But with the new four-cylinder Highlander you don't need an expensive hybrid, and you don't have to get by with a small CUV or SUV.

At a time when you easily can spend in the neighborhood of $30,000 for some compact crossovers like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and even Toyota's own RAV4, the much bigger Highlander four-banger starts at just $26,450 and, with a couple of options like those on the test vehicle, has a sticker price of $27,159.

It comes with all the important basics, including stability and traction control, antilock brakes, side air bags and side-curtain air bags, driver's knee air bag, tire-pressure monitoring, air conditioning, remote locking, audio system with CD player, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, alloy wheels and power mirrors and windows.

The short list of options included a windshield wiper de-icer, heated outside mirrors, daytime running lights and a cargo cover.

OK. So the test Highlander did not have some items that modern vehicle buyers lust after: no automatic climate control, no satellite radio, no multi-disc CD changer, no redundant steering-wheel controls, no rear-seat entertainment system, no power seats and no leather upholstery.

But those things are not important if what you're after is a sturdy family vehicle with gobs of interior room. Consider: the passenger space totals 114 cubic feet, as much as you'd find in a full-size luxury car. There's limousine-like stretch-out space in the back seat -- even enough for the center passenger. Cargo space is a whopping 42 cubic feet.

The problem is that Toyota elected to insert an oddball 40-20-40 rear seating arrangement, which gives the outboard passengers big seats like the folks up front -- they even recline -- but totally shortchanges the middle passenger, who must lean against a lumpy cushion that doubles as a fold-down armrest. A plain split bench seat would work way better.

With 3,847 pounds to motivate, the 187-horsepower engine has acceptable performance. It's linked to a slick six-speed automatic transmission that has a manual-shift mode and a soft setting for winter driving.