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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  lovin it - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By ashleyc - May 14 - 2:00 am

  My parents bought me this car before I went to college. We wanted a car that i would be safe traveling long distances in, something that wasnt too bulky, and something that i could still fit all of my stuff in. The highlander was perfect. Other cars I considered were Nissan Altima, Nissan Xterra, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, Saturn Vue. But, the highlander satisfied everything that we wanted.

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  Great Ride, Good MPG,= Happy Owners - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By frtlinr - May 11 - 9:40 am

  Took our new Highlander on a 10 day, 2400 mile trip starting with only 200 miles on the odometer when we left home. With so few miles on the vehicle, I wasnt expecting it to average 23 mpg on the trip, but it did. 1600 miles were on the highway, and the balance driven around town. The ride was comfortable plus, the cabin is roomy, and very quiet. Decent sound system too. The instrument panel is laid out very thoughtfully, everything is in easy reach for the driver causing no distractions.

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  The cross country vehicle - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By poorfarm44 - May 7 - 5:46 pm

  This car appears to be very well built. It replaced a Volvo V70 that did not hold up on a lot of potholed roads and washboard gravel roads. The Highlander combines adequate performance & driving comfort on freeways with the a good quiet road on rough roads. The fuel mileage is okay with a range from 19 to 23 mpg. The only maintenance cost is the first 13,000 are two oil changes.

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  Great Car-Rides Smooth - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Tiffini - May 7 - 10:00 am

  I love Toyota cars! This is my third Toyota. The Highlander is a very attractive and smooth riding SUV.

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  Brand New Family Buys the Highlander - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Houston Boy - May 7 - 10:00 am

  Test drove both the 4-cylinder and the V6. Would have liked the V6, but living in Houston (read: FLAT) made the 4-cyl a nice choice, especially with the gas mileage and the $1500 price difference. Also, the 4-cyl is bigger and has more power than you might expect. So far the Highlander has been perfect for our new family of three. VERY roomy, VERY quiet, and VERY comfortable. Havent had the wind problems that others have mentioned, but its not overly windy down on the Gulf Coast. Even with the carseat in the back row, there is ample space for 2 more adults, plus our 90# Labrador in the cargo area (my advice: buy the cargo mat for the back!).

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  Perfect SUV - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By uwp74 - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Absolutely incredible in the snow - better than my 4WD truck. So solid, so well built. A real marvel of workmanship.

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  A Great Driving Experience - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By go blue - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I have only had my Highlander for a few months, however, from the time I took it for a test drive I fell in love with its handling ability and quiet ride. It has been through a New England winter and the automatic 4 wheel drive was a blessing. Also, the interior is user friendly and very comfortable to drive. If you are looking at SUVs this is definitly a must buy.

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  Great car to drive - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By Ken in Vancouver - April 29 - 3:10 am

  This SUV has it all, style, ride, quiet, and most of all comfort. Being a senior and retired this vehicle will get plenty of use. Having owned a Ford Explorer, a GMC Envoy, both being top of the line models, the Highlander is superior. Gas mileage is not a factor in my case, but 19 MPG local is acceptable. This vehicle was a surprise as I intended to purchase a Toyota Venza.

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  Best Car For The Money - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Toms River Door & Wi - April 25 - 2:00 am

  I have had 2 Explorers before and I got tiered of the truck like ride and feel. I didnt want a vehicle larger than what I had. The Hieghlander fit my needs perfectly. Between the craftmanship and the beautiful ride you will not fine a better car.

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  My Highlander - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By G - April 22 - 3:16 am

  Ive only had my Highlander 10 weeks, but have already come to the conclusion that it will not be very comfortable on a long trip. The seats are hard. If I raise the seat at all, it makes it even harder. It then feels like Im sitting on a hard ball. Also on a recent pleasant day my grandaughter in the back seat, lowered the window and the noise produced by the air flow (or lack thereof) was terrible. It made a sound like a loud lawnmower.