Meet the 2014 Toyota Highlander

Redesigned to meet mid-size crossover user requests in the United States, the Toyota Highlander is now 2.7 inches longer and 0.6 inches wider, albeit having the same wheelbase length, and offers more passenger and luggage space.

The Japanese automaker claims that the new exterior design carries "both refinement and strength", while the interior was revamped to "raise the bar in the mid-size SUV segment".

The 2014 Highlander can seat up to eight people and will be available with three powertrain choices, including a 2.7-liter four-cylinder powerplant, a 3.5-liter V6 unit, and a 3.5-liter V6 engine and electric motor as the Hybrid Synergy Drive. The gasoline versions are mated to six-speed ECT-i gearbox, while the hybrid delivers its power to the wheels through a CVT.

New safety and convenience features, such as rear parking sonar, Blind Spot Monitor, Lane Departure Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Pre-collision System, are also to be found on the 2014 Highlander.

Assembled in Princeton, Indiana, the new Toyota crossover will reach dealerships in early 2014.