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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  Smooth and easy....result is quite pleasing.... - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By Russ Smith - January 30 - 7:02 pm

  Best combination of safety, ride quality, value, and over all look.

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  Analytical - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By unanimous - January 28 - 6:15 am

  Pros: Its a great car and very comfortable. Handle very well. Cons: from Android phone compatibility might be an issue. It may delay connection. Also using apps (vibers, whatsapp...etc) wont support calling. However if you have iPhone then you wont have any problem. It work seamlessly with any ios apps. Also cabin will have some wind noise. But play music yout will be okay.

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  Great All Around Vehicle - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By Laura E. - January 27 - 3:03 pm

  Only had the car a day or so, but the car handles amazingly well. It has plenty of pick up and go, handles busy city traffic, and even some muddy and very bumpy roads. My dog can get into the back easily, and I love the easy to use radio and heat/ac adjustments. The car looks good too, and I have received countless positive comments on it.

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  2016 Highlander Limited Platinum AWD - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Mark - January 26 - 1:19 pm

  Toyota builds a very nice SUV, however, to get the safety features you have to move to the top of the line and spend over $45K. Unfortunatley is is also true of the other car manufacturers. Toyota has too many trim versions and starts with a low cost trim and adds features as you move up the trim line. Some cheap items, however, carry over from the low cost version such as no struts to keep the hood open. The safety features are a mixed bag. The audio warning are not loud enough to hear well with music playing and instead of automatic braking you get a pre-collision system that only assists in the braking but does not prevent a collision. I believe Toyota committed to improve the safety features for 2017 to earn the coveted 5 star rating. If safety is very important to you the Infiniti QX60 (at a slightly higher price) will give you the improved safety features with actual accident mitigation (not just warnings) and a 4 year warranty.

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  4 cylinder worth consideration - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By Anil - January 23 - 2:03 am

  I have had a pleasant experience owning 4 cylinder base Highlander 2009 model. The city mileage is 24 and highway 28 - could not have asked for better from mid-size SUV. I cruised at 70 while traveling from Boston to NY and never felt the vehicle does not have enough power. Dealers should inform the customers hybrid is not the only way to get decent fuel economy. Also, driving in snow was not bad either.

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  Great Buy! - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Paul - January 21 - 9:50 pm

  Researched SUVs extensively and picked this one b/c it drives like a car. The camry base makes it a much smoother ride than most SUVs. Gas mileage is great for SUV (better than our 2000 VW Jetta). Plus trunk area is great for moving large items (larger than Lexus RX 330). Two complaints: 1) Toyota does not give oil changes included in warranty and 2) Whats with the 15 cup holders in the car?? Youd think camels designed interior. Maybe Toyota runs a sweat shop for their designers and all they could think about was water. So for the rare case you want to buy 15 Cokes (or Pepsis) in one sitting, you at least will have a place for all of them. Overall: Highly recommended.

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  Its a Great SUV! - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Lizz - January 21 - 2:00 am

  This SUV was a great alternative to the more expensive Lexus 3000X model. This SUV is very dependable and is a comfortable drive for lengthy distances.

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  i lovr my car - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By realtormom - January 21 - 2:00 am

  I love the car. I bought the Limited Edition with Leather and sunroof.... it rides beautifully and the seats are comfortable. Comfort in the rear seats is quite important to me as I am a realtor and frequently drive adult passengers who must sit in the back seat.

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  lst time owner - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By WIDOWXTWO - January 21 - 2:00 am

  Love this SUV, have had a Blazer and an Explorer in the past, this has the best of the two, plus decent gas milage. Do not do off the road driving, but do use the cargo space frequently. The gas milage is not as good in the city, but is great for the highway. Would buy another one tomorrow!

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  My 06 Highlander sport - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By ron - January 19 - 10:10 am

  I love my 06 Highlander Sport v6. Drives like a dream with precise handling and very much a carlike ride. I like the firm but not choppy ride. The sport tuned suspension provides a very nice and predictable handling experience. Corners beautifully, and the acceleration of the V6 is powerful, yet provides decent mpg. My Highlander now has 3000 miles on it and my mpg overall city/hwy is 20mpg. Ive been getting around 22.5 on the hwy. I love my highlander and happy I made the choice of owning one.