Overview & Reviews

A pioneering vehicle in many ways, the Toyota Highlander was one of the first midsize crossover SUVs to be sold in America when it debuted in 2001. With its car-based unibody design, the original Highlander provided many benefits over Toyota's more traditional SUVs, including better handling, higher fuel mileage, a quieter cabin, improved crashworthiness and easier entry and exit for passengers.

Since then, the Toyota Highlander has gone on to become one of the most popular crossovers available, appealing to shoppers who want a vehicle with SUV styling, plenty of versatility for hauling cargo and a third-row seat. The third-generation Highlander has the most seating capacity, while the second generation has the most rear cargo space. That said, a Highlander of any vintage is one of the better values out there for those seeking a comfortable, easy-to-drive vehicle that can carry a fair amount of cargo and passengers and handle snow and ice during the winter months while still delivering decent fuel economy.

Current Toyota Highlander
Redesigned for 2014, the current Toyota Highlander is a few inches longer than the previous-generation model and sports notably more aggressive styling. The cabin has also been modernized: Many of the cabin's previously hard plastic surfaces are now covered with softer materials, and the electronics are more up to date.

The Highlander is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Base front-drive models come with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine making 185 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. All other Highlanders have an impressively efficient 3.5-liter V6 good for 270 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard with either engine. There is also a Toyota Highlander Hybrid that delivers considerably better fuel economy. It is covered in a separate review.

Toyota Highlander shoppers can choose among four trim levels: LE, LE Plus, XLE and Limited. Highlights of the base LE include 18-inch wheels, a touchscreen display, a rearview camera, Bluetooth and an iPod/USB interface. Moving up to the LE Plus gets you a flip-up rear window, a power liftgate, a power driver seat and tri-zone climate control. The XLE's perks include keyless ignition and entry, a sunroof, leather upholstery, a navigation system and Toyota's Entune suite of smartphone app-based services. The top-dog Limited sports 19-inch wheels, upgraded leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, second-row captain's chairs, ambient interior lighting and an upgraded audio system. Additional safety features like blind-spot monitoring, frontal collision warning/mitigation and lane-departure warning systems are also available on the Limited.

On the road, the Highlander's near-silent V6 engine is complemented by a liquid-smooth six-speed automatic transmission with the refinement you might expect in a Lexus. Acceleration is among the best in this class. Unless your budget will only allow the four-cylinder engine, the V6 is the way to go. Maximum passenger capacity is eight -- more than most other crossovers. The third-row seat is still really only suitable for children, but the second row slides and reclines, maximizing comfort. The interior looks and feels upscale and there are plenty of storage areas for your personal items. Overall, we highly recommend the Highlander if you're shopping for a large, three-row crossover SUV.

Used Toyota Highlander Models
The second-generation Toyota Highlander was produced from 2008-'13. It was significantly larger than the previous model in nearly every way, adding shoulder room, hiproom and legroom all around as well as additional cargo capacity.

This generation Highlander felt spry on the road and was easy to drive, with especially brisk acceleration coming from the V6 engine. We liked the quiet, roomy cabin that seated up to seven passengers. While the Highlander's third row was less spacious than those of some rivals, it was easy to reach thanks to a nifty 40/20/40-split second row with a removable center seat that facilitated walk-through access. Cargo space was also down compared to larger crossovers, but this Highlander should still be roomy enough for almost any family.

For 2008, the only available engine was a 270-hp 3.5-liter V6. In 2009 it was joined by a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that made 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive were standard, and all-wheel drive was available with the V6.

Available trim levels, depending on the year, were base, Sport, SE, Plus and Limited. Standard equipment on the base Highlander included air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and the 40/20/40-split second row bench seat. The Sport trim level (2008-'10) added a more firmly tuned suspension, a rearview camera, a flip-up rear window in the liftgate and a power-adjustable driver seat.

For 2011, Toyota discontinued the Sport trim level and made most of that trim level's equipment standard on the SE (2010-'13). The SE also had a sunroof, heated seats, leather upholstery and an upgraded audio system. The Plus (2013 only) had similar equipment to the Sport. For the Limited, Toyota added 19-inch wheels, tri-zone automatic climate control, upgraded upholstery and a front passenger seat. Major options for this Highlander included a navigation system and a rear-seat entertainment system.

If you're shopping for a second-generation model, take note that the 2008 through 2010 models had a less versatile third-row seat with a one-piece bench design rather than the 2010-'13 model's 50/50-split seat. For 2011, Toyota also mildly updated the Highlander's exterior styling.

The first-generation Toyota Highlander was produced from 2001-'07. It was powered by either a 155-hp four-cylinder engine or a 220-hp 3.0-liter V6. A four-speed automatic transmission was standard. In 2004 the V6 was bumped up to 3.3 liters and 230 hp, and models so equipped received a five-speed automatic transmission, while four-cylinder models soldiered on with the four-speed unit (and 5 extra hp). Available trim levels were base, Sport and Limited.

Base models came equipped with a respectable amount of equipment, including air-conditioning, power accessories, cruise control and a CD player. The Sport trim spiced things up with 17-inch alloys, a sport-tuned suspension, foglights, a power driver seat and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter. The Limited added heated outside mirrors, power front seats, a fold-flat third-row seat (as of 2004) and an upgraded JBL sound system. Popular options included leather seating, an in-dash CD changer, a towing package and -- on the Limited model only -- a navigation system.

