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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  Utility, Comfort and Class - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Steven M - January 29 - 2:00 am

  The Highlander is the best combination of utility, comfort and class available on the market today. I wish I had bought a Highlander sooner. Everything about it is perfect. But I do wish it got better gas mileage.

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  another winner - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By sarsi - January 29 - 2:00 am

  I accompanied my sister to buy her 2nd car in 13yrs(first car-camry 89 with 200K miles and still running). This SUV or CAR, or WHATEVER is a perfect vehicle for daily commutes and long drives. We already love it the first time we drove home. This is a "Grand Slam" for TOYOTA.

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  our first suv - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By ruthmb - January 27 - 10:00 am

  We have had nothing but enjoyment with the suv the workmanship and quality are very good

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  Great suv - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Room617 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I have to say that this suv is very well built. It drives like a car and does well off road (not talking about mud bogging or serious off roading if you want that jeep wrangler or hummer h2 is for you). My friend a pipefitter who hates japanese cars said it was very quiet and this was when he was putting it to its paces off road when we were river rafting on the colorado. Toyotas do cost more but if you want a car that wont rattle and will be reliable for the long haul then toyotas highlander is your type of vehicle. Safety features are great and I have had the thing in hairy corners but it drove like a car hugging the road with minamal body lean.

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  08 Highlander - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By TBL - January 24 - 5:10 pm

  I bought the limited without the awd option; interior quality & comfort excellent; performance good; gas mileage has been averaging over 21 mpg in town - - more on the highway; so far Im very satisfied; great value for the money; have owned Toyotas before and also have a 2006 Tacoma; have found them to be very reliable.

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  Smooth Rider - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Scotty W Sly - January 24 - 2:00 am

  Have had this car for 1 year at this point. Ride is exceptionally smooth-I like it better than the BMW it replaced. Reliability has been top notch (unlike the BMW!). Drivers view is commanding and broad. Space utilization is great. I wish stereo was a bit finer like my wifes Acura MDX (another winner, by the way). Looks are not great-but , hey its a wagon-like SUV-so who really cares!

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  Ol Reliable - so reliable I bought another - 2007 Toyota Highlander
  By Walter Maus - January 21 - 5:45 am

  Im not a hi-mileage owner, but a daily user in all climates from weeks of knee-deep snow to 90-degree heat. This is the most reliable, competent vehicle Ive owned aside from a 1997 Camry. Only major repair was new rear brake rotors, calipers & pads at 90,000. Tows my 3500-lb boat with ease, but only for short distances (5-10 mi) about 4 times a year. Outstanding in sand or snow. Very comfortable on annual 3000-mile road trips, loaded with gear. Reliably gets 21 mpg at 70-mph Interstate speed, and 20 on routine driving at home in a semi-rural suburban area with little city-traffic driving. Not a speck of rust (except on the dealer-installed hitch bar), very water tight. Not hush-hush silent at road speeds, but not really noisy either. I was ambivalent about trading it in at 100,000mi because I think this reliable old friend of 9 years has another good 100,000 miles in it. But I gave it and traded for a new Highlander in Sept 2016.

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  Best Mid-Range SUV - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By GO - January 21 - 4:10 am

  This is my 3rd Highlander, and they keep getting better every time. My first Highlander was in 2006 and it was the size of the current RAV4. This new one has more room in the rear and the back seat legroom. The from passenger compartment feels like it has a slight bit more width as well. The controls (radio/camera, etc.) are easier to use and more intuitive than before. The only wish I had was that they were angled slightly towards the driver. This is my first vehicle that allows you to shut off the car while in drive and at a stop by simply depressing the brake. This has increased the gas mileage for me. My last Highlander was a 2012. I got about 360 miles to a tank (regular driving) on a 17 gallon tank (21.1 MPG). The new one, with the same size tank is getting 425 miles to the same 17 gallon tank (25 MPG). The comfort is better, and not just because it is new. I chose the LE Plus because of the full 60/40 rear seats. I did not want the captains rear seats, as it is impossible for someone to lay down on longer trips. I also did not want the sun/moon roof (hardly used it and one less thing to worry about going wrong). Plus the price difference for 2 things I didnt want really made my decision easier.

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  Pretty Nice Vehicle - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Mark - January 20 - 11:20 pm

  Had A 02 Nissan truck which rattled and the dealer couldnt find the problem so sold it and bought a Highlander. Nice ride and pretty comfortable. Had my Highlander for a year now. The Transmission gets twitchy once and a while. Had a few rattles but the dealer has been great helping me resolve them. The factory Toyo tires wore out quick. Put Michilen on, they ride nicer and quieter for $500. Overall though a pretty nice vehicle.

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  Review of 04 Highander V6 LTD - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Bill Burleson - January 18 - 4:06 am

  Excellent vehicle for fairly short times, gets uncomfortable on long (4 hrs or more) trips. I am 72 years old and this may not be a problem for a younger driver. Easy to park and maneuver, good visibility for driver.