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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  Get It - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By dohale - October 6 - 7:50 pm

  So far its been an excellent vehicle, great ride, plenty of power, good gas mileage, lots of room, good handling and a solid built feel to it.

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  pretty satisfied - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By nikki - October 6 - 10:47 am

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  NOT WORTH THE MONEY - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Dave Lazeroff - October 5 - 1:18 pm

  I leased a 2016 Highlander XLE awd with a sticker price of nearly $40k. My wife has bugged me for years for a Highlander so i finally broke down. The vehicle is okay at best. The road noise is unbearable between the wind noise from the windows completely closed to the road noise from under the car-probably due to lack of sufficient insulation. My 2015 GMC Sierra is a million times quieter on the freeway than the Toyota. The gas mileage is sub par at best. My full size 6000 pound 4 x 4 truck does as well on the freeway with respect to the mpg. It does handle decent. Feels solid. And, of course, it will be reliable-its a Toyota. The voice command works very well. It understands me and my trucks voice command never does. I cannot see how a $40k sticker vehicle cannot have remote start. I would have had to upgrade to a platinum limited to get cooled seats and remote start. For another $100.00 a month on the payment. I leased this one. $3k down and $350 a month is not bad considering if i would have bought it the payment would be double. I am glad i did not buy it because i will not be keeping it once the lease is up. I should have bought a Grand Cherokee but it does not have a third row like the Highlander which is what sold me. The front seats are very hard and uncomfortable especially on a four hour drive. I had to get out every hour or so and stretch my legs and walk around. Have not had a chance to check out the awd yet, i will do that this winter in the snow. Oh, and the ac is awesome. I live in Las Vegas and it gets to 115 here and the ac works great, extremely cold. I am just under six feet and weigh 230 pounds muscular and have no trouble fitting in the drivers seat.

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  Not What I Expected - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By KndOne - October 4 - 10:46 pm

  Although the Highlander overall is adequate, its shortfalls are obvious. The gas mileage is terrible, Ive yet to get more than 16 mpg even on the fwy. If you accelerate at the wrong time the trans just winds out while you go nowhere. The seats are the most comfy I found in this genre of car, and the car has alot of pep to it.

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  Former Toyota...stripped head bolts - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By bizmin - October 4 - 10:00 am

  2003 Toyota Highlander 2.4 L 4-cylinder engine, 108,000 miles, perfect service, until it developed coolant leak on the back side of the top of the engine, adjacent to an insulator pad at the back of the engine block. The back 3 head bolts were completely stripped, allowing coolant to leak into the engine. Toyota dealer says the short block or entire engine must be replaced, with no other option [$5200- $7400+.] Based on the frequency of identical engine failures, faulty factory assembly and/or design assures eventual failure of the engine. 25-year Toyota fan, probably lost forever.

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  Glad we bought it - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By Eldo - October 3 - 6:30 pm

  Initially wanted an Enclave, but the Highlander Limited proved to be better for our budget while retaining all of the features I wanted. Fuel economy has been as good as advertised. Third row bench is easy to put up and down.

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  highlander - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By greg100 - September 30 - 2:00 am

  very happy with car

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  Great SUV - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By theparsons - September 30 - 2:00 am

  I drove my son-in-laws 300RX Lexus for 6 months. That was a mistake. I was out of the USA for 18 months and often reviewed SUVs on the internet. Within 24 hours of returning to my home I was driving a 2003 Highlander. Its a great vehicle, solid, fun to drive and comfortable. Gas mileage as been 22 mpg in city.

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  2001 Highlander - 2001 Toyota Highlander
  By Bud - September 25 - 11:20 am

  Very solid vehicle. Good fuel economy. Pulls a trailer well. Comfortable front seats and very roomy back seats - great for family trips. Adequate power. Center console design is not very good. Overall a well built family SUV. Oxygen sensor replacement is the only unscheduled maintenance I have had to do.

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  My Highlander - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By tcrawford - September 24 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER! I previously owned a Toyota Camry and because I loved the look, performance, and dependability of my car I knew I wanted to stay with Toyota for my next vehicle. The Highlander is a larger vehicle without the bulkiness of alot of the SUVs out there. My highlander fits my style and size perfectly. I purchased my vehicle just in time for the New England winter season. Ive never experienced problems in the snow or ice with my Toyota.