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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  Trying this car in West Covina Penske - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Tony Ang - December 25 - 7:50 pm

  I tried this car in West Covina Penske CA and felt this car hmm.. rear third row seat too small and not soft comfort and cant fit for adult. -1 point The baggage in trunk back too small another 1 point less. The looks outside no LED daylight at front light and rear light. Others like Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer already LED front daylight and LED rear light. For dashboard, looks cheaper all plastic. So this is the bad looks interior too, however give it 1 point for accelarion better than 0 point.

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  Love the Highlander! - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Ann Patty - December 25 - 10:07 am

  I test drove over ten SUVs and by far thought the Toyota Highlander was the best value of any!

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  Best new vehicle purchase Ive ever made - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By David - December 24 - 10:33 pm

  Compared to my Jeep Liberty (which this replaced), the Highlander is amazing. It has just the right amount of space, gas mileage is impressive, and dont let anyone tell you that the 4-cylinder engine isnt powerful enough; it has more than enough "get up and go". Rides very smooth and quiet.

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  Luv It, Luv It, Luv It - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By CactusKandy - December 22 - 1:43 am

  This vehicle has been the best purchase in my 25 years of buying vehicles. Only 2 little things have gone wrong, the power window mechanism and the door gasket, and the dealer has bent over backwards to fix them. The vehicle gets good gas mileage for its size, its comfortable on a long trip and has a roomy interior. Toyota does it right!

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  Best in Class! - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By Paul - December 21 - 8:00 pm

  Drove and researched everything. Highlander is #1. The Honda Pilot doesnt handle well, the Pathfinder is way too cramped inside, and the Traverse and Acadia are over 40k with options, not worth $. The Highlander is so super quiet, the transmission is ultra smooth. 270 horses pull quickly and I can still get 25 mpg. Very comfortable driving position with nicely laid out high quality controls. Second row captains chairs are like traveling first class. Third row is cramped and only good for a quick trip. Toyota always was and still is one of best products on the road. Drive the Highlander and you will absolutely be sold.

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  Navigation deliberately crippled - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By captpayne - December 20 - 8:41 pm

  Know that you will still need to have your garmin on your dash. Many of the Navigation systems features wont work unless you STOP THE VEHICLE. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IF I HAD KNOWN THIS. BEWARE. Also, the engine turns off at stop lights. This feature must be disabled EVERY TIME YOU START THE CAR. IT CANNOT BE PERMANENTLY DISABLED. THIS VEHICLE HAS TOO MANY NANNY FEATURES THAT CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. Update, 8-7-2017 The vehicle is now 4 months old. The radio/navigation system died today, 6 days before we are to drive the car to Florida for a vacation we have planned all year. The dealership says the entire radio and nav display must be replaced and the parts wont be available for 3 weeks. They gave me a national number for Toyota. They said to go to different Toyota dealerships to see if the parts are available there. They said the dealerships dont share parts. I bought the platinum service agreement and a 6 year prepaid maintenance plan; all apparently worthless. I deeply regret buying a Toyota. It is a mistake I will never make again. I will trade in this garbage as soon as I am financially able to do so.

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  My Experience with The Toyata Highlander - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Ralphwinky - December 19 - 10:50 am

  I had planned to get another manufacturers minivan when the rear fold down seats came out in April. I decided to take a look at the Highlander as it was highly rated. I test-drove one for several miles, and bought it on the spot. I felt that I had been driving it all my life (59 yrs. experience) and was completely comfortable with it. On numerous trips to the mountains of NC this past summer I was impressed with the flawless handling on a highway with several miles of tight switchbacks. I havent had the first problem in nearly 12,000 miles. Items that I went in for help on, turned out to be procedural! This is the most satisfactory vehicle I have ever owned.

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  Great SUV for the family ! - 2014 Toyota Highlander
  By beachbums - December 15 - 8:48 am

  I have owned both a BMW x3 and a Honda Pilot SUVs and now owned a 2014 Toyota Highlander Limited. Although my previous SUVs were good, this Toyota SUV has surpassed my highest expectations.If you are looking for a smooth ride, elegant interior, and decent towing capability SUV to drive your family around in, take a look into the all-new 2014 Toyota Highlander, you will find it hard to beat.

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  Love my Toyota - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By DBrown - December 11 - 5:36 am

  After working for another Japanese auto manufacturer for 18 years I decided on a Toyota. The Highlander 4cyl was everything I was looking for as a single mom who still wanted to look good riding my teenage daughter around with her friends and easy on my pocketbook. The fuel economy is fantastic and the power of the 4cyl has not disappointed me yet. Under the hood is not even foreign to me as everything is clearly color coded so even I can add the necessary fluids. I love the automatic shift placement up higher which gives me more room for easy placement of personal items. Love my Toyota!

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  LIKE MY HIGHLANDER - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By BOB M. - December 11 - 2:00 am

  AFTER MONTHS OF LOOKING AROUND AND RESEARCH ON YOUR WEBSITE. I FELT CONFIDENT THAT THE HIGHLANDER WAS FOR ME. I DRIVES LIKE A CAR IS EASY TO HANDLE. THE SIZE IS ALSO GOOD FOR ME NOT TOO BIG. YOUR WEBSITE IS ABSOLUTELY GREAT HELPFUL AND INFORMATIVE.