Now on another note – if BMW would only bring me a 335 Wagon, I could stop worrying about my next car choice, better yet a 335d Wagon would be great. BMWNA are you listening?

Why not a 4Runner? Because the Highlander feels marginally roomier inside, has a lower step-in height, and has a big cutout beneath the center console for one’s purse. Important stuff to the target market.

Of course a minivan makes more sense from a packaging standpoint, but as long as American parents feel the need to wear an REI costume–mustn’t have people thinking they might be (gasp) parents, you know–the Highlander will probably keep selling in droves.

Johnson

As the publisher of this site, I have the privilege of working with writers whose opinions I respect. I have every faith in Mr. Berkowitz' judgment on the new Highlander's fit and finish. Our writers call it like they see it; they have no ax to grind. 

This does not necessarily mean the other reviewers were lying… 

Although we tend to think of cars as perfectly identical products, this is often not the case– "even" when you're talking about Toyota.

As readers within the biz will attest, improvements in the production process are often made "on the fly." Plenty of consumers won't buy the early examples of a new model for this reason.

I have little doubt that Toyota will address these fit and finish issues– especially after this review. I would expect to see an improvement within months.

There is also the not-so-small matter of the preparation of press cars…

Most manufacturers go to great lengths to make sure that their press cars are immaculate. As you might imagine, they do not simply take a car off the line and hand it to a journo. The car is physically and mechanically inspected and tweaked to an inch of its life.

Because of our editorial stance and style, TTAC does not have access to press cars. We've been officially banned by BMW, GM, Subaru and Honda. We've been unofficially excluded from all the rest.

At the moment, our writers test drive cars supplied by car dealers or friends of the site. They are the same cars readers can buy.

We are currently negotiating with a used car chain to gain longer tests in more cars. This would suit me fine.

I would rather our writers test "real world" cars later than the buff books, Edmunds, etc. than have them critique manufacturers' highly massaged examples.

In any case, I invite our readers to examine the new Highlander in the showroom and report back. None of us is infallible and, as I've outlined above, your results may vary.

Rest assured that our search for the truth is ongoing. It is, in fact, relentless.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=42395&comparisonID=1181

Here is another review which also praised the interior quality and said nothing negative of the fit and finish:

http://www.canadiandriver.com/testdrives/08highlander.htm

To be honest, yours is the first review I’ve read that talks about the fit and finish being horrible and the materials not up to par. Even from pictures, fit and finish looks pretty damn good.

EDIT: the links I posted, one review is from Australia and one is from Canada.

Not a preproduction model, nor was it an abused “everyone reviews it” vehicle.

It was, in fact, a vehicle arranged for my by a dealership and it subsequently will be sold.

What sources did you read that lauded the Highlander’s F&F?

Reason I ask is that so far all other reviews of the new Highlander have said it had good fit and finish.

I am not an apologist for the U.S. auto industry by any stretch. (my primary ride is Japanese, allbeit a Kawasaki). If I were to buy a new car would it be an American one…At this stage probably not. But it wouldn’t be any of Toyota’s new offerings either for the same reasons. Looks like Honda and the South Koreans are the only ones who get it at the moment.

there is nothing better than knowing what you like, except getting it. and knowing what you want is a terrible thing, because then where do you find it.

Best. Typo. Ever. Not a dance I care to do.

The article confirms avoiding the plummeting quality of locally produced Japanese brands by restricting our recent purchases to Japan-manufactured models was prudent.

Maybe I am just reading this wrong, but this sounds like another slap in the face to American autoworkers.

I am quite sure that our seven year old Camry was built in the USA and the quality remains outstanding with no problems other than normal maintenance. Did the guys in the assembly line suddenly stop caring and start making poorly assembled vehicles?

More likely, Toyota has “benefited” from some of the same bean-counter mentality and rush to production that afflicted GM and Ford.

Maybe, just maybe it really is not cost-effective to build automobiles within the USA anymore! Just like Toyota the quality of the MBs, BMWs, Nissans, and some Hondas just does not meassure up to the quality of the products that are still produced in the home country. Face it, Toyota, Mercedes, BMW, et al. all built factories in the USA to save money by lowering production cost.
They all appear to be building vehicles based on the concept that the American consumer is will to pay for style and flash over substance.
Compared to the models in the JDM the US Camry has a rather un-finished look to it. The MB ML has consistantly been called out for the POS that it is. The X3 is a rather lack-luster BMW product, and the Nissan Armada has also taken major hits for it lack of quality.

Now in all fairness the interior material quality of just about all automakers has taken a serious nose-dive in the last 10 years. If I can readily see and feel cheapness inside of a $75,000 e550 than what should I expect from a $35,000 Highlander? If I can bang on hard plastics all day inside of a $50,000 335i I guess complaining about the same in a GM or Toyota is just silly.