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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  Read the Consumer Affairs Complaints Before Buying - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Disappointed Toyota Owner - May 8 - 6:57 am

  I wish I had read the Consumer Affairs complaints before buying my 2016 Toytota Highlander XLE. Ive only owned my car for 30 days and already had an issue with the car starting on its own. Yes! Thats right. I walked up to my car after shopping at WalMart for 40 min. only to find that it had started up by itself, and must have been running while I was in the store with the doors locked. Upon entering the car, a yellow caution light was flashing near the odometer. I read many consumer complaints and found another person complaining of the same problem and was told that it can happen when the remote entry keypad is pushed twice after exiting the vehicle. After reading many other customer complaints about various issues with 2013-2015 brakes not working while driving (Yikes!), driver doors not unlocking, and front seats making loud noises while driving, I wish I had read those complaints before purchasing this vehicle. It sounds like the 2013, 2014, and 2015 may be lemons. Im not sure about the 2016 yet, because the car is too new to know for sure, but Im very concerned about whats to come. I dont feel 100% safe in this car, especially since I have 2 kids. This is my 2nd Toyota. I just sold my 2006 Sienna minivan and it had many defective issues/recalls. I will not be buying a Toyota in the future because they dont stand behind their cars. They only try to blame the customer for their defects. UPDATE after 30 days of driving - The sound system is terrible. My Sienna minivan had a JBL sound system which was great, but the Highlander has a cheap sound system with a horrible muffled sound. After driving the car a little while, you will notice that the interior has many cheap parts!! The floor "carpet" is actually felt, not carpet, and some of the dash has plastic parts. The front seats and angled headrest are very uncomfortable on longer rides. Wish I could trade my new XLE in for a well made car that matches the price I paid. The quality just isnt in the 2016 Highlander for the high price. Still disappointed.

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  Very Overrated - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By ggilliom - May 2 - 2:00 am

  Weve owned a Highlander for about a year and a half, and overall, Im disappointed. I hate the soft steering - its hard to drive straight at highway speeds. And its not very quiet at high speeds. If you put down *any* window, you get the vibration/roar people talk about. The seats are unsupportive, and the seat bottoms are very short. Im 6-feet tall, and my back aches after driving for more than an hour. Nearly as bad as my wifes old RAV-4. The stock stereo is TERRIBLE. The back tonneau cover is heavy and badly designed -- must be handled *very* carefully to avoid bumping/scratching the interior or cargo. Lousy dealer, too.

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  Best Car In The Market - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By David McCory - May 2 - 2:00 am

  Not much thing to say, overall is a best car I ever seen

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  Love the Highlander - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By lioney111 - May 2 - 2:00 am

  Excellent handling, drives more like a car than a truck. Interior is spacious and airy, with plenty of backseat legroom when passenger side front seat is pulled back. Cargo area and ability to create cargo space a big plus; no hump in the center back seat floor so even tall items can be fit inside. The safety features work! Experienced a T- bone collision with full front hit from speeding 45 mph Honda sedan. Air bags deployed, engine dropped down as described in Toyota literature. No windows broke, we were able to walk away with minimal injury from the impact and seat belt/air bags working properly. Although totalled, I plan to get another Highlander.

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  Leased It, Gonna Buy It - 2001 Toyota Highlander
  By Dan Martincic - April 25 - 11:10 pm

  Because my new job came with a company car, it made sense to sell my pickup. However, this left my family without a vehicle to haul pets, outdoor gear and any large items (couch, lawn mower, etc.). My wife, bless her heart, agreed to trade in her Lexus ES 300 for a Toyota Highlander. Five years later, she still loves her Highlander. The ride, the convenience for hauling people and things and especially the great sound system (the girl loves her country music). Rather than replace the it when the lease is up, were buying it. It runs so well and has needed only very minor repairs. This is a well designed vehicle built by Toyota. Enough said!

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  luv the mileage - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By webtravelin - April 23 - 1:04 pm

  We are senior couple and have about 1200 miles on the highlander. We are averaging just over 24 MPG, and on our three trips of about 90 miles each we got right at 30 mpg. This was driving mostly on rural highways, with about 35 miles of interstate at about 72 to 73 MPH and about 62 MPH otherwise. The wife thinks the seats are not as soft as our 04 Grand Cherokee, and the passenger seat is manual only, but that has already turned out to be a non-issue. In addition to the very good mileage we immediately noticed how much more quite it was than the Jeep. It is close to the same size as the Jeep but can seat 7. Weve had six adults in once for a short thirty minute drive and no complaints

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  The best midsize suv - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By kenneth 2 - April 21 - 10:00 am

  Pleasure to drive, excellent fuel economy, toyota reliability, toyota quality,inside and out.

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  Best SUV I Have Owned - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By AFB - April 18 - 6:59 am

  Very comfortable crossover with nice interior. I am 64" and have plenty of room in the drivers seat. The standard safety features include dynamic cruise control, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic warning and pedestrian warning all work well and enhance the safety of the vehicle. Start-stop function is smooth and responsive and can be disabled if the driver does not want the added fuel savings. New 6 cylinder engine with 8 speed transmission proved sufficient power and smooth acceleration. The third row seating is limited and can only be used for adults during short trips or kids. Quality interior and exterior fit and finish.

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  Bad Tires - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By JMW - April 17 - 1:10 am

  Found the Dueler OEM tires dangerous in the snow. Tried to find the only good alternative made which is a Toyo HT, but these are on long backorder. Vehicle also developed rattles which I could have lived with despite the tire situation. Traded it out already with only 3800 miles on it. Poor engineering by Toyota to put a poor traction tire on an SUV sold in the upper midwest with no alternatives.

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  Vibration Driving me crazy - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By rena - April 16 - 6:33 pm

  I have only owned Toyota vehicles, a Celica, 4 Runner and now the Highlander. All in all I like the Highlander, however I do have one big gripe, for some reason, when the car is on, but not moving or moving slowly, the car vibrates (which can lightly be felt in the steering wheel, foot pedal, and seat). I took it to services at the Toyota dealership and was told that it was the motor idling and the sales manager even told me that this was a glinch in the 2006 four cylinder Highlander model. I dont know.