Something that is not often found in vehicles these days is a cassette player. The Highlander's AM/FM/CD stereo with six speakers

I found the visibility in the Highlander to be the best in its class. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

comes standard with one. To some, that might not mean that much. Besides, who still uses cassettes anyways? Well, I do. I use a tape adaptor for my IPod that enables me to listen to all of my choice tunes with the click of a button. It's always nice to be able to play my music without dragging my CD collection along with me. This small detail definitely enhances the Highlander experience. If there's one thing that sets the Highlander apart from its competitors, it's not the cassette player, it's the visibility, which I found to be the best in its class. Often times, SUVs tend to have a shallow and angled rear window, making it a challenge to parallel park. However, the Highlander's rear window was deep, and enabled me to see optimally when parallel

Whether it's sedan-like handling or SUV versatility you're looking for, the 2005 Toyota Highlander has it all. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

parking and backing up. Seeing clearly out of an SUV is almost more than I could ever ask for. What I could ask for out of an SUV is better fuel economy. But I really can't complain about the Highlander as its V6 benefits from a fuel consumption rating of 12.7 L/100 km in the city and 9.0 L/100 km on the highway, which is quite good for an engine of that size, thanks in part to the VVT-i system. Also, it won't be long until Toyota introduces the 2006 Highlander Hybrid, which has estimated fuel economy of 10.7 L/100 km city - 7.9 L/100km hwy.

Whether it's sedan-like handling or SUV versatility you're looking for, the 2005 Toyota Highlander has it all. Did I mention it has a cassette player too?