Overview & Reviews

The standard gas-powered Toyota Highlander has long enjoyed a reputation as an excellent midsize crossover with carlike drivability, SUV convenience and reasonable fuel consumption. The Highlander Hybrid model boasts the same credentials, but on top of that it also provides more power and even greater fuel economy. In many ways, it has been a segment leader since day one. It was the first hybrid SUV to offer all-wheel drive, seating for seven and more horsepower than its conventional gasoline variant.

Toyota has offered a hybrid version for every generation of the Highlander. Now in its third generation, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is larger, roomier and more upscale than ever before. But no matter which generation you're looking at, you can expect high levels of versatility, comfort, fuel economy and safety. It's an excellent option for car shoppers with an aversion to thirsty SUVs.

Current Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Debuting for 2014, the redesigned, third-generation Toyota Highlander Hybrid features more aggressive styling and a nicer interior design. A three-passenger third-row seat bumps maximum passenger capacity to seven, as the second row has a pair of captain's chairs. Its hybrid components are largely unchanged from the previous generation, however.

Power is provided by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, which along with three electric motors and a battery pack, produces a combined 280 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard, as is a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Fuel mileage is very impressive for a three-row crossover at an EPA-estimated 28 mpg combined.

Trim levels consist of Limited and Limited Platinum. Highlights of the Limited include a sunroof, a power liftgate, keyless ignition and entry, tri-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a back-up camera, Bluetooth, smartphone app integration and a premium audio system with satellite radio and an iPod/USB interface. The Limited Platinum adds a panoramic sunroof, automatic headlights, a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, Toyota's Safety Connect telematics, adaptive cruise control, a frontal collision mitigation system (with automatic braking) and a lane departure warning system.

In reviews, the newest Toyota Highlander Hybrid has earned high marks for its high fuel economy and upscale interior that's roomy enough for larger families. This three-row crossover also feels composed around turns, and the ride quality on the highway is smooth and very quiet. Although the 280-hp hybrid system is pretty punchy, there is a brief hesitation when you step on it, which makes the hybrid Highlander feel less responsive than the conventional Toyota Highlander. Price could also be a concern, as the hybrid is considerably more expensive than the regular Highlander. But if you can comfortably afford the Highlander Hybrid, it's an admirable all-around crossover that's bound to please.

Used Toyota Highlander Hybrid Models
The second-generation Toyota Highlander Hybrid was produced from 2008-'13. Compared to the original Highlander Hybrid, this one offered more interior room for passengers and cargo, as well as a more refined hybrid power system and standard all-wheel drive (previously there was a choice between front- and all-wheel drive).

Initially, this Highlander employed a 3.3-liter V6 that made 270 hp and was rated at an EPA-estimated 26 mpg rating in combined driving. A 3.5-liter V6 with 280 hp and a 28 mpg combined fuel economy rating debuted for 2011. That year the hybrid also received a minor styling update and a more versatile 50/50-split-folding third row of seats (replacing the previous one-piece bench). Toyota's Entune infotainment system with smartphone integration debuted in the 2013 model year, along with standard navigation.

This Highlander Hybrid was offered in base and Limited trim levels, and all versions came with all-wheel drive. Initially, the base model's highlights included a rearview camera, air-conditioning and a sliding and reclining 40/20/40-split second-row seat with a removable center section. The Limited trim added 19-inch wheels (versus 17-inch wheels), a power liftgate, a third-row seat and a power driver seat. Later years saw more standard features added to both trims. Highlights for the base version included Bluetooth phone/audio connectivity, the 50/50-split third-row seat and rear air-conditioning, while the Limited picked up a sunroof, keyless ignition/entry, leather seating and heated front seats.

In reviews at the time, we observed that this second-generation Toyota Highlander Hybrid offered a desirable blend of performance and fuel economy along with a thoughtfully designed cabin. The reconfigurable second-row seats were a particular bonus. Potential downsides include a smallish third-row seat and a high price relative to the regular Highlander. Overall, though, this Highlander Hybrid remains a great all-around choice for a hybrid crossover SUV.

The first-generation Toyota Highlander Hybrid was built for just two years, 2006 and 2007, though it was based on the original Highlander that was introduced for 2001. Just like its gas-powered siblings, the hybrid Highlander was based on the Camry platform, giving it carlike drivability. Along with the significant fuel savings, the hybrid system kicked power output up to 268, adding almost 40 hp over the standard gas-only V6. While the hybrid's price of admission was quite a bit more than the standard Highlander, its miserly fuel consumption made the initial financial hit more bearable.

The extra weight of the hybrid system made handling a bit more sluggish than the conventional gasoline Highlander, but ride quality was still pretty smooth and comfortable on the hybrid version. And since it was quite a bit smaller than later generations of the Toyota Highlander, this first hybrid model was quite maneuverable in crowded parking lots, and in general, it felt more like a wagon than an SUV.

Two trim levels were available for the original Toyota Highlander Hybrid: standard and Limited. For a premium, the Limited version included foglights, steering-wheel-mounted controls for the upgraded JBL sound system, and some enhanced interior and exterior trim, including cabin wood-tone accents and a rear spoiler. A touchscreen navigation screen was available as an option on the Limited.

