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:

• 

  Smooth riding SUV - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By Joe - May 1 - 12:43 am

  Had my Highlander for about a month and have not been disappointed. Rides almost as smooth as my Acura. Engine shifts effortlessly, very quiet, rides as if you are in a luxury car with SUV capabilities. Great engineering with amazing handling. Owned 3 other SUVs with none of them either close in design or quality.

• 

  What a delight - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By sheasllm - April 28 - 11:06 pm

  I have owned my Highlander for three months and covered 8200 miles, mostly highway. This replaced a 2006 Avalon. I have loved everything about this SUV. It is extremely comfortable on long trips, has handled perfectly in ice, snow and heavy rain - Toyo tires are obviously better than the earlier Bridgestones. I have thoroughly enjoyed all the extras that make travel a joy.

• 

  Simply Irresistable! - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By toyota girl - April 26 - 1:46 am

  This is a wonderful car. I bought mine brand new and I now have 79,000 miles on it. It has never needed anything other than a new battery and one new set of tires. I changed my tires to Toyo as I think they handle better. I treat my cars good and have the oil changed every 3,000 miles. It looks great, but better yet it runs great. Thats the thing about Toyotas. They just run. I hate cars that break down constantly on the side of the road, and its never even a consideration with this car. I expect to have some expense around 90,000. Timing chain and anything else it needs. I did have the front brakes done recently. Buy this car! You wont regret it.

• 

  Highlander 04 - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Gerome Desulme - April 25 - 10:00 am

  The highlander offers a smooth ride. It drives like a car and feel extremely comfortable. I like the relative small size and easy handling. It fits well in my garage and feels lighter than any minivan alternative.

• 

  Simply The Best - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Peggy - April 22 - 8:33 pm

  I did extensive research before buying my first SUV, and have not been disappointed in my selection. My Highlander has been extremely reliable, not one problem in almost 2 years and 42,000 miles. Its comfortable, roomy, drives like a car, and gets good gas mileage. I was worried about having sufficient power with the 4-cylinder engine, but it definitely delivers the power when needed. I cant imagine owning any other car - except maybe a Highlander Hybrid. I would recommend this SUV to anyone who is looking for the best value & ride for their money.

• 

  Highlanders A Hit - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By GaTony - April 22 - 2:00 am

  Best SUV have ever been it. It really drives and feels like a car. Excellent handling on secondary and major highways. Super quiet. Lots of interior room. Excellent power, even with 4 cylinders, great gas mileage. Beats most cars in mileage. I cant believe people buy other SUVs for more money!

• 

  Great for trips! - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By luvtoyota10 - April 21 - 4:31 am

  I rented a 2011 toyota highlander for a week. It was what I Expected from toyota. It has the same kind of bumpy ride as normal suvs because i used to own a 2000 toyota 4runner and now i own a 2010 toyota venza 4cyl. I loved the ride height! The interior is great it doesnt feel very cheap. Im thinking about leasing it like my venza. Its awesome in the snow!

• 

  Dont by Toyota - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By Mike Steele - April 16 - 10:06 am

  At 20,000 km a Whirring sound came from the front right of the Highlander. 2 dealerships say it is unfixable and I quote : to give the vehicles strong gears the downside is at 80 km Toyotas will make a very annoying sound but YOU"LL just have to live with it because there is nothing we can do" end of quote. Unbelievable! The sound will drive you nuts and they cannot fix it,, they said it is in MOST all their vehicles and if they replace the problem which they agree there is, it will just come back because that is the design of th e gear box! Customers, I kid you not, $50,000 for a vehicle like this and even Toyota Canada gives me the Slough off !

• 

  Great Vehicle (so far!) - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By Mike - April 2 - 8:33 pm

  Purchased the Limited model four weeks ago, so far great. Drove several like vehicles, Honda Pilot, Edge and I traded an Acadia, I just couldnt live with the transmission any longer!!! The Toyota is averaging 20.9 mpg in a mix of driving, most runs are less than 10 miles, so Im happy with that number, will find out what 300 mile interstate trip delivers in a few weeks. Vehicle is very quiet at highway speeds and has a very good audio system but wish Toyota had separated the audio/GPS and Bluetooth functions. It just takes some playing with the controls to figure them out but it could have been simpler. And the 5 speed transmission in this one shifts beautifully.

• 

  Pretty sweet ride - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Creid102 - March 28 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive with a surprisingly powerful engine