2016 SUVs: Highlander vs. Pathfinder vs. Santa Fe vs. Touareg

The midsize SUV is the ultimate "best of both worlds" vehicle, with a fuel economy that is typically close to a sedan's, but with power that used to be reserved for trucks or larger vehicles. It's the perfect vehicle for so many situations, since it has the seating room for family trips, the cargo space for weekend getaways, and the power to tow another vehicle, even. So it is with great pleasure that we look at four vehicles side-by-side, the 2016 Toyota Highlander vs. 2016 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe vs. 2016 Volkswagen Touareg, as we narrow this contest down to the ultimate midsize SUV and help you find the ideal vehicle.

Fuel economy is important, especially when you're driving a larger vehicle that could potentially be a gas-guzzler. Which is why the 2016 Toyota Highlander is so beloved, thanks to its wallet-friendly 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, which easily exceeds the 2016 VW Touareg's 17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe's 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway. And the 2016 Highlander comes with plenty of power underneath the hood, too, with 270 HP in V6 engine models that will give you giddy-up and go for the morning commute.

Gone are the days when a minivan was a go-to for trips with a large group, and the 2016 Highlander lives up to its responsibility by giving the best possible ride to up to eight passengers and loading it with the space and creature comforts that you crave, like a maximum 83.7 cubic feet of cargo room. This is more space for your shopping bags or sports equipment than the 2016 Pathfinder, 2016 Santa Fe or 2016 Touareg will give you.

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And the 2016 Toyota Highlander does this while also providing available second-row captain's chairs, which none of the other SUVs here offer, except for the 2016 Santa Fe. These captain's chairs are two individual seats that can recline or be heated, if you're feeling cold, in the 2016 Highlander. Now that's a far sight better than having your passengers squeeze into the second row like a can of sardines.

In addition to the edge the 2016 Toyota Highlander gives you in fuel economy, cargo room and seating comforts, it also was named a 2016 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which means it is very impact-resistant, thanks to its durable construction. Neither the 2016 Touareg, the 2016 Santa Fe or the 2016 Pathfinder achieved this honor – so you are safer in the 2016 Highlander. And tech like Driver Easy Speak, which allows you to project your voice through rear-seat speakers, as well as Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, makes the 2016 Highlander a gadget-lover's friend.

When you take into account the cargo space you have at your disposal, as well as seating options and fuel savings, among other features, the Toyota Highlander is the best midsize SUV of the group. At Novato Toyota, we have a wide selection of vehicles on the lot, including the Toyota Highlander. Novato Toyota is located at 115 Vintage Way in Novato, CA, which is about 30 miles from San Francisco, and we serve the area that includes San Rafael and Petaluma, as well as the greater San Francisco and Oakland areas. Please contact us at (415) 897-3191 or visit us and see why the Toyota Highlander is the ultimate midsize SUV.