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:

• 

  Solid SUV - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By john543 - May 13 - 1:03 am

  Very Well built, no problems

• 

  Great value, beautiful car - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Jack Obrian - May 12 - 10:00 am

  One of the best experiencial features of the Highlander is the feeling you get while driving it. It has that great feeling of driving a big truck, but at the same time, from the outside, it looks very compact and versatile. The vehicle is actually smaller than the Camry by a couple of inches, yet it still has that spacious, big feeling of a truck and fits nicely in any parking space or two-car garage. This is the best choice to buy if youre looking to get the "truck" feeling at an inexpensive figure, with great value!

• 

  Highlander performs - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By SCVmom - May 12 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed this car immensely. I have had no repairs, only routine maintenance. It was a good decision to choose this model, but if I had it to do over, I would buy the 6 cylinder. The 4 is just a little too gutless for my taste.

• 

  Wow! - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By Chris - May 8 - 12:42 pm

  We traded in our beloved 2007 Highlander for the 2017 because we needed the higher tow capacity. Wow, wow, wow! We feel enveloped in luxury and comfort. The 2017 has a much steadier ride, top quality materials and is more comfortable and roomy. We owned the Sport version previously because I hated the sloppy body roll on the regular 2007 Highlander. The XLE 2017 has a more responsive ride and corners better, it is much smoother and steadier overall and all of the seats are roomier and very comfortable. Love the telescoping steering wheel, front shelf and pop-up hatch window, too. I am struggling with the new technology, but learning to love and appreciate it fast. The Stop Start system works really well once you get the hang of how and when to use it and is almost undetectable in use. Some of the climate controls are not intuitive (update-after owning this vehicle for one month...I am STILL struggling with the climate controls...only thing I can complain about really) and wondering why MPH not digitally displayed. Hoping this new Highlander is as reliable as our 2007! I am 56" husband is 65" and we both find it very comfortable my husband cant stop raving about this vehicle either. Wow! Look forward to every drive now! Update: No issues after a summer of driving and towing. Towing is strong and steady.

• 

  Great Car - Reasonble Price - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By toylander - May 6 - 10:00 am

  After test driving many vehicles in the same class (Honda Pilot, Mitsubishi Endeavor, Nissan Murano), we decided that the Highlander provided the best combination of ride, size, reliability and value. Through in the fact that we got the car at $1500 under invoice with 3.9% financing for 60 months, and we just couldnt turn it down. After owning two Volvo wagons that had unrelenting mechanical problems, its nice to own a reliable vehicle that wont leave me stranded on the Jersey Turnpike in 100 degree heat.

• 

  Great ride - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Jack Durban - May 6 - 10:00 am

  What a well designed and built car. I say car because it does not ride at all like a SUV. It is fast and nimble and gets incredible gas mileage. I just turned in a Chevy Tahoe on an expired lease. To be honest GM had to send someone from another state to pick it up because no dealer would accept it back! No lie, no one wanted the pile of junk even though they were under contract to accept the vehicle at lease end. I will be buying more toyota vehicles in the future. Cant say that about GM.

• 

  4 Cyl. 2WD great economy SUV. - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Cal. Highlander - April 27 - 3:23 am

  The Highlander is very easy to drive (not as easy as compact SUVs such as CRVs) considering its size. It is a lot easier to drive than a 4Runner or an Excursion. The steering is light enough so the car doesnt feel heavy. And there is not an overall sense of "bulkiness" when changing lanes, backing up, etc... The 4 Cyl. 2WD only feels slightly less powerful than the SR5 V6 4Runner. But, you should test drive both, back to back, before you decide if the 4 cyl. Highlander is powerful enough. I would not recommend getting the 4WD option with the 4 cyl. Highlander. It would weigh down the vehicle dramatically causing it to feel a tad sluggish.

• 

  Good car - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By Satisfied Customer - April 22 - 1:40 pm

  Ive been impressed so far by my FWD 2017 Highlander XLE. It is comfortable, spacious, gets reasonable gas mileage for a big car, and I love the active safety features and how well laid out the controls are. It is also very smooth and quiet on the highway and is a reasonable size for my garage and parking lots while still fitting lots of stuff. Note that I use it as a two row vehichle. The third row is really more for small kids on trips and adults at no more than short distances and when in use the cargo space goes from great to limited. I really like the blind spot monitoring. Getting about 27.5 mpg on highway and 25 overall so far. One thing Im not a fan of is the throttle response. Transmission is programmed for economy so the car feels slower than it is and you really have to hit the gas to feel the power. If you floor it youll find the car really moves quickly but otherwise it feels lethargic. Using the power setting improves this. The controls are very good on the car.

• 

  2009 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD 3.5L - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By DB - April 17 - 9:00 pm

  I was torn between this and the Honda Pilot. The Toyota won out even though it was $3,000 more. The comfort and the ride were just better. It is a very fun vehicle to drive. The fit and finish were what I would expect from Toyota. I do wish the Bluetooth was a little easier to use. I am also unsure about the electronic key. Its nice but I Kayak and worry about getting it wet. I would buy this vehicle again though.

• 

  Pack Up/Gas Up/Giddy Up - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By FireFighter6928 - April 15 - 11:03 pm

  Cutting to the chase: MPG, appearance interior & exterior, comfort, electric windows, door locks, a/c are all excellent.