Toyota Highlander Research & Reviews

Overview & Reviews

Average Score

4.56/5 Average
1,941 Total Reviews
Model Overview:

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:

Showing 661 through 670 of 1,941.00
  • Great car - 2002 Toyota Highlander
    By -

    We love this car. It has a great ride, is mechanically sound and the V6 engine gives it plenty of power. We are quite happy with it.

  • Highlander Limited 4WD - 2004 Toyota Highlander
    By -

    This is a great vehicle. Fuel efficiency with good power performance and fun features made this a good choice for me. I needed the room and convenience of an SUV with 3rd row without the need to tow. I travel in field sales so comfort was essential but I also wanted some extras that were available on the Toyota at and affordable purchase & operating price. The navigation system is cool but complicated at times and is tied in to the audio & AC making them the same. The accelerator has a "hair trigger" and takes some getting use to you will experience lunges at low speed until then. The retractable trunk cover was a bad after thought. Certainly not enough to give bad marks to the Highlander.

  • Great SUV - 2003 Toyota Highlander
    By -

    I am very happy with my car, though its only been with me for 2 months, it has been good and fun.....

  • tires and oil line - 2008 Toyota Highlander
    By -

    the tires on the sport model are horrible. Look at tire rack review. The are a accident waiting to happen. Why put out a awd with poor tires. Only two mfg makes them. There is a oil line to the valve train area that is accident waiting to happen after 45K miles.Look up toyota oil leaks. Blue tooth operation is horrible. You must program phone #s into the car system

  • Not for wind - 2002 Toyota Highlander
    By -

    Not a bad vehicle but should come better equipped. For 28K, you only get cloth seats, power driver seat, and a moonroof. I was able to prive a Lexus RX w/ similar features at 33.5K, should have gone for that but the car was for my mom and she didnt want to pay the price difference. For little more, she would have had the leather and a 4 year warranty, oh and wood instead of that fake aluminum looking stuff on the dash.

  • What a great crossover vehicle !!!! - 2002 Toyota Highlander
    By -

    This is my first Toyota and it is absolutey awesome. The quality of vehicle is superb. I still can not believe it is an AWD vehicle, because it does not drive like one. The brake is excellent with excellent fuel efficient. It is the best SUV I have ever bought. The push bottom and knobs of A/C are elegant. It "feels" great.

  • NICE LITTLE SUV IN EVERY WAY YOU CAN IMAGINE - 2006 Toyota Highlander
    By -

  • If only Nav wasnt so bad - 2017 Toyota Highlander
    By -

    We have about 3200 miles on the vehicle. Drove it to Florida from Ky for family vacation. Vehicle is quiet rides pretty good and handles well for an SUV. MPG is not what is advertised in my opinion if you are driving over 65MPH (which 70 and up is standard for our area now). We still have our 2008 Nissan Quest minivan and if I were to do it over, another minivan would be in store. However, my biggest complaint is the Audio system, Navigation, and the lack of Car Play and/or Android auto. If the Nav was better I could do without the Car Play and Android. But the Nav is horrible. And why cant we do map updates through our phones when on wifi?? Toyota has dropped the ball on this and dont do what we did and thought the Nav would be handy, it will cost you a ton of time, is hard to use, and just isnt near the level of Google maps and other competitors in the mapping world. Voice recognition is spotty at best. I had high hopes as this is our first Toyota but looks like it will be our last. Glad we are leasing.

  • Comfortable and Safe - 2008 Toyota Highlander
    By -

    I learned how to drive in this car. Its very comfortable for daily driving and on long trips as long as youre not sitting in the 3rd row. It drives great and does well enough on gas. Its a very safe car also. I owe my mothers life to the safety features in this car. Not many people can walk away from hitting a grove of trees at highway speeds. Great SUV for a family!

  • Love My Highlander - 2003 Toyota Highlander
    By -

    Im very happy with this vehicle. Ive taken it on several long (1500 mile) trips and it is as comfortable to drive & ride in as a good quality car. The only complaints I have about it are: (1) the lifter (fuel injector) noise -- and even that is minor. With no radio on, sitting still, you can hear the f.i. system working, but while driving, or with radio on normal volume, you cannot. (2) the paint on the hood chips very easily from normal road wear. I would buy it again ... zero mechanical issues, easy to drive, comfy. Holds value well.

Toyota Highlander Reviews By Year:
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