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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  Highlander - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By MikeandDeni - April 29 - 10:00 am

  Solid vehicle, easy to drive, quality throughout.

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  Surprised - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By John Biernat - April 26 - 10:16 pm

  This is the first Toyota I have ever purchased. I bought it when fuel prices began to climb and I needed economical transport. I am surprised by the many innovative ideas and features I find every day when I drive it. The only suggestion I have so far is to improve the lumbar support of the seats as I have problems getting comfortable for long hauls. The features in my Limited belong on vehicles costing much more and Im sure it will have the vaunted reliability Toyota is famous for. Looking forward to putting a lot of miles on it.

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  Wheel Bearing - 2013 Toyota Highlander
  By ellas - April 17 - 7:54 am

  Took my new Highlander (with 2300 miles on it) on vacation to Hilton Head Island - after arrival, started hearing a roaring noise from left rear tire area - stopped by Toyota dealership and they discovered the wheel bearing needed to be replaced. Had to delay my scheduled return home for a couple of days, thus putting me into the midst of a tropical storm. Very inconvenient and frightening. After all the research I conducted before purchasing a new car, I was shocked that I became stranded while on vacation in my brand new car. Needless to say, I feel uncomfortable about driving this car for a long distance again.

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  Great Car - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By tonto - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Best Car ever great car perfect!!!

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  2004 highlander - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By piner - April 17 - 2:00 am

  great ride, and looks great inside with the leather package. We have the extra 3rd row and it has come in handy. You can turn it on dime, and the ride is extremely smooth. Love all the little info that it gives, such as mpg, temperature, miles gone, and such. love the sunroof and window.

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  Love My Highlander - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Marni - April 17 - 2:00 am

  We bought a 2002 and upgraded to a 2004 4WD this year. Simply love this car and didnt give a thought to any other SUV on the market. It rides and handles beautifully. Its very easy to get in and out of and is quite comfortable for my bad back [had several surgeries]. We cant believe how much cargo it can carry. And, its a very classy vehicle to go out in. Couldnt recommend it enough.

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  Great Value - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By Charles - April 11 - 11:53 am

  This is the second Highlander we have own. This car has a very smooth ride and is very quite. The engine is strong and the transmission is very smooth shifting. The interior and exterior fit and finish is excellent. The nag system is a good feature, although it requires some work to understand its operation.

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  Very Impressive - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Will - April 9 - 12:23 am

  We purchased the vehicle a week ago. The engineering is very good, amazing to think they could pack in as much in such a small vehicle. I was concerned about the gas mileage but now after about 600+ miles seem to be averaging 21 to 22+ mpg. It is fast and if you drive it like a race car it will only get 16 to 17 I am sure. I still have not had a chance to read all of the instructional info but believe once I figure it out it will be a blessing. The hands free blue tooth is great. The leather and interior is as nice as Mercedes and more higher end cars. My wife had some problems with the smart key etc. in her first foray driving about 400 miles. She got pulled over going over 80 mph.

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  Excellent...except in snow - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Joe - April 4 - 11:26 am

  Terrific vehicle in every way except incredibly poor, dangerous snow traction (on 4x4!!). Problem appears to be Toyo A20 tire. Problem is worsened by availability of only 1 other factory sized alternative, a Bridgestone with an equally bad snow rating. Out of actual fear of factory tire snow traction during past two winters, I switched to 235-55x19 Yokohamas (at only 16,000 miles) with much better snow results thus far. Treadwear on factory tire was also very poor, and I drive in suburban traffic at 35-45 miles per hour I may be forced to full snows if Yokos prove no better than Toyos after mileage accumulates. I have alerted both Toyo and Toyota.

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  Second Highlander even better than our first - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By JillRN - April 4 - 9:06 am

  We decided to upgrade our 2011 Highlander to the 2017 XLE AWD and could not be more happy with the decision. The new model has many safety upgrades and is a perfect family vehicle. Love the push button start, backup camera, and navigation. It is quiet, stylish, and handles very well. Looking forward to many years of driving enjoyment! Toyota makes the very best mid-size SUV that has a ton of features in a reliable package. Very pleased!