Shoppers interested in a used Toyota Highlander might want to confine their search to 2004 models and newer, not just because of the power increase, but also because a third-row seat and rear DVD entertainment system were newly available, enabling the Highlander to remain competitive with the strengthening crop of midsize crossover SUVs. Other significant changes for '04 included the addition of stability control and a tire-pressure warning system as standard equipment, as well as newly optional side curtain airbags for the first and second rows (which became standard on '07 models).

User Reviews:

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  Happy Highlander - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Highlander - December 30 - 2:00 am

  Great handling and more than adequate room for 4 adults w/ golf clubs. The snow in NY has been no problem w/ this vehicle.

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  2 years and running strong - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By Laura E. - December 29 - 8:23 am

  I first wrote about my highlander from my first day of use. Now it is 2 years later and I love it even more! It handles icy and snowy conditions in Alaska like a dream. I can easily fit 15 bales of hay in it to haul for my horse. I can flip the seats and clean it out quickly, and my dog LOVES the back section with its own heater. I have just replaced the factory tires which wore out at about 48,000 miles. The air control box did break due to the severe cold we have experienced this winter (-30 degrees). But it was an easy fix by the dealer crew. Fuel economy remains strong as I am a careful driver. Road noise and a slipping mat in the third row are my only negatives.

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  Super Mid-SUV - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Super SUV - December 27 - 9:50 pm

  WOW, the Highlander is an awesome vehicle: handles very well and very quiet. The drivers position and the dash layout are both done extremely well-everything is easily within reach, and the materials used feel "expensive-not cheap". In addition, the fit and finish is superb! The engine has a nice "growl" when pressed above 3000 rpm, and power is exceptional. Toyota has done a great job!

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  Nice, but not the Sequoia - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Nice - December 24 - 12:46 pm

  Traded a 2002 Sequoia for the Highlander for financial reasons (gas mileage, etc.). I like it, but wish I had gotten the Sport or Limited (none in stock at the time). The base model features are VERY limited in comparison to what I am used to. No exterior temperature guage or interior computer for gas mileage, no power seats, no standard roof racks, no mud flaps, etc. I am dissapointed in the lack of standard features, especially the lack of power driver seat. On the other hand it has more than enough power and drives great.

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  I LOVE MY SUV :-) :-) :-) - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By CHUBBS - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I WENT ON A VACATION FROM NJ TO FLORIDA. I LEFT ON A SATURDAY AT 6:00 AM AND BY 6:00PM I WAS ALREADY IN GEORGIA. I FUELED UP ABOUT THREE TIMES. I LOVE MY SUV!!!

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  Built to Tow - 2013 Toyota Highlander
  By osos2 - December 19 - 4:05 am

  We bought our 2013 SE 4WD in January 14 to replace our 11 Murano as we had bought an Escape 17B trailer. It weighs appx. 2600 lbs. loaded, and the Murano wasnt really built for it. All SEs have the tow package included- a must for anyone towing regularly to properly cool engine & trans oil. Ours also came with hitch. The experience in towing is night and day. On paper both vehicles are somewhat similar, however with the 4WD (AWD really), and its extra curb weight. It pulls our trailer easily. Also, the Murano has a CVT trans, and am not sure about the durability of it with significant towing.

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  Best Highlander So Far - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By rfs - December 18 - 6:43 pm

  Traded a 2004 Highlander Limited. New one is larger, has more power and is quieter, but gets around the same gas mileage so far, which should improve after break-in and start using Mobil 1. More room for 3rd row passengers. Some nice added features from previous models, like the 19" wheels, fully adjustable steering wheel and automatic rear passenger AC.

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  Tires Revisited - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Joe - December 16 - 8:56 am

  As noted in my January review, I replaced the snow-scary Toyo Open Country A20 tires with Yokohama 235- 55x19 Parada Spec X tires. Had to go marginally smaller than factory 245- 55x19s in order to avoid either Toyo or Bridgestone (equally bad in snow). These two are currently ONLY 245-55x19 sizes on the market. Yokos transformed winter traction from truly scary to truly amazing. Smooth, quiet, handle better too. Perhaps not as well balanced...I will have balance rechecked soon. Tread wear an unknown at this point, but I would have traded vehicle if snow traction had not improved. Cant believe Toyota still specs these tires in 10, but maybe other recalls have occupied all of their time!

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  An 02... 60K+... & still bulletproof. - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Chandler S - December 14 - 5:13 am

  Replacing our 95 4Runner (purchased new) was our 02 Highlander (purchased new - 3.0l V6 4x2). Occupants appreciate the comfortable and plush interior. The Camry-based ride is tight and refined. The original 16" Goodyears were just replaced @ 60K (with same). Absolutely NO mechanical problems to date. An extremely sure-footed vehicle (further enhanced with VSC) in foul weather. Much easier to park/maneuver than a larger SUV. I would describe the exterior styling as modestly elegant. We experience 23 mpg in mixed driving, approaching 30 mpg hwy. Overall, an excellent value.

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  Excellence! - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By nnclyn - December 13 - 10:00 am

  Wonderful SUV! Rides like a luxury car,and the comfort level is fantastic. I never expected to enjoy a SUV as much as Ive been enjoying this Highlander. After shopping for months for an SUV, I found the Highlander to give a lot of value for the money. Comparing it to the Lexus sister...its almost identical, without having spent $15,000 more!