Apparently, Toyota has taken the old saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” to heart. Not much is brand new for the 2009 non-hybrid Highlander. A bit of tweaking in the headlight design is the extent of styling changes for this year. A hefty redesign in ’08, including a larger body and cabin plus a beefier engine, left the 2009 Highlander little to improve upon.

The non-hybrid Highlander still offers three trim levels: Base, Sport and Limited, each of which comes in FWD and AWD versions. Sport and Limited trims come with a standard 6-CD changer and 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, and options include a sunroof, a DVD rear-seat entertainment system, and a navigation system. The Sport trim, with its MacPherson sport-type suspension, obviously provides a somewhat stiffer ride than the Base and Limited trims. The Highlander Limited has a 3.5-inch multi-function display standard as well as leather-trimmed seating.

The Highlander's 270-hp, 3.5-liter V6, coupled with a 5-speed transmission and standard on all trims, has been a hit with drivers and reviewers alike. This particular engine features a DOHC with four valves per cylinder and variable valve tuning. Its estimated 18/24 mpg city/highway is pretty much standard for the class. Highlander’s comfortable, Camry-inspired chassis and 5-star crash-test rating have also proven to be winners.

So what’s in the offing for Highlander in ’09? How ‘bout a four-cylinder model? The so-far unheralded four-cylinder Highlander, expected in mid-January, represents a significant departure from Toyota’s mantra that if drivers want a four-cylinder SUV, they’ll buy a RAV4.

An inline four-cylinder (I4) engine will be offered only on the FWD Base trim to start. Should it prove popular, Toyota will, understandably, offer the I4 in the Sport and Limited trims as well.

Borrowed from the just-introduced Venza, the Highlander’s 2.7-liter I4 will put out 189 hp and, paired up with a 6-speed automatic transmission, ought to equal the traditional V6 in performance, if not power. With an optional towing package, the I4 will have a capacity of 3,500 lbs, while the V6 can handle 5,000 lbs. Toyota claims the four-cylinder Highlander will achieve 20/26 mpg, and if those numbers prove accurate, it will wrest the Dodge Journey's mantle as the most economical gasoline-powered crossover.