User Reviews:

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  Sherman tank that gets great gas mileage - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Adam K - February 24 - 4:13 pm

  Prior to buying this vehicle, I owned a 2002 Honda CR-V and thought that it was the best car ever built. Then I bought my Highlander Hybrid with 26K miles and the it is more rugged and gets better mileage than the smaller Honda. This 06 Highlander Hybrid has it all: Good Looks. Great interior space. Smooth ride with a CVT transmission. Good gas mileage for a powerful SUV I get about 26 MPG overall. While this is less than advertised, it is still very good for a car with 268 HP that is built like a Sherman Tank. I typically keep a car for 200K plus miles and I am confident that this will go way beyond this milestone with basic maintenance.

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  Best SUV - 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By steve topor - February 21 - 5:40 pm

  Just got it 4 weeks ago and enjoy it very much!!! MPG 24-25 combined great for SUV.. Have not seen close to 27 mpg.Feels like a full size SUV had a Land Cruiser and this about doubles its mpg and still has room. Finally got a price break at invoice plus dealer options -over paid for them.

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  Wife says it drives like a dream - 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By keny - February 18 - 1:20 pm

  Had the car a month. Waited to write my comment until we took a 2300 mile trip. Overall we love the car. A little disappointed with the overall 24mpg. We drove on interstates, in big cities, mountains and 2-lanes. Inside is roomy and comfortable. Love the bluetooth. The Nav system is no better than my Magellan portable. Disappointed that there are areas with no turn-by-turn instructions even though it lists streets. There are some features on it I really liked like the split screen. The front mats are already showing signs of matting. Love the transmission. Mpg is much better at 60-65 mph than over 75 mph. That should be expected. We did get about 31 mpg on one tank. A keeper.

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  2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By jaxhog - January 28 - 10:26 am

  The Highlander is so much fun to drive. The fuel mileage is great. Its comfortable and handles bumps better than my large SUV.

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  Highlander Hybrid is awesome! - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Sue Levy - January 15 - 10:03 pm

  We love our hybrid Highlander! We feel safe and very comfortable in it. The engines are very powerful. We can really turn on the power when we need to. Smart design, good storage, efficent, and were averaging 23 mpg. Id like a little more fuel efficiency but were happy to support the hybrid technology. The car is very quiet, too.

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  Great Vehicle - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By rav171 - January 13 - 3:20 pm

  My Highlander has over 33000 miles. To get the best mileage, the driver should make maximum use of the cruse control. That allows the computer to control the engine torque and continuous variable transmission (CVT). That way, the computer maximizes the gas efficiency while maintaining the speed that is set. I get 32 MPG driving 60 MPH on up and down highway roads in upstate New York. I couldnt be happier with the mileage.

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  2 years experience - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Tracy - January 12 - 10:56 pm

  Ive had my Highlander for two years now. I still find it a great car. My mileage varies tremendously, depending on my driving frame of mind and on the temperature. This past summer I consistently got trips of 30-40 MPG around town and tank averages of 29 MPG. But the cold weather is coming and this will knock me down to about 20 MPG avg per tank. If I zip around town and dont glide a lot or try to keep it on electric, the mileage goes down. This car has taught me a lot about how to drive to save gas. Its a comfortable car for both long and short trips, and the flexible seats allow for multiple configurations. I agree with other reviewers that the 3rd row seat is not needed.

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  Pleasure - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By koy mack - January 12 - 7:13 pm

  As a previous chevy tahoe owner I dearly love our highlander hybrid, smaller, more fun to drive, play a game with gas mileage, its very quick, no problems merging into interstate. A great vehicle for a 78 year old .

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  Love it - 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Inland Northwest - December 14 - 9:13 am

  Weve had it 4 months and 5000 miles. Its awesome to drive, and has plenty of room for family of four (2 teenagers) and dog to go on vacation. More than that, youd need a car-top carrier for stuff. Third row seat is okay. Our mileage has been pretty good; were averaging 24-25 overall. 28 on highway and 23 or so in town (we live in a small, very hilly town so anywhere we need to go is uphill and less than a mile away. Doesnt help us take advantage of hybrid very well). It drives beautifully. When we need to merge we turn off "econ" and boy, do we zoom. Its more comfortable than any car Ive owned (including other Toyotas).

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  Incredible reliability, perfect size - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By litespeedn - December 7 - 3:01 pm

  Bought this car new in 2006, now have 168,000 miles. In well over 1 million miles of driving, this Highlander has been the most reliable, comfortable car I have ever owned. No repairs have been needed at all, just routine maintenance - oil changes every 10K miles with synthetic oil, also replaced the coolant, timing belt, and spark plugs at 90K. Car is still on the original brakes! On 3rd set of tires. This car has great acceleration, good mileage (average 25.5 MPG, and I tend to drive fast), great room for passengers or gear. AWD with stability control is great for low traction or slippery roads, although I dont offroad. I have the Limited version with navigation - nav system still good, but I had to buy a new disc on eBay to get updated roads. Car structure is still solid with no rattles. I dont see any new vehicles that compare with this one yet - the new Highlander is too big, and small SUVs are overstyled and lack room inside. I hope to keep this car for a few more years.