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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  Great SUV - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By Great Vehicle - November 23 - 7:26 pm

  I bought this SUV the end of March 2010 and since then have put 23,000 miles on it. I travel for work and find this vehicle so much more comfortable and versatile than my 07 Chevy Impala LTZ. It gets great gas mileage; best Ive ever gotten is 28 mpg, but usually average around 25 per tank. The back seat is extremely spacious, even for me measuring in at 65". I find the in dash information center to be very user friendly, even though it could have a bigger display. V6 acceleration is excellent for size and weight of vehicle. Handling is car-like with the sports trim level. Only major complaint is the lack of a compass for the price tag of this model.

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  Hard not to like! - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Really Picky - November 23 - 12:53 am

  Ive driven Explorers, 4runners and Grand Cherokees, this is by far the most car-like ride quality of any mid-sized Sport Ute. Its also the best average gas mileage Ive ever had with a Sport Ute. The rear seats are some of the quickest to lay flat that Ive encountered.

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  Gas mileage - 2007 Toyota Highlander
  By DTown - November 21 - 3:40 pm

  My model has the "information display" with temperature, average mph and average mpg. This feature, especially the mpg can impact your driving habits. Especially with gas over $3/gal. I am more careful about quick acceleration and braking. I have a 26 mile commute to work taking 45 minutes. I average 22.5 mpg. I traveled from Philadlphia to DC and averaged 23.8 mpg. The gas mileage is better than I expected.

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  Computerized Fiasco, Warranty Nightmare - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By S. Tessmann - November 18 - 10:55 am

  My wife wanted leather seats so we purchased the XLE model, which comes with electronic and computerized everything. Although we paid for it, we will never use nor did we want 80% of the electronic wizardry that comes in this model. Lots of computerized stuff equates to lots of opportunity for malfunctions. The radio is "speed-activated," meaning the volume is supposed to increase gradually as the vehicle speed increases to compensate for road noise . The radio in our highlander is defective. The volume erratically and abruptly increases and decreases at any speed, even while the vehicle is idling. Its enough to drive you nuts. The vehicle is under warranty so I told the dealership I wanted the system replaced in one visit. In response, I got a lot of rigmarole about protocol and was told the system would need to be removed and sent off for diagnosis. I told them this was unacceptable as it meant several 100-mile round trips to the dealership. To no avail. They arranged a Saturday morning appointment but then told us they would need authorization to replace the system and since Toyotas technical service office is not open on a weekend, they could not get the approval. The technician downloaded a software service pack that did not correct the problem. I called the Toyota "customer care" center to lodge my complaint and insist that the problem be corrected in one additional visit. It was like talking to a trained puppet. More rigmarole about protocol and "Im sorry you are being inconvenienced" and "I am unable to guarantee the problem will be fixed on your next visit." Protocol before customer service, always !! The vehicle also comes with "radar activated" cruise control. Although functioning properly in our vehicle, its the most worthless, vexing thing Ive ever encountered. Who wants a cruise system that slows the vehicle as it approaches another vehicle you intend to pass? Consequently, I have to manually turn off the radar system every time I use the cruise control. This is another example of just too much technology thats poorly thought out.

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  Great SUV/CUV - 2007 Toyota Highlander
  By ron - November 16 - 9:03 pm

  Great fit and finish on all interior and exterior items. The engine is both quiet and powerful for most any driving style. The ride is very comfortable and the vehicle handles extremely well. Purchased the Toyota vice purchasing a Honda CRV because of its overall value and interior space.

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  Best SUV Value - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Terry Cumiskey - November 16 - 12:30 am

  1st SUV, 6th Toyota since 1980. Best SUV product value on the market today.

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  Highlander 4cyl with 3rd seat - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By luvthetoyotas - November 14 - 12:53 pm

  I purchased the car this weekend. Hard to find a 4cyl with the third seat. Drove ~300 miles to pick it up, so I got a little highway time and have driven it around town some. I drove both the 6cyl and 4cyl models and really like the balance of the 4 with the 6 speed transmission. Sure, it wont win any drag races, but the performance is very good. If you want a sports car, buy one. I got ~26mpg on a brand new motor driving 75 mph. Mileage will only improve once its broken in. So far - love the Highlander. Rated reliability high from my experience with my other Toyota products.

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  Happy but..... - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By tigger5702 - November 14 - 9:46 am

  Smooth at first, now after 10k miles the engine little rough in idle, missing a lot of details found in less priced toyotas Ex. instrument panel lighting found in camrys and corollas, temp display, hood gas strut as in camrys, a more modern instrument panel ala solara. Be careful with the "millions" of options, they are good but will confuse you and drain your pocket, do your homework at home, 4 cyl is enough, powerful ,better mileage than 6 cyl, uses 87 and tows 3000lbs vs 3500 in the 6cyl

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  Brakes are too soft - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By silverbox - November 12 - 2:00 am

  I am still trying to figure out why the brakes are so soft... This is not an offroad vehicle that needs this type of feature. Am I the only one with this problem b/c the dealer will hear about this. I do feel safe stopping at a light with the possibility that i may hit the car in front unless i stop much further back than a reasonable distance...

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  Loyal Toyota Owner - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Deb Oliver - November 11 - 2:11 am

  Have owned several Toyota vehicles. Husband recently traded up from 2014 to 2016 Tacoma due to BSM. I traded my 2013 XLE Avalon for a 2016 Highlander Limited. My only gripe is the 2016 Tacoma and 2013 XLE Avalon both have digital speedometers yet the 2016 Limited does NOT.. real bummer as I prefer to "see" my speed digitally displayed. Didnt realize it until after the purchase. Had the same DISP button as the other vehicles so assumed the Highlander Limit had it. Oh well lessons learned