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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Mixed Review - 2013 Toyota Highlander
By tnboy - August 6 - 6:45 amLess than a week ago I bought a 2013 Highlander Limited with no options or accessories. I rated it three stars in all categories because Ive had it for only a few days. The good: Exterior is up to Toyotas relatively high standards...fit and finish appear to be good. Interior room is good for four adults. Engine power is adequate for the weight of the vehicle but not superb. The bad: Entry space at every door is too small. Either the doors dont open wide enough or the seats (even in their most rearward positions) dont allow enough room to comfortably enter the vehicle. The interior has way too many plastic surfaces for a $38K vehicle (more below).
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Performance, Looks & Economy - 2008 Toyota Highlander
By Barry W - August 4 - 3:13 pmNeeded replacement for Windstar Van. Wanted truck to pull 21 boat. With gas reaching $4, needed economy. Highlander was the only vehicle with 5000 lb towing package and good economy. Have almost 1000 miles and have not gotten less than 20 MPG city. Have gotten 26.5 MPG on interstate with cruise on 70MPH. Selected Sport FWD. Excellent fit and finish. JBL is super. Auto rear hatch is great feature. Third row seat can accommodate adults. Love flat cargo floor. Very quiet at highway speed. Lexus quality through out
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GREAT CAR! - 2003 Toyota Highlander
By mike2785 - August 3 - 10:00 amAstounded by the interior fabric and materials, upscale look. The engine is quiet and the acceleration is surprisingly good. Cabin is roomy. Great on highways (just drove to SF for 12 hours one way). So far we LOVE it.
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Best Bang for your Buck - 2003 Toyota Highlander
By JKTaps - August 3 - 10:00 amCant beat it for SUV performance, fuel efficiency, styling and comfort.
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Solid. Love the console/steering wheel - 2008 Toyota Highlander
By djb5f - July 29 - 5:50 pmMain alternatives considered - Jeep Cherokee, Mazda CX-9, and 4-Runner. Love the grey Highlander faceplate on back. Interior is very comfortable, I have cloth b/c all the dealers informed me b/c of a leather embargo, they were now holding leather for Limited only. But Sport has higher grade cloth.
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Great car! Original owner - 2002 Toyota Highlander
By Stacy - July 28 - 6:00 amGreat car! original owner...Wish it had 3rd row seats...the newer models do. I am looking at upgrading to a newer model of the same car, so that tell you how great of a car. I probably will not trade in or resale this one though.
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Great SUV - 2010 Toyota Highlander
By Phil Nguyen - July 27 - 1:23 pmI just traded in my BMW 330i for this HL and no regret. I drove a Lexus RX300 before and I like this HL much better. Very roomy and has a lot of power. I think it will look better after I install the running board, bug guard. Strongly recommended this vehicle to anyone looking a mid-size SUV. Oh, did I mention I got it for $100 under invoice + 0% interest for 60 months, 2 yrs free maintenance and good value on my trade-in. I miss the BMW for a few days but when I think of I wont have to fill Premium gas and pay $120 for an oil change and I smile at the HL :-)
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Love it - 2003 Toyota Highlander
By Bertha - July 27 - 10:00 amLove my Highlander - we looked into the Pilot, Trailblazer and Extera but the HIGHLANDER was the best. Very comfortable, perfect size for a small family, great mileage for an SUV. Repaced an american mini van that gave us nothing but headaches. This is my second Toyota and I am loving it.
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Sweet - 2005 Toyota Highlander
By Happy - July 24 - 1:06 pmRides very smooth and quiet for a SUV. Easy to get in and out of and easy to park. Great on gas. Comfortable inside. Great quality throughout. Excellent sound system. High quality interior. Every seam lines up. Excellent power. Handles well. Surprisingly roomy. The 3rd row is small but kids fit and I can easily get 7 people into the Highlander if need be. I like the sound system, the auxilliary heat controls for the rear and the 4WD does the job in snow. I looked around and this is the BEST midsized SUV available. And it is reasonably priced.
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Love this car - 2003 Toyota Highlander
By ontrack - July 21 - 2:00 amI have owned many vehicles but the Highlander is by far my favorite. It is easy and fun to drive and very comfortable. The back door makes loading easy and the back seats fold without a problem. For a smallish car it has plenty of room. I transported a sofa home in it! The engine is quiet and even with the 4 cylinder engine there is plenty of power. Cruise control is excellent and easy to use. I really love this car.
