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:

• 

  I love my 2008 Toyota Highlander! - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Diane - December 29 - 5:03 am

  I never thought Id own a vehicle this big as Ive always had smaller cars. However, we needed something that could tow. I knew I wanted a Toyota but didnt like the 4Runner look. Was going to get the RAV4 until I saw the re-designed Highlander. I had to have one - love the look! Not crazy about the black 2-tone interior, but that is a minor thing. Also, wish the Bluetooth capability was standard. Not worth the additional $ in the higher end package. This thing drives excellent! Love the quiet drive especially on the highway. I recommend the 08 Highlander to everyone!!

• 

  Toyota Reliability Rides Again! - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Tiger Tom - December 27 - 12:20 am

  Have enjoyed driving from the time we drove off the lot. Highway performance is especially good, having driven it in clean, clear conditions and during snow whiteout situation.

• 

  My 2nd HL-"there can be more than one" - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By dan - December 25 - 1:20 pm

  When it was time to replace another car and after exhaustive research we bought our second Highlander. We did so because of the latest info out there about 06 but also due to the fact of having one for the last four years that still looks brand new despite living with four teenagers. They are reliable, get decent gas mileage, responds well in many different driving conditions and has great leg room for our tall family.

• 

  Good car - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Highlanderfan - December 20 - 2:00 am

  Now have over 20,000 miles on our Highlander and still love it. We also own a Lexus LS400 but always take the Highlander on trips. Not sure why, but just seem to prefer the Highlander. Is it perfect? No, but it really is a nice road car. Handles well, power is decent and has plenty of room for the two of us. Negatives: too much road noise for "limited" type vehicle. Should have power passenger seat. Would be nice to have opening rear window. Sound system could definitely be improved.

• 

  The biggest junk i ever lease.. - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By Thomas V Fandino - December 19 - 1:42 pm

  First the windows sound that looks like a air leak. The engine and transmission sound awful for a new car. You can hear all the noise as the vehicle change gears. My dashboard lights go intermittent from time to time. The breaks cry noisy . When you are in cruise control the vehicle calculates the front vehicle speed and slow you down. If the front vehicle change line the Toyota accelerates suddenly but if the front vehicle was close to another the speed safety control delay too much to kick in again making the vehicle unsafe. The 4cyl are a lot different from the 6 cyl. They looks the same but they are not.I can reflect more problems but at this point i feel sorry for myself to buy this peace of bran new jub k..

• 

  Great SUV - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Vlad - December 19 - 12:36 am

  I bought this car two months ago. Great SUV. Has a lot of leg room for the driver (I am 63), has plenty of room in the bask seat. Lots of storage. Great in snow (I live in Cleveland). Great gas mileage for SUV. I recommend the 6 cylinder as the 4 cylinder is somewhat underpowered (driven the 4 cylinder also) and not much better fuel economy.

• 

  A mix of strong and weak points - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Dave N. - December 16 - 3:46 pm

  My lease on this Highlander runs out soon and I am undecided whether I should buy it, or turn it in. Its been very reliable, with one odd recurring problem: if you dont tighten the gas cap completely, a light comes on to indicate a problem with the emission controls. To get it reset, you have to take the vehicle to a dealer! It is heavy and feels ponderous. Fuel efficiency (19 mpg) is OK for a two-ton vehicle, but acceleration is mediocre even with the V6. The seats are not very comfortable on long trips. The controls on the steering column are confusing at night. The deep, narrow console between the front seats is horrible; stuff at the bottom is impossible to reach!

• 

  Couldnt be much happier - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By robandrachel - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Im patting myself on the back for this one. What a great vehicle. A 4x4 with zip and class. I think its sharp- looking inside and out. If you dont want the rear end to look like a minivan (the Sienna, in this case) get the spoiler. Lots of thought put into every detail -- well engineered. The transmission produces a bit of lurch, but not enough to spoil the acceleration, which is fast. Solid steering and breaks. Forgiving body roll. The JBL stereo is great, but you have to adjust the equalizer a lot to optimize the sound.

• 

  Great SUV - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Thi - December 13 - 10:06 am

  I bought a 2008 Highlander Limited 4x4 with nav October 08. I already have a 05 HL and I’m very impressed. I test drove Mazda CX9, and Honda Pilot Touring, but 08 Highlander was the best of all. It feels like a car and very comfortable. Overall quality is excellent and it’s bigger than my 05 Highlander. I would recommend anyone 08 Highlander.

• 

  Quality gone bye bye. - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By sdcatoydriver05 - December 11 - 8:56 pm

  The car has had noises since it was bought. Brake muffler on master cylinder installed wrong, vibration on acceleration. Took 3 days to find problem. Recall on retainer clip for floor mats. Recently steering makes clicking and felt like parts are loose. Car went in twice and took 10 days to fix. Steering shaft had to be replaced it was defective. Rear doors rattle when car is warm. Two trips to find problem. This is the 5th toyota I have owned. Never had these type of things happen on the others. So much for toyota quality when put together.