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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  Eds new beach buggy - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By Edward Terrenzi - April 5 - 10:46 pm

  Great vehicle. Loads of space . Room for 8 with third row. Hugh list of safety features and std features. Very smooth and quiet ride.

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  Still lovin the Highlander - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Debra Handley - April 5 - 4:04 pm

  This is my second Highlander. The first was an 2003 LE. I recently gave it to my daughter with 139000 miles on it. Because I loved my 03 so much, we decided the new car would also be a Highlander. This time we went all out and purchased the Limited Platinum. This car has 4 owners manuals! Ive made it through them all. This car has all the bells and whistles! I particularly am enjoying the blind spot warning, lane departure and the cruise control feature that keeps you a safe distance from the car in front of you. I must admit this took a little getting used to, but now I truly appreciate the way the car speeds up or slows down on its own while using the cruise feature. The lift gate is also easy to operate. You must use the operating handle, but you dont need to manually unlock the door first if you are keeping the key in your purse. I do like the easy lock/unlock features on the doors as well. The interior is very attractive, spacious and comfortable. I love that I can fit my tote style handbag safely away in the deep storage unit between the front seat! Its also wide enough for me to fish around for anything I need in my bag, and there is also roo, for me to store all my favorite CDs in there as well. The back seat captains chairs are very comfortable and ride very well. There are retractable window shades for added comfort. This is great for traveling with babies! We havent even used the third row seats, but they are ready when needed. The cargo area without the third row is very spacious! Four adults could easily travel with all their luggage for at least a week or more including beach chairs and coolers! The entune system is great! It has local weather, traffic,Bluetooth pairing for listening to your favorite music on your phone, or on the apps you can install such as i❤️radio, Pandora, and others. You get a three month subscription to Sirius. The navigation system will not allow you to get lost! It reconfigures if you miss a turn without making you feel bad, it simply and redirects you without that annoying "recalculating" you get with other system. I love the sunny interior when you unshaded the cabin with the panoramic moon roof. I just love my new car, and am looking forward to many years of pleasurable driving!

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  Former Xplorer - Happy Highlander - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Ken & Ann - April 4 - 10:00 am

  Owned 3 Explorers and driven them a total of 260,000 miles and still going. We bought my wife a Highlander and the three Explorers sit in the driveway on the weekend while everyone fights for the Highlander. Awesome ride for an SUV. We will keep one Explorer for the deep woods hunting trips. Road trips - we will choose the Highlander!

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  DEATHTRAP on Wheels 2008 - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By fredphelps2007 - April 3 - 5:07 pm

  Where to begin.... Recall notices... have received enough to kill an entire tree! Good luck in Snow/Ice, just aim for something soft... AWD my @$$, a rear wheel drive taxi cab with two flat tires has better snow performance than this "SUV"! Tire Pressure Issues... every 2-3 weeks the light comes on and at least one of the four tires is low (@24-26psi) For the first time in my life I pray for someone to steal my car and park it on the railroad tracks! It is disgraceful to call this thing a Toyota!

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  Look before you leap. - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By Thunderchief - April 2 - 7:53 pm

  I test drove a 4 CYL and a V-6, no comparison. I would not go for a four. I wanted a base to save money but I wanted leather and added it at the dealer. They did not have a V-6 base when I test drove, just SE and LTD. I ordered the V-6 base to be sent in from the port. The car looks great and feels great to drive. I was disappointed in the lack of certain things that are not there nor can they be added at the dealer. No outside temp reading, no fog lights, no trip fuel econ reading, no homelink garage control. A car with a 30K sticker, youd think they would have some of those features! Bottom line, I did not do enough homework to see some of the items I wanted are not on the Base V6.

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  What I wish I would have known - 2001 Toyota Highlander
  By MIrebel - April 1 - 10:00 am

  I have owned our Vintage Gold Highlander for 3 years now and am very satisfied overall. But the Highlander has a couple of quirks that a potential buyer should beware: 1) Excessive wind noise. You can not drive over 30 miles an hour with the windows open because of the extreme howling and pressure to your ear drums. Its unbelieveable! Also the car will "moan" sitting still in the driveway when the wind blows hard enough across it. 2) No drip edge above the doors so everytime you open the door (if its raining or snowing) you get a wet seat. 3) The cup holder design is less than convenient. Buy a after market console for storage and cup holders.

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  MY Highlander - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Steve MY - April 1 - 10:00 am

  Before I bought this vehicle, I had never owned an SUV AND I was a lifelong Chevy man. When the boss (my wife) decided it was time for me to buy a SUV, I decided to test drive EVERYTHING in the price range we were looking for ($20,000-$30,000). Ikept leaning towards the Trail Blazer (or the Explorer, Grand Cherokee, etc). However, over a period of several months, I had to admit to myself that the Highlander was (in my opinion) consistently 1st or 2nd in every category I could think of. As a result I now find myself driving everywhere. Try it....youll like it!

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  Toyota Highlander - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Jesus Prado - April 1 - 10:00 am

  The 2004 Toyota HIghlander is a well- built reliable car-like suv. It has very good gas mileage on the freeway. It is a very fun to drive car. It has room for 7 third row seat. But it is a mid-size suv so the third row seat is only compatible for children. The sound system is very poor even with JBL sound.It is a very secure well built suv and I should not be surprised because it is built by the Japanese which is the best.It has a lot of safety features and it has disk brakes on all 4 tires. The exterior and interior design is excellent.

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  Owning Toyotas since 1991 - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Frank - March 29 - 7:56 pm

  As always Toyota has come through. Exceptional build quality inside and out. Much improved over the well received Highlands of years gone by. I bought the Limited AWD with all the bells and whistles and couldnt be happier. If youre in the market for a good looking vehicle inside and out with exception reliability then you should look no further than this vehicle.

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  Very nice SUV - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Highlander Bob - March 21 - 10:36 am

  Recently purchased the Highlander. It is a great SUV. Very roomy, high quality interior. Im over 6 foot and have plenty of room in 1st and 2nd rows. Suspension and steering could be slightly more firm, however neither is anywhere near as bad as some say. Doesnt handle compared to CX-9, but if you want a great overall package make sure you test drive the Highlander.